Black Bottom (song)
Black Bottom is a pop song written by Ray Henderson (music), BG DeSylva and Lew Brown (lyrics) and released in 1926.
background
The song is related to the popular ballroom dance Black Bottom . Black Bottom was first introduced by Ann Pennington, The McCarthy Singers, Frances Wilson and Tom Patricola in the revue George White's Scandals of 1926 , which premiered at New York's Apollo Theater on June 14, 1926.
Black Bottom is written as a "fast rhythmic song" in E major , in the form AA'BA ' . “Like the song Charleston , the song highlights the backbeat or anticipated third beat . The harmonics are not that interesting, but mostly tonic and dominant, although the publication shows a small harmonic variety that moves on the circle of fifths. "
First recordings
The first musicians to record the song from 1926 included Lou Gold & His Orchestra (vocals: Arthur Fields ), Johnny Hamp 's Kentucky Serenaders (Victor), Joe Candullo (banner), Sam Lanin (cameo), Annette Hanshaw ( Pathé ), James P. Johnson (“Black Bottom Dance”), in Berlin Felix Lehmann , Sam Wooding (“Bad Intentions”), Julian Fuhs , Arthur Briggs ' Savoy Syncop's Orchestra, Gabriel Formiggini with his orchestra, Efim Schachmeister , Bela Dajos , Herbert Glad , Odeon Syncopators ( Harry Radermann ), Max Kuttner and the Truso groups.
Later cover versions
The discographer Tom Lord lists a total of 90 (as of 2015) cover versions in the field of jazz , including a. by Benny Carter , Bunny Berigan , Sidney Bechet , Bob Crosby , Eddie Condon , Ted Heath , Manny Albam , George Melly , Hazy Osterwald , Alex Welsh , Pasadena Roof Orchestra , Vic Dickenson , Stéphane Grappelli / Bucky Pizzarelli , The Temperance Seven and numerous Dixieland - and revival bands. The song was also used in several films; Judy Garland sang Black Bottom in A Star Is Born (1954), Sheree North, Jacques D'Ambroise and a choir in The Best Things In Life Are Free (1956).
Ray Henderson's composition is not to be confused with the Black Bottom Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton .
Notes and individual references
- ^ A b c Marvin E. Paymer, Don E. Post: Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Popular Songs . 1999, p. 83
- ↑ The Charleston, by James P. Johnson
- ↑ published on Piano Roll QRS roll # 3792
- ↑ With German text by Otto Stransky and Fritz Rotter ( This is the Black Bottom, everyone loves, the Black Bottom, everyone understands, only old people are still dancing Fox today! )
- ↑ a b Tom Lord: Jazz discography (online)