Sophie Tucker - Blue river (1927)

Sophie Tucker - Blue River 1927

(Joseph Meyer/Alfred Bryan), Accompanied by Ted Shapiro and a studio band. Sep 1, 1927. Chicago



Birds in the trees
And a song on the breeze
Blue River, why are you blue

Light of the Moon
And the starlight in view
Must they bring sadness to you

Must you sing of days gone by
Must you always sigh

Tell me why your song is sad, never glad
Blue River, Blue River
Do you hold the memory
Of a vanished dream

Sing to me of lips I've pressed and caressed
Blue River, Blue River
Till I saw my hopes
Go drifting down your stream

Can we both forget the night
Summer night, in a little canoe
When her blue eyes lost their light
As we whispered "adieu"

When I hear your lonesome song
Something's wrong
Blue River, Blue River
Maybe it's because I'm just as blue as you

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sophie
• Tucker
• Blue
• river
• 1920`s
• vaudeville
• comedienne
• Torch

[handilee1]

What a surprise! Pretty complex melody line and harmonic line as well . Good voice too, considering the limited recording skills at that time - 1927.

[aadjuijn]

@handilee1 Thanks...I totally agree with you. This is one of my favourite Sophie Tucker recordings. Grtz, Aad

[Oxfordclassicjazz]

Yes...very beautiful and haunting. The Goldkett Band version is a bit quicker but also very enchanting.

[aadjuijn]

@Oxfordclassicjazz I agree with you...in this version Sophie is accompanied by her pianist Ted Shapiro who leads a studio orchestra (don`t know the names of the members). Grtz, Aad

[ilmoradoscuro]

When I discovered this song I didn't stop until I got her CD. Beautiful song, great performance!

Thanks for sharing this song.

[aadjuijn]

@ilmoradoscuro Thank you...fine choise!

[thekarenheart]

your real i thought paul was teasining Sophie -trucker----FALLIN IN LOVE AGAIN---KENNY

[bsgs98]

As usual, Sophie knows how to sing a mournful ballad. I think this is exactly how the songwriters intended it to be performed. Jolson does a good rendition also.