George Olsen and His Music - The Varsity Drag (1927)

Charted at #4 in 1927. From the musical, "Good News". Written by Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva and Ray Henderson. B-side is "Good News".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Olsen
• His
• Music
• varsity
• drag
• good
• news

[ThePeaceableKingdom]

Very nice transcription. A lot of Olsen's recording, especially those on YouTube, have a novelty appeal. But his straight song treatments (as well as his novelties) are always very good, very careful interesting arrangements. Always worth a listen. And the novelty appeal which must have quickly seemed a little corny has a different new appeal 80+ years and several generations later...

[CatsPjamas1]

@ThePeaceableKingdom He certainly had a great orchestra. Also, is this song in "Blazing Saddles"? I have never seen it.

[ThePeaceableKingdom]

@CatsPjamas1 Speaking from memory, I haven't seen it in many years, but there is a scene at the end where the western actors break through into the next soundstage where a musical is being filmed, in which there is a male chorus in formal wear (led by Dom DeLuise) singing and dancing to a song that sounds very similar. I don't think it's Varsity Drag, but it's as if they took the melody and wrote their own new lyrics for comic effect. In context it's a funny scene in a funny film.

[CatsPjamas1]

@ThePeaceableKingdom I've been thinking of watching the movie. I've heard a lot of good things about it. Perhaps I will!

[johnohconnor]

All of his recordings are classics from "The Roaring 20's" And great listening 80 years later. TKS

[Turkeydoodlers]

I was lucky to find this record on eBay, can't beat a Olsen

[rudiherold84]

best version by George Olsen

[ThePeaceableKingdom]

Oh, and why am I thinking of "Blazing Saddles"...