@nashtwin8 Well now, I think you've sent me on a quest. When I'm not half-asleep, I'm seeing if any of the songs you mentioned are on youtube or other places I have access to. I've heard "Merry Oldsmobile," by Billy Murray, but not the others. I love this sort of music--early 1900s to 1930s. Oddly, Amazon reviewers tend to put down people like me who enjoy this music.
Wonder if Henry Ford had any opinion of this song as an ad for his product. An obscure beer company made a record advertising its product in 1911, not sure how many other companies did that before radio made wider advertising audible.
@musicmandon1 I imagine Henry Ford thought this song was great since it praised his product. There were other songs about specific cars back then, but I don't know that any of them were commissioned by car companies. Aside from the famous 'In My Merry Oldsmobile' there were 'Take Me On A Buick Honeymoon' and 'Ray And His Little Chevrolet'. Later on 'Henry's Made A Lady Out Of Lizzie' celebrated the great improvements when the Ford Model A replaced the Model T for 1928.
@antmooak Billy Murray described his style of forceful singing as ‘hammering’, since he practically had to hammer his voice out for it to be loud enough to be picked up on the master record. His technique combined with a super human lung capacity made him the most sought after recording artist of the accoustical recording era.
I heard this on an Edison cylinder record as a youngster my uncle had two morning glory bells snd a combination 2&4 minute modelas well as single sime units. we were allowed to listen to them on rainy days, late forties and early fifties
Anyone who wants this song on a cd can order "Flashbacks, Vol. 2 - Novelty Songs 1914-1946: Crazy & Obscure" from Amazon. I did. It has some really cool, obscure stuff on it.
Thanks for the comment. I have owned this Victrola since I was about 10 years old, now close to 60. I purchased it at a large outdoor flea market. The elderly man I bought it from was selling out his collection, he was a retired master repairman. I picked out this machine after listening to a half dozen or so. He then went on to tell me how much work he had done to the unit, and to take care of it. The tone has always been stunning for such a small unit, like a Stradivarius I guess, lol!
same here. I dont know whats so great about people talking really fast or screaming till you cant hear anything. thats why i dont like american music that much
We, too, have this record. Mine does not have the sound of the horn in the front - at least not like that! Our words are different too. Where it says "darn ol' donkey, kicked like a fool." ours sings, "Darn ol'd jackass kicked like a fool."
We had a a record of this song when I was a kid- I'm in my 60s. But it was NOT Bill Murray. I dropped the record. I must have about 7 years old. Of course in those days that meant it shattered for all time.
Does anyone know who did another version - and better yet do you have a copy?
No idea when this other version was cut -- maybe in the teens, like this one, maybe in the 30s, maybe 40s. It was a better version, or maybe I'm just being nostalgic.
Excellent clip. Thank you!!! My grandfather had a similar recording I used to listen to as a youngster, but it was a slightly different version. It was the same singer (Billy Murray, I think) but it didn't have the horn.
This song is great! One thing I noticed in the video is that the section of the record that the needle passed gets lighter as it moves accross the record.
The horn doesn't sound 'ah-ooga' because an electric horn powered by the magneto became standard in 1917. The record was made in 1915 and the horn would have been brass with a squeeze bulb.
my school linked this to me... huh...
DeltKey911 3 months ago
@nashtwin8 Well now, I think you've sent me on a quest. When I'm not half-asleep, I'm seeing if any of the songs you mentioned are on youtube or other places I have access to. I've heard "Merry Oldsmobile," by Billy Murray, but not the others. I love this sort of music--early 1900s to 1930s. Oddly, Amazon reviewers tend to put down people like me who enjoy this music.
musicmandon1 3 months ago
heard this on car talk and just had to hear the whole version. i wonder if Jello Biafra knows of this record.
DeathToRetro666 4 months ago
Wonder if Henry Ford had any opinion of this song as an ad for his product. An obscure beer company made a record advertising its product in 1911, not sure how many other companies did that before radio made wider advertising audible.
musicmandon1 5 months ago
@musicmandon1 I imagine Henry Ford thought this song was great since it praised his product. There were other songs about specific cars back then, but I don't know that any of them were commissioned by car companies. Aside from the famous 'In My Merry Oldsmobile' there were 'Take Me On A Buick Honeymoon' and 'Ray And His Little Chevrolet'. Later on 'Henry's Made A Lady Out Of Lizzie' celebrated the great improvements when the Ford Model A replaced the Model T for 1928.
nashtwin8 3 months ago
I just watched a video of a blue edison cylinder recording of this song and I noted the words "donkey" was switched with "jack ass"
lobsterbox20 10 months ago
Heard this while listening to Car Talk (rejoiner during the break) It has the cadence of a rap tune from the early 90's
antmooak 1 year ago
@antmooak Billy Murray described his style of forceful singing as ‘hammering’, since he practically had to hammer his voice out for it to be loud enough to be picked up on the master record. His technique combined with a super human lung capacity made him the most sought after recording artist of the accoustical recording era.
retrod1 1 year ago
I heard this on an Edison cylinder record as a youngster my uncle had two morning glory bells snd a combination 2&4 minute modelas well as single sime units. we were allowed to listen to them on rainy days, late forties and early fifties
gmed1243 1 year ago
Anyone who wants this song on a cd can order "Flashbacks, Vol. 2 - Novelty Songs 1914-1946: Crazy & Obscure" from Amazon. I did. It has some really cool, obscure stuff on it.
lobo81865 1 year ago
I love it! I have that same record!
Coincidentally, that is the same Victrola that I have! The only difference is that yours works and mine does not.
Valveman11 1 year ago
good old Ford
KREAGERWAVES 2 years ago
great toon it sure bets the new crap out hare now my 3 year old son love this song he gots great tase for music
dr23foxbody 2 years ago
This was one of my favorite 78s growing up. Now I understand why my father got so upset when I broke it
tacobor 2 years ago
I have heard this song.. my father has a Victrola and this on record.. I love this..
Thanks for posting and sharing
Laura from Michigan
ldcramer6887 2 years ago
always love billy murray! thanks for posting...wonderful sound from your portable!
VTMCompany 2 years ago
Thanks for the comment. I have owned this Victrola since I was about 10 years old, now close to 60. I purchased it at a large outdoor flea market. The elderly man I bought it from was selling out his collection, he was a retired master repairman. I picked out this machine after listening to a half dozen or so. He then went on to tell me how much work he had done to the unit, and to take care of it. The tone has always been stunning for such a small unit, like a Stradivarius I guess, lol!
retrod1 2 years ago
I'm in my teens, and I find this MUCH more appealing than rap.
BellyRubProductions 3 years ago
I'm in my teens and I agree!
1947Desoto 3 years ago
Ditto!
16mmDJ 3 years ago
Me too, but deep down inside I'm at least 80.
DeLorean4 2 years ago
same here. I dont know whats so great about people talking really fast or screaming till you cant hear anything. thats why i dont like american music that much
zOMGflame 2 years ago
1915 was a grate year .
ilove1994 3 years ago
We, too, have this record. Mine does not have the sound of the horn in the front - at least not like that! Our words are different too. Where it says "darn ol' donkey, kicked like a fool." ours sings, "Darn ol'd jackass kicked like a fool."
pvknitwit 3 years ago 2
grate song .
ilove1994 3 years ago 2
We had a a record of this song when I was a kid- I'm in my 60s. But it was NOT Bill Murray. I dropped the record. I must have about 7 years old. Of course in those days that meant it shattered for all time.
Does anyone know who did another version - and better yet do you have a copy?
No idea when this other version was cut -- maybe in the teens, like this one, maybe in the 30s, maybe 40s. It was a better version, or maybe I'm just being nostalgic.
- DR
dkrubeutube 4 years ago 4
Possibly Arthur Fields? There's a video of his recording here on youtube.
1947Desoto 3 years ago 3
That's it. Pretty strange hearing something you haven't heard in half a century. Thanks for your reply.
dkrubeutube 3 years ago 3
Your welcome, you can't answer the question in my comment lower down the page from 3 month ago can you?
1947Desoto 3 years ago 3
Not sure what your question is from this format I'm looking at.
dkrubeutube 3 years ago 3
Never mind.
1947Desoto 3 years ago 3
Excellent clip. Thank you!!! My grandfather had a similar recording I used to listen to as a youngster, but it was a slightly different version. It was the same singer (Billy Murray, I think) but it didn't have the horn.
456089712 4 years ago
This song is great! One thing I noticed in the video is that the section of the record that the needle passed gets lighter as it moves accross the record.
1947Desoto 4 years ago
The lyrics you typed are slightly off
MattShizzle 4 years ago
Why doesn't the horn sound an "ah-ooga?"
ChomuSclavus 4 years ago
The horn doesn't sound 'ah-ooga' because an electric horn powered by the magneto became standard in 1917. The record was made in 1915 and the horn would have been brass with a squeeze bulb.
retrod1 4 years ago
Awesome!
Lumotaku 4 years ago