Friday Fun: Puff! Puff! Puff!

Let’s keep the smoke theme rolling and land on perhaps the most famous song ever written about the habit — Tex Williams’ monster 1947 hit Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).

Tex Lights the Match

Here’s Tex and his Western Caravan on Capitol:

I adore everything about this record — Tex’s sly, bone-dry delivery, the clever lyric, and that Western Swing arrangement that snaps like a match being struck.

The record was a genuine phenomenon, climbing all the way to number one on the pop charts, which was no small feat for a country record in 1947. Tex and co-writer Merle Travis had that rare crossover magic.

Phil Unfiltered

Naturally, other labels wanted a drag off the hit, and RCA Victor handed the song to a man who could deliver a novelty number like this in his sleep — Phil Harris, backed by The Sportsmen:

A song like this sits so squarely in Phil’s wheelhouse that if you didn’t know Tex’s original, you might assume Phil was the one it was written for.

And I love the contrast: Tex leans into the talking‑blues patter, while Phil more talk‑sings his way through the verses, giving it that Harris grin.

Did Someone Say Monster Hit?

I totally want Bobby's cardigan!

Plenty of other versions followed — some charming, some forgettable — but let’s close with one that’s simply too odd not to share.

Here’s Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Filter‑Tip Kickers on RCA Victor in 1964:

Now, I love Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! and I love Monster Mash, but I’m not entirely sure what to think when those two worlds collide. It’s like someone dropped a cigarette into a bubbling cauldron and said, “Eh, let’s see what happens.”

Still — whatever you do — don’t puff, puff, puff yourself to death!

Friday Fun: One More Thing

For this week’s Friday Fun, we land on a thing that doesn’t swing - Phil Harris’ The Thing!

Here’s Phil’s big 1950 hit on RCA Victor:

This, to me, is exactly how a novelty record should work: a clever song, an engaging singer, and an arrangement that gets in, gets the laugh, and gets out. No wonder it was such a, ummm, monster hit!

There were a few cover versions of “The Thing,” but somehow it just doesn’t sound right unless Phil Harris is the one delivering the punchlines.

But here’s where it gets even more fun: a sly little reference to The Thing pops up in Homer and Jethro’s parody of Hank Williams’ Cold, Cold Heart, recorded as Cold, Cold Heart No. 2 for RCA Victor in 1951.

See if you can catch it:

Pretty clever!

Hank Williams was reportedly a fan of Homer and Jethro and loved hearing what the boys did to his songs. Honestly, who could blame him - they were masters of affectionate mischief!

And it just goes to show - one Thing leads to another…

Threaded Thursday: The Giant Typewriter

We’ve spent the last few days counting Three Little Words and hearing how Ev'ryone Says 'I Love You', even adding P.S. I Love You to a letter! But today, we finally find ourselves completely speechless with a song that claims the English dictionary simply isn't big enough: "Too Marvelous for Words."

The Association: "Words"

Written in 1937 by lyricist Johnny Mercer with composer Richard Whiting, this tune is a masterclass in clever writing. It’s the ultimate "word" song because it’s about the failure of words to do the job! Johnny Mercer was the goods!

The song was introduced in the Warner Brothers movie Ready, Willing and Able, where it was featured as part of a famous musical number performed on a giant typewriter. Naturally, the record labels were ready and willing to get this one onto wax immediately.

---

The First Out: The Casa Loma Orchestra (1937)

The first act to record the tune was Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. When we last checked in, vocalist Kenny Sargent was adding the P.S., but now he's at a loss for words!

Let's spin the Decca Record:

The Big Hit: Bing Crosby (1937)

The most popular version at the time came from Bing Crosby (also for Decca), backed by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra. Bing was at the peak of his powers here, proving why he was the king of the "croon" for the decade.

I do like how Bing includes the verse, a luxury allowed to a solo singing star that band singers did not enjoy in 1937!

The Radio Star: Phil Harris (1937)

I'm kind of partial to this version on Vocalion by Phil Harris. Phil had joined Jack Benny's radio show just the year before; while he would eventually become known for his comedic timing, at this point, he was still very much established as a top-tier musician and bandleader.

The "Hot" Take: Chu Berry & Hot Lips Page (1937)

For a really fun, contemporary take on the song, we turn to a studio group headed by tenor sax great Chu Berry on Variety Records. This one features the legendary trumpeter Hot Lips Page supplying the vocal, giving the "marvelous" lyrics a bit more grit and swing.

---

They're all just too marvelous! Do you prefer the polished Casa Loma sound, or does the Chu Berry "Hot" take win the day?

"Isn't This a Night for Love?" (1933)

Back in 1933, we hit the song “Isn’t This a Night for Love?” from the snappy pre-code musical “Melody Cruise” from RKO pictures starring Phil Harris!

This version of the song is by Allan Small and his Orchestra with vocalist Jerry Baker:

You get some good stuff from obscure bands on obscure labels!

"Jingle Bells" - Part 9 - Good Sports!

We continue along with "Jingle Bells" and a few more radio performances from the 1940s with a common theme...

First up from December 24, 1946 is legendary voice artist Mel Blanc who had his own show at the time, in which his character ran (or at least attempted to run!) a fix-it shop. 

Here he sings with the Sportsmen Quartet:

The way Mel "illustrates" the lyrics with his vocal effects definitely puts me in mind of Spike Jones!

Mel actually did cut a record with Spike and the City Slicker in 1942:

Lots of fun!

The Sportsmen Quartet did a lot of vocal work during the 1940s, including a regular bit on Jack Benny's radio program where they sang humorous commercials.

Mel Blanc did a lot of voices and vocal sound effects on the Benny show, so he and the Sportsmen working together just seems logical!

Phil Harris was a very popular costar on Jack Benny's show and he also worked with the Sportsmen a lot.

Phil parlayed his popularity on the Benny show into a starring role on "The Fitch Bandwagon" along with Alice Faye, his beautiful movie star wife, and that how morphed into their own show.

So, here's Phil Harris with the Sportsmen Quartet on "The Fitch Bandwagon" from December 21, 1947:

I love how Phil namedrops Alice!

I said the Sportsmen were busy, and they show up again with Judy Canova on her show from December 24, 1949:

Of note is that the updated lyrics actually reference Christmas!

Judy Canova was really popular with her radio show and lots of starring movies.

She usually played an exaggerated hillbilly character and would sing novelty songs with yodels and such. But she was a very talented vocalist, as evidenced on that performance.

Mel Blanc was also featured on Judy's show in the 1940s.

But the common theme of these clips is the Sportsmen Quartet:

Solid work by them!