donderdag 28 maart 2013

Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy's Chowder (1940) / Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well ? (1941)


"Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" was written by Eddie DeLange and John Benson Brooks. 
The song is said to have originated, when people were having fun throwing things in "Mrs Murphy's Chowder". (SEE Wikipedia).


Here's a version of "Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" by The Jesters released on Decca in 1940.



Eddie De Lange, taking Johnny Brooks' melody, batted out a rustic novelty that tells of the doings when somebody emptied a bottle of hard liquid into the well.

The Eddie De Lange/ Johnny Brooks composition was originally recorded by Freddie "Schnickelfritz" Fisher and His Orchestra in 1941. 
The Freddie Fisher orchestra original is played uptempo principally by trumpet, Fisher's clarinet and drums, clarinet, muted trumpet and briefly the trombone delivering solos after the vocal passage, as Freddie describes the mayhem which ensues at a wedding party when the groom finds the whiskey which has been secreted away

It was Lucy Lindy's wedding day and everyone was there
They had come from hill and hollow, vale and dale
It was hot and they were thirsty, they drank water by the pail
But who threw the whiskey in the well?

It was time to start the wedding but the groom could not be found
'Til they heard a dim and distant sort of yell
When they found him in the bucket he was singing "Adeline"
Who threw the whisky in the well?

It was cool (it was sweet)
It was sweet (it was cool)
And it had a kick a mule couldn't beat
But it started up a rumpus that was like the Civil War
In the town where Lucy Lindy used to dwell
Now they fire every sheriff when he cannot find a clue
To who threw the whisky in the well

(o) Freddie "Schnickelfritz" Fisher and his Orchestra (1941) 
(as "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well"
Recorded on November 10, 1941 
Released on Decca 4326






It was then cut in 1942 by "Doc" Wheeler and His Sunset Orchestra, but this had lyrics concerning the invigorating effects of whiskey on various characters. 

Now old man Snaughter had a daughter
Who was doomed to sing them light (oh yeah?)
Well a local yocal spoke, the gal had a spell (too stell)
When a single glass of water made a siren of the daughter
Now who threw the whisky in the well (ha, ha)

It was cool (oh yeah)
It was sweet (oh yeah)
And it had a kick a mule couldn't beat (could't beat)
And it started up a rumpus that was like the Civil War
Tell me who threw the whisky in the well 

etc etc etc

(c) "Doc" Wheeler and his Sunset Orchestra (1942) (as "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well ?")
Recorded March 30, 1942 in New York City
Released on Bluebird B-11559



Or here: 




The lyrics of the well-known versions, relating the dipsomaniac habits of an African American clergyman, were added by Lucky Millinder in 1944, and his version, recorded by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra in 1944, with vocal by Wynonie Harris, became a big seller with black audiences.

It was an early Sunday morning And the church was crowded full
Old elder Brown was rave'n
He was angry as a bull
The congregation sensed it
And they knew just what he meant
When he said my text today is
You sinners must repent

Who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)
Who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)
Cause Deacon Jones knelt down to pray
All he said was "Hey Hey"
So who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)
(Now who threw the whisky in the well) In the well
(Who threw the whisky in the well) In the well

I'm feel'en mighty fine
I'm high as Georgia Pine
So who threw the whisky in the well
In the well

Who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)
Who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)

Keep you dippers out of that well
Or we all wind up in (WELL)
Who threw the whisky in the well (in the well)
That's what I'd like to know

Well sisters and brothers
I'm taking my leave thee
Every time I show you the light
And you all live outside of me

Since brother Jones brought his bone
And Sister Ash has all the cash
Let's get together drink water get tall
Come on children let's have a ball

(c) Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra (1945) (as "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well"
Recorded May 25, 1944 in New York City
Released on Decca 18674



Listen here:




(c) Louis Prima and his Orchestra (1945) (as "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well ?")
Recorded May 1945
Released on Majestic 7151




Listen here:




And here's a nice "soundie" from July 1945.
Performed by the Phil Moore Four


Watch it here:




In 1945 Bull Moose Jackson recorded an answer-song to "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well", titled 
"I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well" 

(c) Bull Moose Jackson and his Orchestra (1945) (as "I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well")
Recorded December 19, 1945 in New York
Released on Queen 4116



Listen here:



When the Queen-label ceased operations in 1946, all the releases were moved to the sister-label King.
Therefore the same Bull Moose Jackson recording "I Know Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" was re-released on King 4244 in July 1948.




Lucky Millinder's cover-version was sampled by Aerosmith at the end of their song "Amazing".

Listen here:




In 1969 Champion Jack Dupree recorded a cover-version for the Blue Horizon-label in England.
Recorded London Feb. 3/4, 1969; Champion Jack Dupree, voc, p; Mick Taylor, g; Richard Studt, Reg Cole, Barry Wilde, Peter Oxer, violins; Terry Noonan, Bud Parks, tp, flugelhorn, Alan Skidmore, Les Wigfiels, ts; Jim Chester, bs, Wallace Tring [= Gary Thain], b; Eduardo Givezano [= Alex Dmochowski], b; Mike Vernon, perc; Harris Dundee [= Aynsley Dunbar], dr; Big Chief Drumstick [= Keef Hartley], dr, perc; prod. by Mike Vernon

It was contained on his album "Scoobydoobydoo".






(c) Buster Poindexter (1989) (as "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well ?")


Listen here:





"Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well ?" also reminds a bit of the beginning of  "She's Coming Around The Mountain" (1924)




For more versions SEE





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