[78-L] Gender benders and publishers

[Rodger J Holtin]

At least twice over the years that I've been on 78-L the subject of a
particular gender performer singing a song obviously meant for the opposite
gender has come up.

The entries have included the Frank Bessinger vocal on I'd Rather Be the
Girl In Your Arms by the Goldkette band and Dinah Shore singing Chloe.

 

I seem to recall an exchange wherein somebody cited that this was because of
copyright holders not allowing even minor changes.  ASCAP was still new and
they were flexing their muscles rather than allow changes that might provide
an opening for somebody to make said changes and then copyright it as
theirs.

If anybody has any documentation on that facet of the story, I'd like to
share that with the theatre director at my alma mater. 

The just put on a little musical revue with this kind of stuff drawn from
Broadway shows, and after the show out in the parking lot I mentioned to him
that what they thought was funny or edgy was an old practice, and cited the
above examples.  He was immediately interested so I'll send him a few mp3s
of this kind of stuff.  

 

The depths of the brain tell me this was discussed at some length by a
writer who was explaining to youngsters why the Goldkette record sounded so
strange to our ears today (this was 1960s or 1970s.)  Jazz book?  Liner
notes?  Anybody remember anything like this?  Any help appreciated.

 

Rodger Holtin

78-L Member Since MCMXCVIII

 

For Best Results Use Victor Needles

 



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