"Three Little Words" (The Rhythm Boys)

Originally with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, here the Boys team up with Duke Ellington's Band for Ruby and Kalmar's "Three Little Words"...first heard on the soundtrack of Amos & Andy's "Check and Double Check" (1930).

THREE LITTLE WORDS

Three little words
Oh what I'd give for that wonderful phrase
To hear those three little words
That's all I'd live for the rest of my days
And what I feel in my heart
They tell sincerely
No other words can tell it half so clear-early
Three little words
Eight little letters
Which simply mean I love you-ou
And what I feel in my heart
They tell sincerely
No other words can tell it half so clear-early
Three little words
Eight little letters
Which simply mean I love you
Simply mean I-I love you-ou!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Three Little Words
• Rhythm
• Boys
• Crosby
• Ruby
• Kalmar
• Amos
• Andy
• Whiteman
• Ellington

[Patrick3183]

I want an album full of songs like this

[RReady555]

YouTube's the place to assemble it, friend! ;)

[vinylsingleman]

It went to #1....unusual because white singers were singing for a black orchestra leader, which was still considered taboo at the time. Was a groundbreaking milestone for integration as well, although it is likely many record buyers didn't know the Duke was black.

[RReady555]

Appreciate your insight--yeah, funny to think of Crosby as sideman with Ellington. Didn't realize it had made #1--I can see why! ;)

Best,

-RR

[kia1944]

as you told me it's an awesome song from a great period of american song -making

[RReady555]

Merci!

Yes, the greatest American songs were written between the World Wars...more great tunes were composed in the one year, 1930, than have been written here in the 28 years since 1980.

Melody in music and poetry in lyrics. It's a simple formula. ;)

[tuxguys]

Immediately after the vocals, the band goes from 2-beat to "swing"-feel... Does anyone know of an earlier musical example of a band swinging (4-to-the-bar)?

I don't.

[lilmike55912]

so many versions but this is the best!

[rosieyposie7]

this early '30s Duke Ellington Orchestra played GREAT MUSIC!

that was BING CROSBY in the VOCALS right?

THANKS 4posting this CLEARER version that everyone seems to haveUNCLEAR@utube"""

Rosiey

[Ansaldo29]

@Ansaldo29 I explain myself: Decalegrón was a comedy program on uruguayan TV, aired between 70's and 2002. It used this song (in an other version) to it's intro. You can see an example in the video called "Homenaje a Decalegrón -El video club, la risa de película-" (you tube don't let me put the url)

Have you any info about Decalegron Version?

[sbd650]

Wonderful! *****

[Ansaldo29]

Decalegron!!!!!!!!!! :P

[StepsInTime]

I watched Three Little Words (the Kalmar & Ruby biopic) a few weeks ago, simply because I saw that Fred Astaire was in it, and immediately fell in love with all of their music! They were truly geniuses.

[StepsInTime]

LOVE that movie! Red Skelton and Fred Astaire could not have been more perfect!

[misspaddylee]

Some movie trivia: Bing has a cameo appearance in the Ruby & Kalmar biopic "Three Little Words".