SWIFT, UP AMONG THE CHIMNEY POTS
chimney pot, a pipe of earthenware or metal fitted on top of a chimney to increase the draft and carry off the smoke. –The World Book Dictionary
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Today I’d like to tell you about a classy dame by the name of KAY SWIFT, who was the first woman to write the complete score for an American musical (FINE AND DANDY, in 1930). To be honest, though, that wasn’t what prompted me to write this post — the real trigger was that, although I’ve long been a fan of her music, today I came across a song of hers I hadn’t heard before, and I liked it so much that I’d like to share it with you (along, while I’m at it, with two other Swift favorites).
The song I hadn’t heard before (with the curious title UP AMONG THE CHIMNEY POTS) is sung here by jazz vocalist Louise Carlyle, with the composer at the piano:
SWIFT was born in NYC in 1897. She trained as a classical musician and composer at what is now called the Julliard School, but was a great fan of popular songwriter Irving Berlin and, later, George Gershwin, with whom she became intimately involved (for more, go to this link, then click BIOGRAPHY (upper left below the word SWIFT):
Swift married her first husband, banker James Warburg, in 1918. A banker might be the last person you think of as a writer of lyrics to romantic songs, but’s that’s exactly what he was (under the name Paul James) to the music of his composer wife….until they divorced in 1934 — the same year he resigned as financial advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt.
I turn now to the first-written (1929) of my favorite Kay Swift/Paul James songs:
Let’s close with the title song from the aforementioned 1930 musical FINE AND DANDY:
Yeah, Another Blogger 9:03 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks for bringing her to my and other people’s attention. Don’t think I heard of her before.
Neil Scheinin
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mistermuse 11:27 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
My pleasure, Neil. There were relatively few female songwriters in the 1920s & 30s. The most well-known one was Dorothy Fields, and even she has been largely forgotten. I should do a series on them because they wrote some great songs which deserve to be heard again.
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calmkate 9:17 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
wow great tunes, great musos and favourite Jazz singers … all hoppin good 🙂
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mistermuse 11:40 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks, Kate. I love sophisticated songs with popular appeal such as those of Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Noel Coward and other “Golden Era of Popular Music” song writers. I think the three Kay Swift songs above are in and of that class
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calmkate 11:47 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink
indeed that are classy and talented … a banker writing songs, who’d have guessed 🙂
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Rivergirl 10:10 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
Video unavailable… but was that Ella? I just saw a documentary on the Apollo Theater in Harlem that told the story of a young Ella Fitzgerald who forgot the words to a song during her first performance. The result? Scat.
😊
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mistermuse 11:18 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
Sorry about the unavailable Ella video, Rg (actually, it’s Ella AND Louis Armstrong singing Can’t We Be Friends?). Here’s a different clip of the same singers and song — if this one is also unavailable, let me know, as there are other similar clips.
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Elizabeth 10:15 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
That dreaded line “can’t we be friends?” Great post. Never heard of her or her “long involvement with Gershwin” as that biography puts it. Maybe they should have just been friends!
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mistermuse 11:50 pm on December 18, 2019 Permalink |
According to Wikipedia’s article on Kay Swift, “Gershwin and Swift’s affair lasted over ten years until his death in 1937. Despite their long relationship, Kay and George never married” — even after Kay’s divorce from Paul Warburg in 1934. So I suppose you could say that they were “just friends!”
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Elizabeth 4:26 pm on December 20, 2019 Permalink
That is priceless.
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mistermuse 5:06 pm on December 20, 2019 Permalink
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masercot 5:32 am on December 19, 2019 Permalink |
Every time I learn something I did not know before, I become a little stronger and the end of the world draws nearer. Thank you for bringing Armageddon just a little closer.
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mistermuse 9:05 am on December 19, 2019 Permalink |
I doubt that we’re going to see Armageddon in our lifetime (unless Trump is reelected next year). Nonetheless, I’m happy to take credit for helping make you a little stronger.
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Ashley 11:44 am on December 19, 2019 Permalink |
Great post! I will be listening to these over and over which is fine and dandy! Thanks for posting!
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mistermuse 1:55 pm on December 19, 2019 Permalink |
That’s more than oKay by me, Ashley — I’m pleased that you appreciate the music.
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Silver Screenings 7:09 pm on December 22, 2019 Permalink |
You always treat us readers to terrific music. Thank you!
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mistermuse 12:58 am on December 23, 2019 Permalink |
You’re most welcome, SS. I think it’s terrific too, so the old saying must be true that “Great minds think alike”!
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magickmermaid 12:17 pm on December 24, 2019 Permalink |
Love these tunes!
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mistermuse 9:28 pm on December 24, 2019 Permalink |
Thank you and Merry Christmas, mm.
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