"I'm just wild about Harry"

It is certainly permissible to start any research @ wikipedia.org. However let me caution this source.  For the whole story try your public library, all you need is a library card.  Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, composer, lyricist  collaborated for the musical Shuffle Along. A revival of this 1921 sensation is planned for spring 2016. The sheet music for one of the songs, I’m Just Wild about Harry has been published in many collections.  How to know which of these listed below was the original arrangement? Let’s start with the Classic Catalogue  then the Song Index at the Library for the Performing Arts Lincoln Center.

Code	Title	Year	Page	Key	Meter	“Ecstacy” chord	Comment
MU784.81	More Songs of the Twenties	1994	86	C	₵	G⁷+5B	Allegro moderato
MU784.B	Eubie Blake Revue		14	Bflat	3/4 4/4	F⁷+5	Moderately in 1 Freely  in 1 60¢
G1	Judy Garland Song Book	1939	33	C	4/4	G⁷+5	“Babes in Arms”
G27	Great Loony Tune Collection	1936	126	Bflat	¾`	F⁷+5
B20	The Broadway Songbook		341	C	4/4	G+	Includes a second verse
R27	Readers Digest Family Songbook	1969	112	C	4/4	G⁷+	Run GABCnatDEG
T93	35 Song Hits by Great Black Songwriters		71	C	2/4	Melody D#	Subtitled “One Step Song”
P.1V.8 P.3V.8				C	2/4	F B D#	Run  as above

Each of these publishings had Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle listed as composer and lyrist but were arranged variously.  One even included a second verse.  Each arrangemnt added or subtracted or changed. Of particular interest and variation is the measure “fill me with ec sta sy” the melody note is either a C# or D#. The chord is voiced differently. None of the above used the cover sheet as pictured  wikipedia.org

Lyrics

There’s just one fellow for me in this world Harry’s his name. That’s what I claim. Why for ev’ry fellow there must be a girl. I’ve found my fate by kindness of fate.

There are some fellows that like all the girls. I mean the vamps. With cruel lamps. But my Harry says I’m the girl of all girls. I’m his ideal. How happy I feel.

Chorus: Oh, I’m Just Wild about Harry and Harry’s wild about me. The heav’n ly blisses of his kisses fill me with ecstasy. He’s sweet just like chocolate candy and  just like honey from the bee Oh, I’m Just Wild about Harry and he’s just wild about me.

Coda:        He’s just wild about, cannot do without, he’s just wild about me.

When searching in the Classic Catalogue if you read the three letters LDC you must prepare yourself for a treat. The D. and L. Cullman Center of the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts is located on the third floor. The security is relentless because here are stored the fine jewels of music. When you submit the LDC call number to the Librarian you are given earphones. At the nearby listening station you control the CD that plays: volume, repeat or forward.

LDC 36314 CD

An unknown interviewer on this CD recording began by describing the Washington D.C Metropolitan Police Band playing the waltz I’m Just Wild about Harry  at a Campaign Rally for soon to be elected President Harry Truman, October 1948.  This recording was at a private gathering, The Hennings in New Haven, Connecticut. Eubie Blake speaks freely about his colleague Noble Sissle and the leading lady, Florence Mills for the musical Shuffle Along. They ridiculed the idea of a waltz in a ‘colored’ musical. He reminded them of the 1902 musical Pale Moon Shines written by Cooke. He performs on the piano two versions of I’m Just Wild about Harry in order to demonstrate two different tempos. This waltz he transposed into a ragtime by adding a syncopation. It as Noble Sissle and the lady(   ) who wanted what they thought the audience would like. “Sissle was more commercial, interested in the money. I was an artist” He mentions “Izzie” (Irvin Berlin), Leslie Stewart and Victor Herbert as musicians who inspired him.

The interviewer plays Stars and Strikes Forever as music E. Blake heard as a child growing up in Baltimore, Maryland. He suggested that marching music, ragtime and operatic music combined to create a synthesis. E. Blake performed a transposition of the Pilgrim Chorus from Tannhauser by Wagner and then ended the interview with the Cole Porter tune You do something to me.

LDC40474

WNEW-TV Interviewer Bill Boggs Midday Live

Voices Rosalynn Carter;Eubie Blake, at age 93; Ervin Drake

At the intro E. Blake plays a “Classic Rag.” Bill Boggs asked Rosalynn Carter how did she and her then governor Jimmy Carter decide he should run for President. She remarked that just as the campaign has gone it was a family decision. “So many things I’ve seen around the country that need help.”

Bill Boggs asked E. Blake what was his schedule when he worked at the ‘houses of ill repute’ in Baltimore, Maryland? “At my age, 15, there were no Unions. You would play til you drop then you were off. The madam didn’t even pay me the planned $3/week because she saw  money in my tips jar.” E. Blake said that his mom didn’t believe that I was playing there.Her friends, who called me ‘Cubie’ told her that they heard me ‘wobble the bass’ boogie woogie style. His mom disdained his talent calling him a “pie ana plunker.” E. Blake told about partying with friends on New Year’s Eve 1-1-1899.  They went to church then to a Bar called Greenfell (spell?) at Chestnut and Low Street in Baltimore, Maryland. There was sawdust on the floor and a water trough where you would blow the foam from your beer.

The President of the American Guild of Authors and Composers, Ervin Drake appealed to the public to contact their congressmen to support a bill to extend the copyrights and  guarantee paying a minumum royality on each record that sold. E. Blake said ”What we are paid has not changed even the records once 89¢ are now sold at $5-12.”                      

Music Sheet 98-159           

Across the quiet room from the listening stations there is a more austere space that is brightly lit. Several people are silently studying. After completing a form describing my name, institution and planned usage the Librarian instructed me to leave all books, pens and extra paper on the shelving.  She accepted my library card and began typing this data into her computer. Within a few minutes she opened a large box and removed an 11X 17inch folder containing the sheet music for “I’m just Wild about Harry, subtitled Fox Trot Song” with the black and white and orange cover sheet, as pictured on wikipedia.org  page. Gently opening the fragile paper time stood still. 40¢.  M.Witmark and Sons #7 Witmark Building New York Copyright MCMXXI 773  16482-3 International Copyright secured. Key: C ₵ with no chord symbols. Introduction plus an mp vamp.The notes at “ecstacy” were similar to the arrangement in 35 Song Hits by Great Black Songwriters, including the fill GABCnatDEG. Bass clef rest. Two verses.

Two ads were at the bottom of the sheet music:

M.Witmark and Sons 16482-3 If you are interested in Quartet Music Sacred and Secular. Novelties of all Kinds 1500 numbers. Send for Catalogue №1. Arranged for male and female voices. Enclose 2¢ stamp for postage

M.Witmark and Sons 16482-3 If you are interested in Amateur Minstrelsy or other entertainment. Its full of Good Things and Loads of Suggestions. Send for Catalogue №2 Enclose 2¢ stamp for postage

Ah, ecstasy!