A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)

[Jerome Foster]

That was "Ballard for Americans" which Bing Crosby recorded, though the
original version was recorded by the great Paul Robeson. I'm sure Mr Gray
can provide the details of its provenance which I don't remember except that
it was written from the left...

Jerome Foster.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Fitzke" <fitzke at MICHCOM.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)


> ---------------------- 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)
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>