Charley, My Boy
Encyclopedia
"Charley, My Boy" is a song written by Gus Kahn
and Ted Fiorito
in 1924. The sheet music was published for voice and piano. The refrain is four lines, of which the first two are:
It is sung from the viewpoint of a woman enamored of a man whom she finds to be an exceptional lover, even better than Romeo
:
The song was introduced by the legendary singing comedian Eddie Cantor
who recorded it for Columbia Records
in 1924. It was recorded by several of his contemporaries, including Billy Murray
. Murray's version is wrapped inside a lively instrumental that is clearly intended for dancing the Charleston
or other popular Jazz Age
dances. Murray's version featured a short instrumental interlude between the two sets of verses, which included a bar from an earlier Murray recording with a similar theme, also introduced by Eddie Cantor:
In 1949, "Charley" was recorded on the Decca Records
label by the Andrews Sisters as the A side of a single which had "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
" (from the popular 1949 John Wayne
movie of the same name) as the B side. It was also one of two theme songs used by the popular radio program The Spike Jones Show.
It is now most easily found as a square dance
tune, with at least three different publications, two by MacGregor and one by Hi Hat Records, the latter using the alternate spelling and punctuation "Charlie, My Boy." Several of the old versions, including the performance by Billy Murray, are available on YouTube
.
Gus Kahn
Gustav Gerson Kahn was a musician, songwriter and lyricist.-Biography:Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1886. The family emigrated from there to the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1890...
and Ted Fiorito
Ted Fiorito
Theodore Salvatore Fiorito , known professionally as Ted Fio Rito, was an American composer, orchestra leader and keyboardist who was popular on national radio broadcasts in the 1920s and 30s...
in 1924. The sheet music was published for voice and piano. The refrain is four lines, of which the first two are:
- Charley, my boy; oh, Charley, my boy
- You thrill me, you chill me, with shivers of joy
It is sung from the viewpoint of a woman enamored of a man whom she finds to be an exceptional lover, even better than Romeo
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
:
- And when we dance, I read in your glance
- Whole pages and ages of love and romance
- They tell me Romeo was some lover, too
- But boy, he should have taken lessons from you
The song was introduced by the legendary singing comedian Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
who recorded it for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1924. It was recorded by several of his contemporaries, including Billy Murray
Billy Murray (singer)
William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
. Murray's version is wrapped inside a lively instrumental that is clearly intended for dancing the Charleston
Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a dance named for the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one...
or other popular Jazz Age
Jazz Age
The Jazz Age was a movement that took place during the 1920s or the Roaring Twenties from which jazz music and dance emerged. The movement came about with the introduction of mainstream radio and the end of the war. This era ended in the 1930s with the beginning of The Great Depression but has...
dances. Murray's version featured a short instrumental interlude between the two sets of verses, which included a bar from an earlier Murray recording with a similar theme, also introduced by Eddie Cantor:
- He's not so good in a crowd,
- But when you get him alone,
- You'd Be SurprisedYou'd Be SurprisedYou'd Be Surprised is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1919.The first verse introduces the shy Johnny and the woman Mary who finds him to be an exceptional lover, although apparently no one else ever has. She explains his appeal in the first chorus. By the second verse, Mary's talking-up of...
In 1949, "Charley" was recorded on the Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
label by the Andrews Sisters as the A side of a single which had "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. The film was the second of Ford's trilogy of films focusing on the US Cavalry ; the other two films were Fort Apache and Rio Grande...
" (from the popular 1949 John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
movie of the same name) as the B side. It was also one of two theme songs used by the popular radio program The Spike Jones Show.
It is now most easily found as a square dance
Square dance
Square dance is a folk dance with four couples arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples...
tune, with at least three different publications, two by MacGregor and one by Hi Hat Records, the latter using the alternate spelling and punctuation "Charlie, My Boy." Several of the old versions, including the performance by Billy Murray, are available on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.