Basie's Pre-Code & Classic Musical Highlights

"Isn't It Romantic?" is a popular song by Rodgers & Hart, and is part of the Great American Songbook. Alec Wilder, in his book American Popular Song: The Great Innovators 1900–1950, calls it "a perfect song."

It was introduced by Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald in the Paramount comedy Love Me Tonight (1932) https://www.bitchute.com/video/dre4p55yijPY/. It has since been recorded numerous times, with and without vocals, by many jazz and popular artists. The song has also since been featured in a number of other movies.

In Love Me Tonight, the song is used in a sequence in which it is first sung by Maurice Chevalier, a tailor, and then taken up by others (his customer, a cabby, a composer, a troop of soldiers, a band of gypsies, and is finally heard and sung by a princess, played by Jeanette MacDonald. In 2004 this version finished at #73 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.

"42nd Street" is the title song from the 1933 classic film 42nd Street, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin. It is the finale of the film, where it is sung by Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and ensemble. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/VGkPMORaiFtC/

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is a timeless classic by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the film Dames (1934), and sung here by Dick Powell. Several successful recordings of the song were made in 1934; later, there were charted versions by Billie Holiday (1952), The Flamingos (1959), Frank Sinatra (1962) and Art Garfunkel (1975). See the full film here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/6kDTb2WUW6h4/

Full movie: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/
"Pettin' in the Park" by Warren and Dubin is sung by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. The women get caught in a rainstorm and go behind a backlit screen to remove their wet clothes. They emerge in metal garments, which thwart the men's attempts to remove them, until Powell obtains a can opener.

When You Were a Smile on Your Mother's Lips (and a Twinkle in Your Daddy's Eye) is a short song by Irving Kahal (words) and Sammy Fain (music). It debuted in the 1933 musical film, Dames, in which it was sung by Dick Powell to Ruby Keeler. Full movie: https://www.bitchute.com/video/6kDTb2WUW6h4/

"Shuffle Off to Buffalo" is a song written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin and introduced in the 1933 musical film 42nd Street, in which Ruby Keeler and Clarence Nordstrom sang and danced to it. Ginger Rogers, Una Merkel, and the Chorus also performed it in the film. The lyrics talk about going by railroad train "to Niag'ra in a sleeper" for a honeymoon. Niagara Falls, near Buffalo, New York, was long a popular honeymoon destination.

A musical celebration of female beauty, from the classic 1934 film, Dames. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/6kDTb2WUW6h4/

"We're in the Money" is a song from the 1933 Warner Bros. film Gold Diggers of 1933, sung in the opening sequence by Ginger Rogers and chorus. Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, it has become a standard. Watch the whole classic movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/

We're in the money!
We're in the money!
We've got a lot of what it takes to get along!
We're in the money!
The skies are sunny!
Ol' Man Depression, you are through, you done us wrong!
We never see a headline 'bout a bread line today,
And when we see the landlord,
We can look that guy right in the eye!
We're in the money!
Come on, my honey!
Let's spend it, lend it, send it rolling along!

Joan Blondell sings a tribute to the "forgotten men" who sacrificed so much in the Great War of 1914-18. Clipped from the classic film Gold Diggers of 1933. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/

A musical celebration of female beauty, from the 1933 pre-Code musical, Footlight Parade, starring James Cagney. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/84io1hwK67FL/

"You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me" is a 1932 popular song with music by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Al Dubin, which became a standard. The lyrics of the song were noted for its references to addiction. Sung by Bebe Daniels, the full movie is here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/VGkPMORaiFtC/. This channel's favourite version is Frank Sinatra's 1956 recording (but the MFSL master is best!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFMI7zU3NM8

"I've Got to Sing a Torch Song," is a short song written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. The song has been recorded by many artists, including Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallée, and Al Bowlly. Dick Powell sang the song in the film "Gold Diggers of 1933." The song is also featured in the 1933 Merrie Melodies cartoon of the same name. Watch the whole classic movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/

In 1933 James Cagney sought to shed his tough, gangster image, and one of the results of that decision is this song-and-dance routine with Ruby Keeler, from the classic pre-Code film, Footlight Parade. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/84io1hwK67FL/

Taken from the classic 1934 film Dames, "I Only Have Eyes for You" is a song of love and obsession written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, the focus of which here is silverscreen star Ruby Keeler. The song quickly became a standard, covered over the years by such diverse artists as Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Art Garfunkel. Watch the full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/6kDTb2WUW6h4/

The Shadow Waltz is a love song by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. The song features twice in the classic Depression-era film Gold Diggers of 1933, first in this short version sung by Dick Powell to sweetheart Ruby Keeler backed by only a piano, and then later in the film sung by both Powell and Keeler in a longer version backed by an orchestra. The orchestral sequence is notable for its visually innovative use of neon-lit violins. Watch the whole classic movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/

Honeymoon Hotel is a song by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, featured in the James Cagney film Footlight Parade, and performed by Dick Powell. Full movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/84io1hwK67FL/

How am I to say
What I want to say
In the proper way, my dear
I'm not a gallant cavalier
But I'm sincere

So, I'm gonna say
All I have to say
In the language of the day
You may have heard it all before
But here it goes once more

How about a little celebration
To the jingle of a wedding bell
How about a little reservation
At the Honeymoon Hotel

Honeymooning's going to be my hobby
Don't you think a honeymoon is swell
Wait until we walk into the lobby
Of the Honeymoon Hotel

Cupid is the night clerk
Neath the stars above
He just loves his night work
Mm, we just love to love

Oh, I'm a mister looking for a missus
As a missus, you'll do very well
Bring along your things and all your kisses
To the Honeymoon Hotel

I'm the man in charge of transportation
I will see that ev'rything goes well.
I'm the clerk in charge of registration
At the Honeymoon Hotel

I'm the boy who carries up a sidle
Any time you push a little bell
Bridal suites are never very idle
At the Honeymoon Hotel

We're the house detectives,
But we're puzzled with
The fact that no-one stops here
Unless their name is Smith

I'm the girl in charge of conversation
I hear things I wouldn't dare to tell
I's the captain of the comfort station
At the Honeymoon Hotel

Aren't you glad to see your dear old mother?
Tell me why you didn't let us know
No, they didn't notify us, mother
Ha-ha, but they will when they need dough, oh yes!

Aunt Matilda has a present for you
It will come in handy, you can bet
We got that just twenty years before you
But it ain't been used as yet

Congratulations, sister!
All your clouds have passed
Congratulations, father!
She's off your hands at last

Course you know that all of you are welcome
I'm so glad to see you, I could cry
It's a lot of hooey that we're welcome!
We'll be seeing you—goodbye!

I've been notified
There's a little bride
All alone in Number Two
I think we ought to see her through
I will! Me, too!

We've been here a week
When you're here a week
Then you're qualified to speak
Let's tell her what it's all about
My dear, will you come out?

Oh, I'm glad it's you, I feel so nervous
I don't know my husband very well
Husbands are a feature of the service
At the Honeymoon Hotel

Gee, I'm sorry that I ever, ever
Left my little home in New Rochelle
Wait a while, you'll want to stay forever
At the Honeymoon Hotel

Girls, you'll have to scatter
We don't see why we should
You're in Jersey City
And not in Hollywood!

We've got to be in bed before eleven
Naturally, we think it's very swell
'Cause every little bridal suite is heaven
At the Honeymoon Hotel

Kiss your little honey boy good-night, girl
Now we're married, dear, and here we are
I've a right to be beside the right girl
But you're in the wrong boudoir!

Don't you dare to lie to me, I caught you...
Getting friendly with that blonde gazelle
Please don't make me sorry that I brought you
To the Honeymoon Hotel

In the morning, I'll see my attorney
I will have my little tale to tell
And for this I took you on this journey
To the Honeymoon Hotel!

Who was that blonde woman
Making eyes at you?
I don't know that woman
I cross my heart it's true

If I've hurt your feelings, I regret it
Won't you please forgive your little Nell?
Ah, let's turn out the lights and just forget it...

"Sitting on a Backyard Fence" is a song by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics) and was featured in the pre-Code musical film Footlight Parade, sung by Ruby Keeler and Billy Taft dressed in cat costumes.

The Shadow Waltz is a love song by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. The song features twice in the classic Depression-era film Gold Diggers of 1933, first in a short version sung by Dick Powell to sweetheart Ruby Keeler backed by only a piano, and secondly sung by both Powell and Keeler in this longer version backed by an orchestra. The sequence is notable for its innovative portrayal of girls playing neon-lit violins. Watch the whole classic movie here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/ujrz998Hj88j/

"Young and Healthy" was written in 1932 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, and had its theatrical debut in the 1933 musical film 42nd Street, in which it was sung by Dick Powell with Chorus.

"Ol' Man River" is a show tune from the 1927 musical and 1936 film Show Boat with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The song is notable for several aspects: the lyrical pentatonic-scale melody, the subjects of toil and social class, metaphor to the Mississippi, and as a bass solo (rare in musicals, solos for baritones or tenors being more common).

Composed by Victor Schertzinger and Clifford Grey and performed by Maurice Chevalier in the 1929 pre-Code feature film "The Love Parade". Watch the full film here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/3SpyBHBp5A3Q/

Full film: https://www.bitchute.com/video/3SpyBHBp5A3Q/

Snuggle near, baby dear
Why so haughty and severe?
Let's get together
And cuddle up right here

Bear in mind I'm refined
And I'm not that way inclined
Where's your proper pride?
Why be so dignified?

Squeeze me once, squeeze me twice
S' most improper but, oh, it's nice!
Let's be common and do it again

Hug me, do, close to you
S'a beautiful feeling and thrills me through
Let's be common and do it again

I'll surely smother! Oh, let me go, sir
This isn't right
Oh, darling mother! If you could see your
Daughter tonight

Grip my neck! Grab my hand!
S' most improper, but, oh, it's grand!
Let's be common and do it again

S'a lovely moon, s'a lovely night
S' matter with you? You're so polite!
S' let's be common and do it again

You crush me, I'll crush you
S' possible we'll be black-and-blue
S' let's be common and do it again

Can't you be gentle? You'll bruise me till I'm ultramarine
Be sentimental, but don't act like a threshing machine

S' let's be rough, you know how
S' no use struggling, too late now
S' let's be common and do it again

Don't do it again!

From the film Fashions of 1934. https://www.bitchute.com/video/2mrm6vofkHL1/

Watch classic 1933 pre-Code film She Done Him Wrong (1933), starring Mae West and Cary Grant, here:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/rVWUeudgFhpV/

This delightful short song was later covered by Louis Armstrong, becoming a jazz standard. Its reference to "Darkies" and (cotton) fields caused controversy with Armstrong's black audiences, and the lyrics were subsequently changed. The version here is from 1931 pre-Code drama Safe in Hell, which is available to watch on BasedTV here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/gXFMYFcSEMK4/

When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Muse/René/René)

Pale moon's shinin' on the fields below
Oh, Darkies croonin' so soft and low
Oh, you needn't tell me, boy, because I know
When it's sleepy time down south

Soft wind blowin' through the pinewood trees
All close down home livin' life of ease
Oh, when my old mammy falls upon her knees
It's sleepy time down south, oh

Steamboats on the river, are coming an' a-goin'
Oh, they're splashin' the night away
Oh, you'll hear those banjos strummin'
Oh, an' the Darkies hummin'
They'll dance 'til the break of day

Oh, dear, old southland with a dreamy song
Oh, come take me back to my man 'n de town
Oh, how I'd love to hold him in my arms
When it's sleepy time down south