"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" (1926) - Part 2!

I like novelty records a lot and always find it interesting to compare different versions of songs when he occasion arises! 

So here’s Irving Aaronson and his Commanders with saxist/vocalist Phil Saxe with their version of “I’m Just Wild About Animals Crackers” on Victor Records:

 

The Commanders have always struck me as less wacky than Harry Reser’s groups, but they do have their own flair for wackiness!

"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" (1926)

The wacky Marx Brothers movie “Animal Crackers” makes me think of animal crackers in general and the wacky 1926 song “I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers” specifically! 

Let’s listen to this version from the Six Jumping Jacks, one of several novelty groups led by ace banjoist Harry Reser with drummer/vocalist Tom Stacks:

 

Young Spike Jones must have been a fan!

"Why Am I So Romantic?" (1930)

Sticking with the Marx Brothers, let’s go back to 1930 for their second film, Animal Crackers,” which was an adaptation of the brothers’ hit Broadway show. 

Notice that the sheet music shows that animal crackers haven't changed much in 90-plus years!

The original show featured songs by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, some of which were included in the movie, but the movie added the song “Why Am I So Romantic?” also by Kalmar & Ruby. 

Here’s a version by Sam Lanin and his Famous Players with vocalist Scrappy Lambert:

 

Scrappy has such an early-30s sound (voice and nickname)!

 

"Alone" (1935) - Part 3!

Let’s sneak in one more 1935 version of “Alone,” this one on Decca Records from string wizard Roy Smeck and his Serenaders with Donald King on the vocal:

 

Roy Smeck’s Hawaiian-ized versions of then-current pop songs are absolutely fascinating to me! 

As for the lobby card at the top, I know it’s hyperbole, but what picture was so funny ten years prior?

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! 

Hey, let’s take in a parade with the McGuire Sisters courtesy of this track from their 1957 “Children’s Holiday” EP on Coral Records:

 

Have a great day!

"Alone" (1935) - Part 2!

Allan Jones didn’t get the chance to record “Alone” commercially when “A Night at the Opera” was first released, but he did record it for RCA Victor in 1949. 

Here it is on the fancy Red Seal label with Robert Armbruster conducting the orchestra:

 

Sounds great! 

I always found it interesting that although Zeppo left the act when the Marx Brothers moved from Paramount to MGM, their moves still had a Zeppo-ish character in them, with Allan Jones filling that role in “A Night at the Opera” and 1937’s “A Day at the Races.” 

Back in the day, you could say that Allan Jones was the father of singer Jack Jones and that Jack Jones was the singer of “The Love Boat” theme and everybody knew what you were talking about!

 

"Alone" (1935)

We move to 1935 for MGM’s “A Night at the Opera” starring the Marx Brothers! 

The hit song from the movie was “Alone” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown which was sung by Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle, as made evident by the sheet music at the top of the page! 

To drive the point home even further, there was this alternate version that doesn’t even include the Marxes:

“A Night at the Opera” was the brothers’ first film for MGM and while it’s extremely entertaining, it does lead the boys into more conventional “movie” territory than their previous films for Paramount did.

In any event, Cliff Weston is back, this time with Tommy Dorsey’s band, to sing “Alone” for Victor Records:

Not typical TD, but a big hit and very evocative of 1935!