SONG SMITHS
By all accounts, SMITH has long been the most common surname in America. On the other hand, SMITH has been one of the least common surnames among popular songwriters. Take the example of when, in 1939, Mr. Jimmy Stewart Smith goes to Washington and becomes a sen-sation, rather than going to Tin Pan Alley to become a song-sation. We can surmise why mistermuse goes to Word Press in 2009 but doesn’t become a pun-sation; misterstewartsmith could’ve had A Wonderful Life acting like a songwriter in Hollywood musicals.
During the period with which I am most musically in tune (1920s-1950s), I can count on one hand the number of songsmiths named Smith whose compositions achieved contemporary hit status (much less, lasting status as standards). Compared to the percentage of Smiths in the overall (or, for that matter, the underwear) population, there were fewer Smiths of note in music than in the Hollywood Senate — which, for better or verse, leads us to the first of our handful of Smiths, Chris Smith, composer of….
Next, time to rise and shine with Billy Dawn Smith, composer of….
Next next, we turn to lyricist Harry Bache Smith for the words to this somber classic:
Speaking of serious stuff, Stuff Smith composed this wonderful ballad. It may not be your cup of tea, but I can say without fear of contradiction that It’s Wonderful:
We close with a song written by Dick Smith. Yes, THAT Dick Smith. If you don’t believe me, look him up and ask him.
calmkate 1:26 am on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
well I think you are pun-tastic! Some great classics here, thanks for sharing 🙂
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mistermuse 9:52 am on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
Kate (speaking of Smiths), here’s a song that’s a real classic:
Footnote: GOD BLESS AMERICA was written by Irving Berlin in 1918 (near end of WWI) for a show, but it was never published or recorded and was filed away by Berlin “to use someday on the right occasion” (quoting him). That occasion occurred after Neville Chamberlain appeased Adolph Hitler in 1938, leading to WWII. Kate Smith introduced the song on her CBS radio show on Nov. 10, 1938.
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calmkate 7:17 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink
lol we look nothing alike and I can’t sing a note … a bit too much for me at breakfast time thanks MrM 😉
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smbabbitt 10:15 am on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
Out of a generic name, a delightful assortment of songs.
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mistermuse 2:57 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
My pleasure, smb.
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masercot 12:13 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
Leon Redbone did a great version of Sheik of Araby…
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mistermuse 2:56 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
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Elizabeth 12:50 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
There are certainly plenty of singers named Smith. Clever of you to realize that there are not too many songwriters with the name.
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mistermuse 3:11 pm on October 1, 2019 Permalink |
Having little or no interest in today’s music, Elizabeth, I don’t know how many Smith singers OR songwriters there are now….but I do find it interesting that historically, there have been relatively few songwriters among the millions of Smiths in America over the past 100 years.
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magickmermaid 2:26 pm on October 5, 2019 Permalink |
Mistermuse is definitely a pun-sation! 🙂
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mistermuse 6:05 pm on October 5, 2019 Permalink |
It’s easy to sea that you are no mere-maid and have pun-tastic judgment, mm.
P.S. I’ve forgotten — how much was it that I agreed to pay you for that comment?
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magickmermaid 6:41 pm on October 5, 2019 Permalink
5 lobsters and 4 starfish 😀
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Ricardo 2:06 pm on October 7, 2019 Permalink |
I’d bring to your attention The Smiths, a popular band in the ’80’s whose songs featured ramblings about death, depression and dissatisfaction in love, except that I couldn’t stand them and I’m glad I never hear their music anymore.
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mistermuse 2:57 pm on October 7, 2019 Permalink |
The Smiths sound like a good(?) example of why I haven’t listened to popular music since the 1970s, Ricardo. If I missed anything, Ignorance is bliss (so they say).
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America On Coffee 10:57 pm on October 29, 2019 Permalink |
A very interesting selection, some I am not familiar with. I really appreciate all of them. Thanks for sharing.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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