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Sweet Georgia Brown
Old-Time jazz and bluegrass standard by Ben Bernie, Macco Pinkard and Kenneth Casey; Widely known; US
ARTIST: Ethel Waters 1925
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
EARLIEST DATE: 1925
RECORDING INFO: Sweet Georgia Brown - Bernie, Ben/Pinkard, Macco/Casey, Kenneth
Anastasio, Paul;, Joe Holly, Frank Hicks. We Ain't Misbehavin', Arhoolie 5032, LP (1983), trk# A.02
Austin, Lonnie;, Buck Easley, and Alice Easley. Virginia Carolina Sampler, Flying Cloud FC 007, LP (1988), trk# A.03a
Bain, Aly; and Mike Whellans. Aly Bain - Mike Whellans, Trailer LER 2022, LP (1971), trk# A.06
Berst, Mike. Favorite American Melodies, Vol. 1, Berst TT 01, Cas (1988), trk# 10
Block, Steven. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1980/02,p14
Borchelt, Don. Pickin' Magazine, Pickin' Magazine, Ser, 1975/01,p18
Chasman, Paul. Solo Guitar, Rose, LP (1978), trk# A.03
Crawford, Roy. Front Porch Fiddling in Alabama, Crawford --, CD (2003), trk# 11
Grappelli, Stephane; and David Grisman. Stephane Grappelli and David Grisman, Live, Warner BSK 3550, LP (1981), trk# 4
Henderson, Wayne; and Robin Kessinger. Contest Favorites, Flying Cloud FC-010, LP (1989), trk# B.02
Jim & Bob (The Genial Hawaiians). String Ragtime, Yazoo L-1045, LP (1974), trk# 1 [1930ca]
Knopf, Bill. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1984/02,p14-1
Martin, Bogen & Armstrong. Barnyard Dance, Rounder 2003, LP (1972), trk# 6
Miller, Dale. Wild Over Me, Rio Vista RV 101, LP (1982), trk# A.03a
Nitchie, Hub. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1980/02,p15
O'Connor, Mark. Texas Jam Session Featuring Four World Champion Fiddlers, OMAC 1, LP (1976), trk# B.02
Original Washboard Band. Scrubbin' and Pickin', RCA (Victor) LPM-1958, LP (1958), trk# 7
Park, Ray. Fiddletown, Sierra SR 4214, LP (1982), trk# 4
Roy, Harry; and the Hotcha Boys. Raggin' the Rags, President PLP 1001, LP (195?), trk# B.05
Shelton, Ed (Eddie). Expedition, Ridge Runner RRR 0011, LP (1976), trk# B.04
Shubb, Wilson and Shubb. Shubb, Wilson and Shubb, Live, Pacifica 001, LP (1976), trk# 7
Smathers, Luke; String Band. Mountain Swing, June Appal JA 024, LP (1977), trk# 2
Snowden, Elmer; Quartet. Harlem Banjo, Riverside RLP 9349, LP (1961), trk# B.02
Sons of the Pioneers. Lucky U Ranch Radio Broadcasts 1951-53, American Folk Music Arch AFM 701, LP (1979), trk# 20 [1951-53]
Sprung, Roger. Ragtime Bluegrass, Vol. 2, Folkways FA 2371, LP (1964), trk# 7
Sumner, Marion. Road To Home, June Appal JA 030, LP (1979), trk# 5
Trio from Reach. Memory Lane, Voyager VRLP 311-S, LP (1974), trk# 8
Venuti, Joe; and George Barnes. Live at the Concord Summer Festival, Concord Jazz CT-30, LP (1977), trk# 1
Wills, Bob; and the Texas Playboys. Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 5. 1946-47, Edsel ED 325, LP (1984), trk# B.03
Yohey, Bill; and Friends. National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Folk Music Festival. 1969, NOTFC 69, LP (1969), trk# B.10
SOURCES: Rec.music
NOTES: The song, usually as an instrumental, has been played by virually every great jazz fiddler. It remains one of the great instrumental improvisation songs in the jazz, old-time, and bluegrass repertoire. Sweet Georgia Brown was a western string standard and played by Milton Brown (Decca Records 1935) and Bob Wills bands.
The song has endured as one of the top jazz/old-time standards along with other songs in this collection like St. James Infirmary and WC Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” (1914). Surprisingly the song was not adapted by most old-time country fiddlers in the 1920s and 1930s.
“Sweet Georgia Brown” has been recorded by many famous fiddlers including Stephane Grappelli and Mark O'Connor as well as many top jazz performers including Count Basie, Eddie Condon, Dave Brubeck, Benny Carter, Sonny Criss, Herb Ellis, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Stephane Grappelli, Coleman Hawkins, Gene Krupa, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Django Reinhardt, Sonny Stitt, Art Tatum, Mel Torme, Anita O’Day, Ben Webster, and Lester Young.
“Sweet Georgia Brown” was immediately popular. Ben Bernie and His Orchestra’s hit recording stayed on the pop charts for 13 weeks, resting in the number one slot for five weeks in a row. Also charting with the song in 1925 were Isham Jones and His Orchestra, rising to number five, and Ethel Waters, reaching number six. In 1932, a Bing Crosby recording of “Sweet Georgia Brown” (accompanied by Isham Jones and His Orchestra) reached the number two position for three weeks. A Brother Bones and His Shadows recording reached number ten in 1949 and would later gain fame and recognition as the anthem for the Harlem Globetrotters, complete with whistled chorus.
Most vocal version include the only the chorus (Ella Fitzgerald):
No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown
Two left feet but oh so neat, has Sweet Georgia Brown
They all sigh and wanna die for Sweet Georgia Brown
Ill tell you why, you know I don't lie... much
Its been said she knocks 'em dead when she lands in town
Since she came why its a shame how she coos em down
Fellers she can't get are fellers she ain't met
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her
Sweet Georgia Brown
Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie, Pinkard, Casey)
Transcribed from vocals by Ethel Waters, recorded May 13, 1925;
From Ethel Waters, 1923-1925; Chronological Classics 775.
She just got here yesterday,
Things are hot here now, they say;
There's a big change in town.
Gals are jealous, there's no doubt;
Still, the fellows rave about
Sweet, sweet Georgia Brown!
And ever since she came,
The colored folks all claim, "Say,"
No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has Sweet Georgia Brown!
They all sigh, and want to die,
For Sweet Georgia Brown!
I'll tell you just why,
You know I don't lie, not much:
It's been said
She knocks 'em dead,
When she lands in town!
Since she came,
Why it's a shame,
How she cools them down!
Fellows she can't get
Are fellows she ain't met!
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her,
Sweet Georgia Brown!
No gal made has got a shade on Sweet Georgia Brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has Sweet Georgia Brown!
They all sigh, and want to die,
For Sweet Georgia Brown!
I'll tell you just why,
You know I don't lie; not much:
All those gifts some courters give,
To Sweet Georgia Brown,
They buy clothes at fashion shows,
With one dollar down,
Oh, boy! Tip your hat!
Oh, joy! She's the cat!
Who's that, Mister?
'Tain't a sister!
Sweet Georgia Brown!
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