[78-L] Kay Armen

[Cary Ginell]

Not so obscure. It was issued on Federal 14001, with backing by the (other) Ray Charles Singers. Here's the announcement of its release in Billboard, along with co-current releases by Ella Fitzgerald (Decca), Kay Starr (Capitol), and Louis Prima (Robin Hood). Seems like Prima's version was on the obscure label.

Cary Ginell

http://books.google.com/books?id=ah8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=kay+armen+come+on-a+my+house&source=bl&ots=5SP05RW967&sig=qXGL5A3EI1J8aTVC07LYFx4pNk4&hl=en&ei=oCGNTp-2L5SCsgKrsenKAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=kay%20armen%20come%20on-a%20my%20house&f=false

Cary Ginell

> Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 22:16:04 -0400
> From: dlennick at sympatico.ca
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Kay Armen
> 
> I was going to say she introduced it..and I thought she'd recorded it, on some 
> obscure label.
> 
> dl
> 
> On 10/5/2011 9:33 PM, David Lewis wrote:
> >
> > Cary,
> >
> > Definitely a very strong connection; Kay Armen first rolled out "Come On-a My House" as part of a
> > short-lived, local L.A. revue in 1945. This was Bagdasarian's first song, written in 1939 on a
> > drunken spree with his cousin William Saroyan -- the author. I would have loved to hear Kay sing
> > the song, but as far as I know she never recorded it. Rosemary Clooney, who did, sang it well, but
> > hated it.
> >
> > Uncle Dave Lewis
> > uncledavelewis at hotmail.com
> >
> > There is a tune written by Ross Bagdasarian (aka David Seville) called "Armen's Theme." I have it on a British London 78, but below is an image of the U.S. Liberty version. I never made the connection between Bagdasarian and Armen, but they both had Armenian roots (Armen's real name was Armenuhi Manoogian), so that probably indicates some sort of friendship between them.
> > The charming melody sounds more Italian than Armenian. I always liked Bagdasarian's non-Chipmunks instrumentals.
> >
> > http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-DAVID-SEVILLE-chipmunks-ARMENS-THEME-1956-VG-/270733839394?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item3f08fe8c22
> >
> > Cary Ginell
> >
> 
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