Ezio Pinza with the Budapest String Quartet - "An X-Rated Song"

[transformingArt]

I also had this one on a Private LP made by Edward J. Smith.

[fiddlemandoguitar]

When I listened to this song, I heard "I 'sleep' well in the Sum..". I waited for the x-rated lyrics and heard none. I read the comments and saw references to "Scheisslied", and realize folks hear "shit" instead of "sleep".

I would enjoy this song with either lyric.

Btw, I've fallen asleep on the pot once or twice in my 66 y.

I'm sure that modern technology voice analysis could verify that it's Ezio singing and also tell us what verb word he is singing.

Any techies looking for a project!!

[VinylToVideo]

@fiddlemandoguitar I think you're the only person who's ever watched this and questioned the lyrics. Sorry, it's undoubtedly "shit" and definitely not "sleep." The rest of the lyrics would make even less sense if it were "sleep."

[thephantom1946]

@VinylToVideo I believe as you do, I KNOW he had a very bawdy sense of humor, no doubt about it.

[MTondeleo]

Exceptional post! jmccracken1963 hits the nail on the head. I used to joke, if I were a Rich Little impressionist I'd do Jussi Björling and sing just like him. Can't be done. This is Ezio, one & only! I worked at MGM when Pinza was filming "Mr. Imperium." He was known to be a lovable, gutter-mouth rascal.. This recording fits him to a T. BTW, I saw the script of a movie (1950), "The Pinza-Lanza story," but MGM abandoned the project. What a treasure it would've been today!

[jmccracken1963]

Oh, it's Pinza, all right: sounds like it was recorded around the same time as SOUTH PACIFIC. I'll bet you that Columbia had some extra session time left over, both Pinza and the Budapest were in the studio on the same days, and Goddard Lieberson set this one up as a "private" recording for the amusement of the performers and himself, something meant to be played at home, as a "party record." It's VERY good and VERY FUNNY!!!!! Thank your for sharing this "Scheisslied" with us!!!

[RVP57]

Tee hee....not entirely sure it's Pinza either but nonetheless hilarious. I heard this (or heard of this) many years ago. Thanks for the chuckle!

[gaytenor]

VinylToVideo: OMG is this funny!!!!!! There is nothing I can say about this totally fabulous video

[Kievest]

Highbrow hilarity. Thanks for sharing.

[paulostroff99]

I suppose that this proved him to be in possession of a good sense of humour. Bravo!

[halavey]

great i love it he was a great singer and man.

[sospello]

Ahhhhh--this is so funny and I think very worthy of my playlist--you know the one! I see no reason why you should not post it, but of course there will always be those with no sense of humor. Now that I have recovered from falling down laughing--I have to ask about the circumstances of recording this little number. Bravo!!

[VinylToVideo]

It is hilarious and very worthy of your playlist! Wish I had more info on the recording but know pretty well nothing. Some apparently believe it is Lorenzo Alvary singing but no way, it is undoubtedly Pinza. I think the recording used to be a bit of a myth and is certainly very hard to come by. Why the hell Pinza and the Budapest String Quartet would ever record this I have no idea.

[sospello]

Glad you chose to share it--made my day!

[paulostroff99]

VinylToVideo-No shit! Is this really for real?

[VinylToVideo]

Yes although I wish I could say this is really me doing a Pinza impression!

[sospello]

Rob titaruffo2 in Belgium is a YT friend of mine who collects early recordings who likes this post very much but wonders what in your mind establishes it as Pinza's voice since he is not sure it is although that may just be the recording quality. I do not know the discography he mentions, but if this was a private recording maybe it is not listed anywhere with an attribution.

[VinylToVideo]

Surely no discography is totally complete; think of all the privately recorded concerts and recitals etc. For all I know this was a joke song done during a rehearsal that was recorded without their knowledge! I guess we can't be 100% sure it is really Pinza but it sure sounds like him to me and the playing is up to the standards of the Budapest quartet. Listen to any Pinza recording in English and compare or even a Met broadcast with him where the sound is similar or worse..

[VinylToVideo]

.. I've done a bit of searching online and this can also be found called "Lovely Tune." If this isn't Pinza the impersonation is flawless. Pinza was apparently a very imaginative improviser of off color lyrics in the studio and I still say it's him!

[sospello]

I am certainly not that sharp on the range of possiblities and take it as Pinza having fun, for which I thank him (as I pick myself up off the floor again) and you.

[titaruffo2]

Es-tu vraiment sûre que ce soit Ezio Pinza? J'ai écouté plusieurs fois cet extrait, mais je ne suis pas convaincu que ce soit la voix d'Ezio Pinza. Cela manque de timbre et de grave bien que l' enregistrement soit précaire. J'ai consulté la discographie d'Ezio Pinza paru dans "The Record Collector, vol.26, N° 5&6. Je ne l'ai pas trouvé. Il serait intéressant d'avoir des précisions sur l'origine de cet enregistrement. .

Mais c'est très amusant.