[Ads-l] Antedating of "Lay Down" (a beat)

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

Does this count?

"Lay down an opening half chorus"

Billboard - 12 Sept 1942

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CgwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT19&dq=music+%22lay+down+an+opening+half+chorus%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkps_w_5OQAxXGQEEAHRqpCXAQuwV6BAgHEAc#v=onepage&q=music%20%22lay%20down%20an%20opening%20half%20chorus%22&f=false

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Or this one? "Riff theme" instead of "beat"

"Unison Saxes lay down the riff theme to start with the
brasses swarming all over it as it builds"

The Billboard, October 31 1942.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT21&dq=jazz+%22lay+down+the+riff+theme+to+start+with+the+brasses+swarming+all+over+it+as+it+builds.%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLx7e4_JOQAxU1WkEAHT2lC6IQuwV6BAgHEAc#v=onepage&q=jazz%20%22lay%20down%20the%20riff%20theme%20to%20start%20with%20the%20brasses%20swarming%20all%20over%20it%20as%20it%20builds.%22&f=false

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This one should count, if Google dating is accurate.
possibly 1945, usual caveats.

"Grauso lays down a broad steady beat"

Piano Jazz issue 1.

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Piano_Jazz/kEw5AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22lays%20down%22%20%22%20a%20beat.%22

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And one slightly later than yours.
October 1946

"Lil Hardin and St Cyr could lay down a beat solid enough for an
even larger band"

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Shining_Trumpets_a_History_of_Jazz/NEwLAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22lay+down%22+%22+a+beat.%22&dq=%22lay+down%22+%22+a+beat.%22&printsec=frontcover


------ Original Message ------
From "Shapiro, Fred" <00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 06/10/2025 20:44:50
Subject Antedating of "Lay Down" (a beat)

>lay down (OED, 20., 1960)
>
>1946 Globe and Mail (Toronto) 10 Aug. 17/3 (Newspapers.com)
>
>There is more solo work than was usual in New Orleans music ... the rhythm section lays down a steady beat.
>
>Fred Shapiro
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org