[78-L] Gender benders and publishers

[Rodger J Holtin]

Can somebody send me whatever Michael Musto wrote in those liner notes?

I remember two early discussions of this.  The first was when I was but a
kid of 19 at the Coon-Sanders bash way back in 1970.  Gennett bandleader
Curt Hitch, Goldkette trombonist Bill Rank and collector Bob Fertig were
laughing at the mention of the "Girl In Your Arms" Bessinger vocal, and
after some disparaging remark about it, Rank said, "yeah, the publisher made
Victor do that."  Perhaps there was more to the discussion, but that's all I
remember.  Later, possibly in the 70s or 80s I read a little discussion of
that from some critic/author like George Simon, or James T. Maher, or
somebody of that stature, and again the upshot was the folks at ASCAP or
individual publishing houses took a dim view of anybody changing their
stuff, even to make more sense.  That it does not seem to have been equally
applied over all circumstances, and we can plausibly explain away some of
these, and it seems to have been less of an issue the later in the 78-era we
go, none of that really alters the possible fact that at least some
publishers had that kind of policy in place, and that's what I'd like to
track down, if possible.

Rodger Holtin
78-L Member Since MCMXCVIII

For Best Results Use Victor Needles

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of David Jessup
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 2:12 PM
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Subject: Re: [78-L] Gender benders and publishers


Michael Musto wrote the liners for the Columbia/Legacy "Art Deco" CD "Can't
Help Lovin' That Man." (Columbia CK 52855, 1993.)

I was referring to that disc when I wrote liners for a Benny Goodman release
saying "I'm still waiting for one for the distaff side..." including
selections such as Martha Tilton singing "I Must See Annie Tonight." Haven't
seen such an animal yet.

Cheers! - Dave Jessup


Message: 1
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2019 22:05:56 -0500
From: Rodger J Holtin
Subject: [78-L] Gender benders and publishers

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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