Category Archives: _

Self Help & Motivational Records

Dust off and dig out your New Years’ resolutions. The old year is history and the new dawn is breaking through the clouds. We here at Dig Up The Roots want to help you with your New Years Resolutions with the aid of old exercise, self improvement and instructional records … if you want and are willing to accept the help. We spend the program improving our cultural and social skills by learning to sing, speak effectively, play the blues, and a life long dream of my own come true! Co-Starring with Fernando Lamas! For all you listeners wanting to shed a few pounds, we have a set for you too. Jack La Lanne and one of the most driven and manic fitness fanatics ever: Bonnie Pruden. Don’t try to make your body do what she is telling you to do, just do it before she gets mad, it will be easier that way.

Listen to the show.

Playlist Tracks:

Mildred BailyThere’ll Be Some Changes Made
Album: Mrs. Swing; Label: JSP

Bonnie PrudenPelvic Tilt
Album: Keep Fit / Be Happy #2; Label: Warner Bros

Jack La LanneFront Leg Raises
Album: Glamour Stretcher Time; Label: La Lanne Inc

The Morell’sGettin In Shape
Album: Shake And Push; Label: Borrowed Records

Dr Carroll L. Witten Leading Psychiatric ConsultantsHow best to meet emotional challenges in practice
Album: Recognizing and Solving Problems in Doctor ; Patient Relationships; Label: A Roche Record Report

Katie LeeGunslinger, (a ballad for adult westerns)
Album: Songs For Couch And Consultation; Label: Commentary

Katie LeeRepressed Hostility Blues
Album: Songs For Couch And Consultation; Label: Commentary

Bonnie PrudenRoll Out Knee Kiss
Album: Keep Fit / Be Happy; Label: Warner Bros

Lee Bowman Ermanno MasiniDrinking Wine
Album: The Wonderful World Of Wine; Label: Sellar’s Sales Inc.

Monty Python’s Flying CircusHow-To-Do-It Lessons
Album: Monty Python’s Previous Record; Label: Kama Sutra

Georgiana Liccione StewartEasy Walk
Album: Disco For Kids; Label: Kimbo Educatioal

Faron YoungI Can’t Dance
Album: A Capitol Rockabilly Party Part 2; Label: Disky

The Voice Of Our Disco InstructorIntroduction
Album: Let’s Disco; Label: K-Tel

Dick Weissman Dan FoxBoogie Woogie
Album: How To Play The Blues: Guitar Techniques Strums; Label: Music Minus One

Fritz Shetsler Egidia BonessiStrengthening The Diaphragm
Album: You Can Learn To Sing; Label: Knight Education Inc

Milton CrossHow Your Voice Instrument Works
Album: Dr. Walter O. Robinson’s Course in Effective Speaking 78 RPM; Label: Harper Brothers

Jimmy NelsonPosition of the Mouth – The Beginner’s Alphabet
Album: Jimmy Nelson’s Instant Ventriloquism; Label: Juro Celebrity

Fernando Lamas & Greg CarrScene 3: Alfred Dorothy
Album: You Act Scenes Opposite Your Favorite Star: Fernando Lamas; Label: Co Star

Bob ConklinThe Key To Motivation – Excerpt
Album: The Key To Motivation; Label: Midwest Audio Video Co

Ray FowlerMake Yourself Understood
Album: How To Communicate Your Ideas; Label: Nations Buisness Execudisc

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Financial Follies, Paper Moons and Pennies From Heaven

Hijinks from Wall Street make us hope for the trickle down of Pennies From Heaven. The music played on this show, broadcast 09.30.2008 all dealt with double dealings and money.

Listen here.

Playlist Tracks:

Arthur Tracy – Pennies From Heaven
Album: Pennies From Heaven Soundtrack; Label: Warner Brothers

Hazekiah Jenkins – The Panic Is On
Album: Songs of War History; Label: Library Of Congress Records

Cincinnati’s Columbian Singers – The Future Of America
Album: The Hand That Holds The Bread: Progress and Protest in the Gilded Age; Label: New World Records

Randy Newman – Lonely At The Top
Album: Randy Newman Live; Label: Reprise

Sophie Tucker – There’ll Be Some Changes Made
Album: Yes Sir, That’s My Baby: The Golden Years of Tin Pan Alley 1920 – 1929; Label: New World Records

The Boswell Sisters – Old Yazoo
Album: 1930s Jazz: The Singers; Label: Columbia

Ramona with Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra – Are You Making Any Money?
Album: Where Have We Meet Before? Forgotten songs from Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley; Label: New World Records

Piano Roll – It’s Only A Paper Moon
Album: Thanks For The Memory; Label: Biograph Records

Duke Ellington – Money Jungle
Album: Money Jungle

Jimmy Smith – Any Number Can Win
Album: Any Number Can Win; Label: Verve

Jimmy Dean – Paper Love Affair
Album: Country Western Stars; Label: Pickwick

Leon Redbone – Nobodies Sweetheart
Album: Double Time; Label: Warner Brothers

Carolina Tar Heels – Got The Farm Land Blues
Album: Anthology of American Folk Music; Label: Smithsonian / Folkways

Charlie Bowman – Moonshiner and his Money
Album: Roots ‘N’ Blues; Label: Columbia

Woody Guthrie – My Last Five Dollars / I Ain’t Got No Home / Many and the Few / What Are We Waiting On?
Album: Woody Guthrie Vol 3 Asch Recordings; Label: Smithsonian

Fats Waller – Lookin’ Good But Feelin Bad
Album: Yazoos History of Jazz; Label: Yazoo

Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra – Up Jumped The Devil
Album: ‘That Toddlin’ Town’ Chicago 1926-28; Label: Swaggie

Mugsy Spanier – That’s A Plenty
Album: Yazoos History of Jazz; Label: Yazoo

Red McKenzie and his Music Box – There’ll Be Some Changes Made
Album: ‘That Toddlin’ Town’ Chicago 1926-28; Label: Swaggie

Fred Astaire – Let’s Face The Music And Dance
Album: Pennies From Heaven; Label: Warner Brothers

Wall Of Voodoo – Lost Weekend
Album: Call Of The West; Label: IRS

Snakefinger’s Vestial Virgins – The Golden King
Album: Night Of Desirable Objects; Label: Ralph

Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers – We Need Some Money
Album: Paint The White House Black: Go Go Funk, D.C.

Country Dance Tunes

Country dance tunes, from different countries and different times. This show was at least a toe-tapper if not a hip sway-er, in the traditional and folkloric senses of course. Very good natured music, suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Listen here

Playlist Tracks:

Negativeland – Michael Jackson
Album: Escape From Noise; Label: SST

Morris Motors Band – Speed The Plough
Album: 78 RPM; Label: Columbia

Walter Daisy Bulwer, Billy Cooper – Jenny Lind / The Girl I Left Behind Me
Album: Tap Roots: A History of the New Wave of English Country Dance Music; Label: Folk Roots

The Deller Consort – Sumer Is Icumen In
Album: Folk Song And Minstrelsy; Label: Vanguard

John Renborn Group – Sidi Brahim
Album: Live In America; Label: Flying Fish

Davey Graham – Anji
Album: Electric Muse Vol 1; Label: Island

Joseph Taylor: The Lincolnshire Singer – Sprig O’ Thyme
Album: Sprigs Of Time: 78s From The EMI Archive; Label: Honest Jon

Penelope Houston – Wild Mountain Thyme / Putting Me In The Ground
Album: Birdboys; Label: Subterranean

Blowzabella – Jan Mijne Man Go Mauve
Album: Vanilla; Label: Green Linnet

Boiled In Lead – French Tunes
Album: Hot Heads; Label: Atomic Theory

Les Negress Vertes – C’est Pas La Mer La Boie
Album: Mlah; Label: Sire

Gypsy Kings – Hotel California
Album: 45 Single; Label: Capitol

Tiger Moth – Radio Polka International / Moth To California
Album: Mothballs; Label: Omnium

Blowzabella – Spaghetti Panic
Album: Vanilla; Label: Green Linnet

Vashti Bunyan – Come Wind Come Rain
Album: White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960’s: The Joe Boyd Story; Label: Fledg’ling

The Nu Grape Twins – Ice Cold Nu Grape
Album: American Primitive Vol ll; Label: Revenant

Negativeland – The Nesbitts Lime Soda Song
Album: Escape From Noise; Label: SST

The Cock and Bull Band – One For Dan
Album: Tap Roots: A History of the New Wave of English Country Dance Music; Label: Folk Roots

Edward ll The Red Hot Polkas – Another Fine Mess
Album: Tap Roots: A History of the New Wave of English Country Dance Music; Label: Folk Roots

Burlesque 78 RPM Record Labels

Blue Discs or Party Records were made between the 1930’s and 1950’s. Literally sold under the counter and often unmarked so that you had to ask the record store clerk for them as a special request. These records couldn’t be advertised because of societal standards of decency. Often made anonymously by tiny independent regional labels or just bootlegged from other records, these were the Stag Films and Pin-Up pictures of the record world.

The records that I have range from vampy-stripper kind of music to comedy routines and parody, pop-style songs. Some of these are very dated with topical references yet some of these routines are still pretty bold and risqué. These all come from a time when the tradition of the burlesque and vaudeville stages, both live-staged-niched-environment that were changing and ending.

The images below are of the different labels that are in my collection of 150+ Party Records.

Doc Rock & Western Swing

Doc Rock brought in a stack of Western Swing music today. In 1932, two young talented musicians named Milton Brown and Bob Wills were performing together in a radio band called The Light Crust Doughboys. These two would become the guiding forces of a highbred music later called Western Swing. This show featured some of the more prominent studio musicians who played with any number of touring and house bands in Texas, Oklahoma and the surrounding area of the SW. People like Roy Newman, Charles Mitchell and an ace of the 88’s – Moon Mullican.

Listen to the show here.

Playlist Tracks:
Fort Worth Doughboys (1932 version) – Sunbonnet Sue / Nancy Jane
Album: The King Of Western Swing; Label: JSP
Fort Worth Doughboys (1937 version) – Sunbonnet Sue / New St. Louis Blues
Album: King Of Western Swing; Label: JSP
Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies – You’re Bound To Look Like A Monkey / Wheezie Anna / Taking Off
Album: Milton Brown; Label: Origins of Jazz Masters/Texas Rose Records
Roy Newman and his Boys – Rhythm Is Our Buisness / Garbage Man Blues / Match Box Blues
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys – Swing Blues #1
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Modern Mountaineers – Everybody’s Truckin’ / Dirty Dog Blues
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Blueridge Playboys – Gimmie My Dime Back, Give Me My Money
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Cliff Brunner – Truck Driver’s Blues
Album: I’ll Sail My Ship Alone; Label: Proper
Texas Wanderers – Pipeliner Blues
Album: I’ll Sail My Ship Alone; Label: Proper
Charles Mitchell Band – Mean Mama Blues
Album: I’ll Sail My Ship Alone; Label: Proper
Smokey Wood His Wood Chips – Wood Chip Blues / Wood’s Traveling Blues / Keep On Truckin’
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Swift Jewel Cowboys – Swingin AtThe Circle S / Bug Scuffle / Raggin’ The Rails
Album: Western Swing Cowboy Jazz; Label: JSP
Bill Boyd his Cowboy Ramblers – Jitterbug Jive
Album: Jitterbug Jive: Hot Texs Swing 1940 – 1941; Label: Krazy Kat
Bar X Cowboys – When Mama Goes Out, The Maid Comes In
Album: Jitterbug Jive: Hot Texs Swing 1940 – 1941; Label: Krazy Kat
Modern Mountaineers – Rackin’ It Back
Album: Jitterbug Jive: Hot Texs Swing 1940 – 1941; Label: Krazy Kat
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys – Osage Stomp / Get With It
Album: The King Of Western Swing; Label: JSP

Hotel Orchestras at 78 RPM

When it’s 78 O’Clock, the past is always the present. This show was a sampling of lighter, pop music found on 78 RPM records.

Groups like Herbert Gordon’s Adelphi Hotel Whispering Orchestra, The Manhatten Merrymakers, Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights and Nev Simons and his Ambassadors Of Note provide music suitable for either foreground or background. Nothing very stellar or memorable here, just great music to meander by. Accordion, Marimba, Xylophone, Harmonica and some Novelty groups provide a nice, smoothly polished way to spend some time.

Listen to the show here
GrandHotelMPLS
Playlist Tracks:
Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra – I Wonder Where We’ve Met Before
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Herbert Gordon’s Adelphi Hotel Whispering Orchestra – If You Want The Rainbow
Album: ; Label: Brunswick 78
Selvin’s Novelty Orchestra – I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Royal Miramba Band – Beloved
Album: ; Label: Banner 78
Lawrence Welk His Sparkling Sextet – Moritat / Nimble Fingers / Stompin’ At The Savoy
Album: ; Label: Coral 78’s
The Harmonicats – Fantasy Impromptu
Album: ; Label: VITAcoustic 78
Al Sack His Orchestra – Caravan
Album: ; Label: Black White 78
Ray McKinley His Orchestra – Sand Storm
Album: ; Label: Majestic 78
Charlie Barnett His Orchestra – The Duke’s Idea
Album: ; Label: Bluebird 78
Prince’s Dance Band – Dardenella
Album: ; Label: Columbia 78
Charlie Barnett His Orchestra – The Count’s Idea
Album: ; Label: Bluebird 78
Pete Handy – Dardenella
Album: ; Label: Mercury 78
Al Goodman His Orchestra – Mazurka
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Liberace – Malaguena
Album: ; Label: Columbia 78
Al Goodman His Orchestra – Artist’s Life
Album: ; Label: Columbia 78
Jose Iturbi – Dance Of Terror / Ritual Fire Dance
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Will Bradley His Orchestra – Celery Stalks At Midnight
Album: ; Label: Columbia 78
Larry Douglas with Ray Bloch’s Radio Seven – The Egg And I
Album: ; Label: Signature 78
HotelLemingtonMPLS
Bennie Kruger’s Orchestra – Don’t Bring Lulu
Album: ; Label: Brunswick 78
Leo Fuchs Orchestra – Coney Ireland Wedding
Album: ; Label: Rca Victor 78
Ray Blooch His TV Orchestra – Unless
Album: ; Label: Hi-Tone 78
Nev Simons and his Ambassadors Of Note – Corn Belt Symphony
Album: ; Label: M-G-M 78
Manhatten Merrymakers – Down On The Farm
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra – Spain / Mr Radio Man (Tell my mammy to come back home)
Album: ; Label: Victor 78
Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights – I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire
Album: ; Label: Columbia 78
HotelShelburne

Mood & Background music

This show from 11/23/2004 is a collection of Mood and Background music on 78 RPM records. Unlike most music, these records weren’t intended to be paid attention to, they were intended to enhance the movies being shown. This music was intended to be played along with silent films and home movies and is really delightful music.

To listen, please go here.

So sit right down and let the movies of your mind go into full swing. This recording is from a cassette tape that was recorded at the wrong pitch (hopefully corrected) and only 1/2 of the show was recorded…I don’t miss cassettes.

Powder and patches

Laughing Marionette

Demoiselle Chic

Nautical Moments

Cafe Chantant/ Bal Masque

Marital Moments

Fame and Glory / Pagent March

The Spirit Of Pagentry

Catasrophe / Denunciation

In Peking

In A Japanese Garden

Arab Dance

A Street In Algiers No. 2

Salome

Morocco

Valse Egyptienne

Trip To Syria

Miserlou

Allah’s Holiday

A funny thing happened on the way to the station

A funny thing happened on the way to the radio station… Today’s show was broadcast on 03/31/2009. I really enjoyed the April Fools shows, trying my best to pull a fast one on the listeners by playing and featured music making fun of other music and music that deserved to be made fun of.

Jonathan & Darlene Edwards create music with more enthusiasm than talent and it shows up brilliantly. The Edwards, AKA Paul Westin and Jo Stafford reappear with the Natural and the Unnatural Seven. Slim Gaillard’s live epic Opera In Vout is always worth the price of admission. Spread over 4 sides of 2 78’s! What does that equal? 23. Allan Sherman exposes us to the brutal and painful world of music composition by committee with a lesser known gem of his comic and musical genius: Peter and the Commissar. Early spoken word artist Sebastian Cabot demonstrates what can be achieved with a proper mix of Bob Dylan. This mix will indeed leave you shaken. We wrapped the show up in The Screaming Faloshes song Rasta Jew. The Faloshe regard themselves as direct ancestors of the lost tribe of Judea. In fact, they got so lost back in the 15th century that they ended up on a beautiful remote island they called Jewmaica. A few bits from The Firesign Theatre and Monty Python help round out a most delightful program.

Listen to the show

Playlist Tracks:

Monty Python – Rock Notes
Album: Contractional Obligations; Label: Arista
Jonathan & Darlene Edwards – It Might As Well Be Spring
Album: The Piano Artistry Of; Label: Columbia
Page Cavanaugh – She Had To Go and Lose It at the Astor
Album: Musical Madness; Label: Bandstand Records
The Unnatural Seven – Seratan Yob
Album: Musical Madness; Label: Bandstand Records
Slim Gaillard – Opera In Vout
Album: Laughing n Rhythm; Label: Proper

Elsa Popping and her Pixieland Band – Java La Paloma
Album: Delirium In Hi – Fi; Label: Columbia
Pete Townsend Ronnie Lane – April Fool
Album: Rough Mix; Label: MCA
Ringo Starr – I’m A Fool To Care
Album: Sentimental Journey; Label: Apple

The Roches – Steady With The Maestro
Album: Keep On Doing; Label: Warner Brothers
B.J. Snowden – In Canada
Album: Songs In The Key Of Z; Label:
Firesign Theatre – KZTZ / Bob Dylan at the Met
Album: Eat Or Be Eaten; Label: Warner Brothers

The New Renaissance Society – Play With Fire Variation No 1
Album: Baroque -n- Stones; Label: Hanna Barbara Records
Hoosier Hot Shots – Them Hillbillies Are Mountain Williams Now / I’ve Got A Bimbo Down On The Bamboo Isles
Album: 78 RPM; Label: Columbia
The Natural Seven – Them Durn Fool Things
Album: Musical Madness; Label: Bandstand Records
The Electric Company – Love Of Chair
Album: TV Soundtrack; Label: Warner Brothers
Ken Nordine – The Smith Family
Album: Son Of Word Jazz; Label: Dot

Allan Sherman / Boston Pops / Arthur Fiedler – Peter And The Commissar
Album: Peter And The Commissar; Label: RCA
Firesign Theatre – The Toilet
Album: Eat Or Be Eaten; Label: Warner Brothers
Sebastian Cabot – It Ain’t Me Babe
Album: Sebastian Cabot, actor Bob Dylan, poet – a dramatic reading with music; Label: MGM
The Screaming Faloshes – Rasta Jew
Album: Kosher Club; Label: Rhino

Female Rockabilly Singers V1

Originally broadcast on 09/11/2007. This genre seems to be one of those that time was trying to bury. We all know of Elvis, Gene, Jerry and that cast of characters with long sideburns and twisting hips. But there was an equally important (and far less supported) group of girls and young women trying to carve out their niche in the conforming 1950’s. Ranging from cute Shirley Caddell’s Big Bounce, to the terrifying Susan McCrory & The Cannibals’ Rovin’ Gal, to the sultry Kirby sisters’ Blond In Red Velvet, and the weird Juke Box On The Moon by Ginny Millay.

I love this stuff and try and grab onto it whenever I can. Today’s show material was taken from several sources (as most radio shows are). This stuff is worth finding and should be taught in American History classes.

Hot Boppin Girls Vol 1- 8
Memphis Bells – The Women Of Sun Records on 6 CDs
Good Girls Gone Bad
Tough Dolls
Great Swinging Girls
The Girl’s Are Rockin

Listen to the show

Play list Tracks:

Shirley Caddell – Big Bounce
Album: H.B.G. Vol 2; Label: supersonic sound
Linda Burnetter Bobby The Ramblers – Rattle Bones Rock
Album: Great Swinging Girls; Label: White Label Records
Ann Castle – Go Get The Shotgun Grandpa
Album: H.B.G. Vol 8; Label: supersonic sound
Sara Lee – Jim Dandy
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Joyce Paul – Baby You’ve Had It
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Peggi Griffith – Rockin The Blues
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Carol Honeycutt – Teen-Age Rebel
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Jan Moore – Play It Cool
Album: Great Swinging Girls; Label: White Label Records
Sue Sinford – That’s My Heart
Album: Great Swinging Girls; Label: White Label Records
Susan McCrory The Cannibals – Rovin Gal
Album: Great Swinging Girls; Label: White Label Records

Nettles Sisters – Real Gone Jive
Album: H.B.G. Vol 6; Label: supersonic sound
Miller Sisters – Ten Cats Down
Album: Memphis Bells – The Women Of Sun Records CD 1; Label: Bear Family Records
Starr Sisters – Three Young Chicks
Album: Good Girls Gone Bad; Label: Ace
Kirby Sisters – Blond In Red Velvet
Album: Memphis Bells – The Women Of Sun Records CD 1; Label: Bear Family
Bolean Barry – Long Sideburns
Album: H.B.G. Vol 5; Label: supersonic sound
Betty Jo Starr – Eskimo Boogie
Album: H.B.G. Vol 5; Label: supersonic sound
Cathy Sharpe – North Pole Rock
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound

Billy Jo Spears – Get Behind Me Satan And Push
Album: Good Girls Gone Bad; Label: Ace
Betty Dickson – Shanty Tramp
Album: H.B.G. Vol 8; Label: supersonic sound
Martin Sisters – Voodoo
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Joyce Paul – Bad News
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Pat Molittieri – The U.S.A.
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Libby Dean – Ding Dong Rock A Billy Wedding
Album: H.B.G. Vol 6; Label: supersonic sound
Eileen Barton – How-Ja Do, How-Ja-Do, How-Ja-Do
Album: H.B.G. Vol 8; Label: supersonic sound
Nona Rae – Real Kool Kitty
Album: H.B.G. Vol 5; Label: supersonic sound
Gwen Davis – Seven Lonely Days
Album: H.B.G. Vol 5; Label: supersonic sound
Betty Rodgers – Hey Good Lookin
Album: The Girl’s Are Rockin’; Label: White Label Records

Barbara Reed – Dancing Teardrops
Album: H.B.G. Vol 4; Label: supersonic sound
Ruth Brown – This Little Girls Gone Rockin
Album: H.B.G. Vol 3; Label: supersonic sound
Bernadette The Swinging Bears – Crazy Yogi
Album: H.B.G. Vol 4; Label: supersonic sound
June August – What Does A Lifeguard Do In The Fall?
Album: H.B.G. Vol 3; Label: supersonic sound
Ella Mae Morse – Razzle Dazzle
Album: H.B.G. Vol 3; Label: supersonic sound
Acorn Sisters – Real Gone
Album: Tough Dolls; Label: Buffalo Bop
Colleen Carson – Going Going Gone
Album: H.B.G. Vol 7; Label: supersonic sound
Pricilla Bowman – A Spare Man
Album: Tough Dolls; Label: Buffalo Bop

Jamie Horton – Robot Man
Album: H.B.G. Vol 1; Label: supersonic sound
Jan Amber – The Little Martian
Album: H.B.G. Vol 6; Label: supersonic sound
Ginny Millay – Juke Box On The Moon
Album: The Girl’s Are Rockin’; Label: White Label Records

Cartoon Tunes V1 with Tim Fay

Cartoon historian Timothy Fay talked about and played examples of classic cartoon music. This was a very fun program and I’m glad to get it archived. For me, one of the highlights was finding out the name of the big orange hairy monster who wore tennis shoes in the old Warner Bros cartoons!

Listen to the show

“I’ve been a fan of cartoons and animation for as long as I can remember, and I recently had the pleasure of helping Dig Up the Roots host Greg Carr put together a program on music from the early days of animation. You’ll hear songs from early Max Fleischer cartoons, including Popeye and Betty Boop, as well as some early jazz recordings (which the Fleischer’s used without permission from the artists – oops!). You’ll also hear songs from Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons, as well as novelty recordings featuring famous cartoon characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and some rodent named Mickey. And you can listen as Greg and I talk about the history of this music and the art of animation.”

-Tim Fay

For more information about cartoons and animation, I recommend these fine websites:

Jerry Beck’s Cartoon Research

The Cartoon Art Museum (San Francisco)

Playlist Tracks:

Don Pardo – WTV Toons Sign On
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Eddie Peabody – St Louis Blues / Some Of These Days
Album: Transcription Recording
Cab Calloway – Minnie The Moocher
Album: Transcription Recording; Label:
Mae Questel Rudy Vallee His Connecticut Yankees – Betty Boop
Album: Transcription Recording
Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra – Buffoon
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Oswald The Rabbit – Radio Rythym Soundtrack
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Bahnfahrt (Choo Choo Train Ride) – H. Schindler’s Orchestra
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Billy Costello – I’m Popeye the Sailor Man
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Floyd Buckley – Popeye
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Billy Costello – Barnacle Bill The Sailor
Album: Transcription Recording
Hoagy Carmichael His Orchestra – Barnacle Bill The Sailor
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
TV Cartoon Theme – Merrie Melodies (Merrily We Roll Along)
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits Vol 2; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Russ Morgan Manner – Looney Tunes (The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down)
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits Vol 2; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Raymond Scott Quintet – Powerhouse
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Carl Stalling Felix Mendelsson – Medley: Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals / The New Hebrides Overture
Album: Transcription Recording
Del Courtney His Orchestra – Honest John
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Harry Reser His Eskimos – Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Ben Bernie His Orchestra – What! No Mickey Mouse?
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
International Novelty Orchestra – Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Don Bestor His Orchestra – Mickey Mouse and Minnie’s in Town
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte