A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)

[Robert Fitzke]

My folks used to have some of Bing's stuff. I don't remember ever hearing
him do "Shine" but I do have a recollection of a multiple 78 disc set that
was some kind of historical/patriotic thing in which he sings/talks about
"We are endowed by our Creator wioth certain inalienable rights and among
these rights ate LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS". I can still
hear it my head. Also there were references to Chaim (?) Solomon and other
Revolutionary figures. Stirring stuff to a kid in his single digits. I used
to think Bing was somewhat square until I heard him do some stuff with Louis
and then Ella. That changed my views. I also suspect he recognized the
in-your-face lyrics of Shine when he did his version.

Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilson Gray" <wilson.gray at RCN.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)


> On Mar 30, 2005, at 9:18 PM, Robert Fitzke wrote:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Robert Fitzke <fitzke at MICHCOM.NET>
>> Subject:      Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> --------
>>
>> The Verse seems to support the notion the author was turning lemons
>> into
>> lemonade. Laine's version changes "Takes trouble...." to "Always take
>> my
>> troubles with a great big smile" then "Just 'cause I'm always handy,
>> Always
>> feelin' fine and dandy, That is...."
>>
>> Did you get anything about the author?
>>
> Damn! I didn't think about that at all. Hm. I'll see what I can find
> out. BTW, if I remember what I read correctly, way, way back when, Bing
> Crosby did a version of this in which he was backed up by the Mills
> Brothers. Der Bingle sang the "dirty" version, with the Brothers
> backgrounding him with a cleaned-up version. Weird, even if not true.
> *Really* weird, if true.
>
> -Wilson Gray
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Wilson Gray" <wilson.gray at RCN.COM>
>> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 7:50 PM
>> Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>>
>>
>>> 1910 version of "Shine"
>>>>
>>>> VERSE
>>>> When I was born they christened me plain Samuel Johnson Brown.
>>>> But I hadn't grown so very tall, 'fore some folks in this town
>>>> Had changed it 'round to "Sambo." I was "Rastus" to a few.
>>>> Then "Chocolate Drop" was added by some others that I knew.
>>>> And then, to cap the climax, I was strolling down the line
>>>> When someone shouted, "Fellas, hey! Come on and pipe the shine!"
>>>> But I don't care a bit.
>>>> Here's how I figure it:
>>>>
>>>> CHORUS
>>>>
>>>> Well, just because my hair is curly,
>>>> And just because my teeth is pearly,
>>>> Just because I always wears a smile,
>>>> Likes to dress up in the latest style.
>>>> Just because I'm glad I'm livin',
>>>> Takes trouble smilin', never whine.
>>>> Just because my color's shady,
>>>> Slightly different, maybe.
>>>> That is why they call me shine.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 27, 2005, at 3:14 PM, Robert Fitzke wrote:
>>>
>>>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>>> -----------------------
>>>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>>> Poster:       Robert Fitzke <fitzke at MICHCOM.NET>
>>>> Subject:      Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> --
>>>> --------
>>>>
>>>> Dear Mr. Gray:
>>>>
>>>> I'm a 79 year old semi-retired lawyer and long-time ADS lurker. I'm
>>>> also a
>>>> long-time collector of jazz  records (since age 12) with something
>>>> more than
>>>> 1,000 albums. I recently bought a CD of Frankie Laine hits (he was
>>>> big
>>>> in my
>>>> late teens/early twenties) that includes a cut of "Shine". In
>>>> listening to
>>>> it I think I really heard the lyrics for the first time. The thought
>>>> ocurred
>>>> that there must be something more behind these lyrics than it appears
>>>> from a
>>>> casual listen. Specifically it seems as if the lyricist has taken a
>>>> collection of derogatory racial comments and turned them into
>>>> compliments.
>>>>
>>>> You seem to have an interest in music and a knowledge of these
>>>> matters. Do
>>>> you happen to know anything about the background behind this song or
>>>> if my
>>>> impression is on or off target?
>>>>
>>>> Will appreciate your comments.
>>>>
>>>> Bob Fitzke
>>>>
>>>
>>
>