Ian Whitcomb "Hello (What a Wonderful Word)"

[cypergiz]

best version of this is on soundtrack from The Fisher King... !



[leapingoutofwater]

I love this song!

[Suzito]

will you marry me

[dondonp12004]

I heard that song before. I love it! Thanks for the upload!

[PintSizePolkas]

I don't know of too many drummers who can keep beat with their left hand and play melody with their right hand at the same time. Great sound - thanks for posting!

[jkfan2005]

The first time I watched this one (or heard this song) was last Monday... and on Wednesday, my sister gave me an antique "CANCO" celebrity tin showing two fellows and with the words "Hello, Hello, Hello!" and "Gene and Glenn"... now I know it was their radio theme song.

I know a lot of old time radio, but I had never heard of Gene and Glenn.

There is a completely different (comic) song called "Hello Hello Hello" by the vaudeville team of Lewis and Dody.

[merbenzgill]

this song was played a lot in the string bands in philadelphia very nice song very nice

[Bobchai]

merbenzgill: (continued)

As a kid growing up in a small town near Philadelphia, I never could really understand this musical style (like barbershop quartets), but I have come to appreciate it very much. It is certainly a very interesting slice of Americana. Thanks for your comment!

[Bobchai]

merbenzgill: Are you referring to the Mummers? That's a very old Philadelphia tradition, going back 125 years or more. Several mens clubs compete in an annual parade, sporting banjos and wild feathered costumes and doing minstrel music. It's a little like Mardi Gras in New Orleans (much more tame, of course!)

[ouriel2]

from the movie "crazy people"

huge movie

[Bobchai]

ouriel2: Thanks for this information! Glad you enjoyed it, and I will check out the film.

[hrpman]

Good, old-fashioned music hall entertainment! What have we lost these past 50 years?

[oldolds53]

With this upload you really know how to spread joy to the audience.

I couldn't help smiling when I was watching the clip.

Tanks very much for sharing the joy of life with us!

[kern4]

a fun little jingle.. like it :o)

[Bobchai]

kern4: Glad you enjoyed it!

[Chuck1974]

Just watched a few YouTube posts of Ian Whitcomb from 1966 and now I see this from 2003. Ahhh, the passage of time, he's aged, as all of us will, but the voice sounds just like it did in the 60s. Lot of fun, thanks for posting.

[Bobchai]

Chuck1974 I am very gratified by your comment. I think Ian Whitcomb found his niche after the mid 1960s. He's now one of the foremost musicologists in the world, and he won an Academy Award for his work on the film 'Titanic' in 1998.

[Kittielips]

Delightfully delicious!!

5*****.

Jennie.

[Bobchai]

Kittielips Jennie: sorry for the late reply, but I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[Kittielips]

Thank you for your reply.

Ian's a very talented man, isn't he?

[Bobchai]

Kittielips Yes, very. And one of the most under-rated talents of the last forty years. So happy you enjoyed this.

[PeterZeeke]

brilliant XD

[Bobchai]

PeterZeeke:  I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[PeterZeeke]

hello!

[jinxabelle]

is this the original singer for this song?? my father used to sing this to me when i was small, so i don`t know...lol...and i randomly felt like looking it up today :)

[Bobchai]

junxabelle: No, Ian Whitcomb was probably not even born when it came out. However, he is the best source today for music of this era. He earned a Grammy for his musicology for the film, 'Titanic'. Also, this is a medley of 2 songs, including 'When You're Smiling'. Glad you enjoyed it! --Bob

[jinxabelle]

ooh haha...yess i very much enjoyed it! you wouldn`t happen to know who was the original artist? I think he says it, but I couldn`t catch it

[Bobchai]

I have tried to Google it, but no luck yet. Remember, in those days the songwriter and the singer were usually not the same person. So the author sounds like "Cal Duvall". 'When You're Smiling' was written by a team of songwriters, the names Fisher and Mark Goodwin are listed, but I'm unfamiliar with them. That song is from about the mid 1920s.

[jinxabelle]

i`ve discovered the original artist`s name was dudley moore...or that`s what i`m told :)

[tdub1941]

Fantastic Tune!

Ian nails it!

And the Bungalow Boys are great.

5 Stars.

RagJazzMonkey Tom

[Bobchai]

Tom--

I often send this video as an introduction, to Youtubers around the world who are unfamiliar with the Great American Songbook of the early 20th century. It's an international goodwill gesture and a great ice-breaker. Everybody loves this song!

[troyota1955]

Delightful! Wonderful group, wonderul songs, WONDERFUL spirit!!!!

(and I do admire the especially ambidextrous rhythm guy!)

XOX

Ukulele Katie

[fairalways]

Thanks Bob. A new favorite! A wonderful Christmas gift.

[Bobchai]

fairalways: Happy Christmas! I love that you enjoyed it. We're all in this life one time, after all; this ain't no rehearsal. Delighted that you engoyed this!

[Bobchai]

fairalways: Thanks, God bless, and thanks for subscribibing to this channel! I won't disappoint; there' more coming! Happy Christmas!

[Bobchai]

fairalways: Delighted!  Happy Christmas!

[gassyoldman]

I'm English, born in 1950, but I don't remember this guy! I just Googled him and found on YT ukie00 has a load of stuff from the 60s. I had a look and I still don't remeber. I think I must have been too into the Beatles and Stones. I do remember the Bonzo Dog Doo Daa Band - they had a similar feel. Great make-you-smile music. 5*****

Bill

[Bobchai]

gassyoldman: Thank you! I too was mainly with the Beatles and the Stones. Ian took up ukulele and early 20th century music after about 1966 or so. He's now one of the top musicologists in the world for this genre.

[ravishingV]

Hello Bobchai, I am having a wonderful time here. You see, my shoulders are bouncing left to right. I'll share this to my father and to our common You Tube friends. Many Many thanks 10K stars.

[Bobchai]

ravishingV: WOW, I am so honored that you enjoy this music! This is my passion: to introduce and to bring other eras of wonderful popular music alive for the present generations. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Are you in Monte Carlo? I know that city somewhat well.

[aracelina18]

Qué bueno!!!Son fantásticos.

5*****

Gracias Bob , tienes muy buen gusto.

[Kassandrakass]

Me lo llevo a mi lista

de reproduccion de: Cantantes

5 Estrellas

[Lillemy1]

WOW..actually a song I havnt heard before:)

It is Fantastic!

:)

Hilde

[arpajlleon]

Este video es una autentica maravilla, extraordinaria partitura y excelentes músicos.

Gracias amigo Bob... por todo.

Saludos: José Luis León, arpista.

[Bobchai]

arpajlleon: Gracias igualmente por verlo -- esto muestra tambien la meta de mi canal, de presentar la musica popular tipica americana, optimista y apreciada en todos paises. Saludos, Jose Luis!

[tdub1941]

DEEELISHUSSSS~! - 5 STARS. I lovit!

RagJazzMonkey

Tom Warner

[Bobchai]

Tom: Life is great! Considering the alternative.

[tdub1941]

Bob,

Life is great without even bothering to consider any alternatives!

Tom Warner

[GlimpseAfterGlimpse]

You bring light to a dark world.

Michael

[Bobchai]

GlimpseAfterGlimpse: Thank you, but we must really thank Mr Ian Whitcomb. Life either sucks or is brilliant; it's how we choose to live it; it's our choice, not our circumstances, which give us our outlook. I prefer to overlook the stresses of life and focus on the positive. Thanks, again.

[KGeert]

*BIIIIG SMIIILE*

[Bobchai]

KGeert: That's what life is about! Thanks!

[singalotme2]

Hey Bobchai, thanks so much, for the Amapola....what dvd does Ian have,and is it for sale ?

Poppa Gus

[Bobchai]

singaotme2 PoppaGus: I will give details on the DVD of Amapola when I upload. Ian has sent me so much stuff that I need to sort it out before I post. He's one of the most warm and generous people I've ever been in contact with.

[celestialsam]

Thanks for this, dear:) What a loverly song ;)

[Bobchai]

Celestialsam: More where that came from! Thanks!

[KrisShred]

Hello Sam ;-)

[singalotme2]

Hey Bobchai,exuce my bad spelling on prior response.

Do you by any chance have Ian's Amapola,had this and again it was removed.

Thanks again for your post

PoppaGus

[Bobchai]

singalotme2, PoppaGus: Ian Whitcomb has sent me his DVD of this song, along with his copyright permission. In fact, he is urging me to post "Amapola", and I will do so this weekend. Stay tuned, and thanks for watching!

[singalotme2]

Hey Bob SO thankful for your post,I had it once before ,but it was removed,and boy was I disapoined...

Many Many Thank Buddy

PoppaGus

[Bobchai]

Thanks! My take is that this medley is not that original -- we've heard "When You're Smiling" thousands of times, but that the interpretation is unique. And it DOES put a smile on your face.

[kspm01]

I fully agree, it's all about that witty performance!

[Bobchai]

kspm01: When I grew up near Philadelphia, there was a local cultural phenomenon known as the "Mummers", who strut their banjos and weird costumes in local parades; Philadelphia's answer to mardi gras. Ian says this number was inspired by the Mummers.

[Bobchai]

kspm01: When I grew up near Philadelphia, there was a local cultural phenomenon known as the "Mummers", who strut their banjos and weird costumes in local parades; Philadelphia's answer to mardi gras. Ian says this number was inspired by the Mummers.

[BlitzWing00]

A joyful song, puts a smile on my face just listening to it.

[WhistlingPaddy]

Wonderfull "V" ONDERFULL.............brought a long needed big smile to my face :)

[Bobchai]

Whistling Paddy: As a friend of mine once told me, "life ain't no rehearsal -- this is all we've got". Might as well relax, smile and enjoy it!

[EagleJonesMcBride]

This is great love it. Nice one

[Bobchai]

I've e-mailed Ian to watch your videos. Thanks!

[EagleJonesMcBride]

Thanks that's very kind

[pili2255]

Beatifuuuuuul!

[Bobchai]

pili2255: I'm happy you enjoyed it!