The Ernie Kovacs Show (comedy)
[aka: "Kovacs Unlimited"]
(CBS Primetime, 1952 - 1953;
NBC Primetime, 1956)
Theme: "Oriental Blues"
[as per entry in "Rags & Ragtime--a Musical History" --
ML 3561, R33J29, this piece is based upon "Rialto Ripples"
by the teenage George Gershwin collaborating with Will [Walter]
Donaldson. It was described as Gershwin's first commercial
success, published in 1917.
In 1920 Eubie Blake filed for copyright a piece titled "Oriental Blues"
with lyrics by Noble Sissle. It bears no resemblance to the piece that
would become Ernie Kovacs' TV theme.
The "Oriental Blues" used by Ernie Kovacs comes from a recording by
Jack Newlon, which was published in 1933; Comparison with the
Gershwin piece reveals parts of both pieces are nearly identical --
especially the "A" themes.
Although the erstwhile "composer" of the "Oriental Blues" is listed
as Jack Newlon who also promoted and published it, credit for the
arrangement of the recording is given to Billy James.
A 1952 arrangement of this tune was registered for copyright under
the name "Oriental Rag" by Jack Newlon.]
Adapters/Arrangers: adapted by Richard Jackson ("Jack") Newlon (ASCAP), and
arranged by Billy James (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Jack Newlon Pub. Co. (ASCAP)
of Glenside, PA
Sheet Music Publishers: Top Tunes Co.,
of Ocean, NJ; and
[selling agent:] Keys Music, Inc.
of New York, NY
Later Publishers: Damian Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP), and
Mokell Music (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Damian Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP), and
Mokell Music (ASCAP)
Copyrights on sheet music of "Oriental Blues": 1950, 1951
[as "Oriental Blues" by Jack Newlon]:
Copyright Registration: May 25, 1933; EP 36 467.
Copyright Renewal: Nov. 15, 1960; R 266 008.
[as "Oriental Rag" by Jack Newlon, published by
"Top Tunes Company", of Ocean, New Jersey]:
Copyright Registration: Feb. 27, 1952; EU 265 919.
Copyright Renewal:
[for "Rialto Ripples (Rag)", by George Gershwin,
published by Jerome H. Remick & Co., New York]:
Copyright Registration: June 6, 1917; E 403 681.
Copyright Renewal 1: June 6, 1944; R 128 974.
Copyright Renewal 2: June 7, 1944; R 129 029.
Recordings:
78rpm single: Top Tunes 443 (1952)
Tony De Simone Trio
78rpm single: Decca 29183
Tony De Simone Trio
45rpm single: Epic 9059
Tony De Simone
45rpm single: MGM 12408 (1957)
Leroy Holmes and his Tugboat Eight
also recorded by Jan August
Reissues:
CD: "The Ernie Kovacs Record Collection"
[contains reissues of versions #1 and #4 above]
Varese Sarabande VSD 5789 (1997)
Nairobi Trio Skit Theme: "Song
of the Nairobi Trio" [aka "Sol-feg-gi-o"]
[aka: "Sol-feg-gi-o (The Do-Re-Mi Song)"]
[this was used on a regular, surrealistic, comedy skit
on the Kovacs Show in which three characters dressed in
monkey suits sat at musical instruments playing a slow,
almost random tune. This quirky tune caught on and became
a popular instrumental novelty. Later, lyrics were added
and the piece was reborn with a new name, "Sol-feg-gi-o".]
Composers: music by Robert Maxwell (ASCAP),
with lyrics added later by Carl Sigman (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o EMI Music Publishing Inc.
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Recordings:
78rpm single: "Song of the Nairobi Trio" [instrumental]
The Nairobi Trio
45rpm single: "Song of the Nairobi Trio" [instrumental]
Music Mill 45-105 (1961)
The Fortune Tellers
45rpm single: "Sol-feg-gi-o" [partly vocal version]
MGM 11671 (1953)
Robert Maxwell, his Harp and Orchestra,
with the Ray Charles Singers
Reissues:
CD: "The Ernie Kovacs Record Collection"
[contains reissues of version #3 above]
Varese Sarabande VSD 5789 (1997)
Percy Dovetonsils Skit Theme: "Celestial
Nocturne"
[the middle section of this piece, arranged for the etherial
sound of the electronic theremin on the LP recording, was
used behind a regular comedy spot which featured Kovacs
as the over-sensitive Percy Dovetonsils, reader of poetry.]
Composers: Harry Revel (ASCAP), and
Buddy Feyne (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Michael H. Goldsen, Inc. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Michael H. Goldsen, Inc. (ASCAP)
of Hollywood, CA
Copyright Date:
Recordings:
LP: "Music Out of the Moon"
Les Baxter, His Chorus and Orchestra
with Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman, theremin
Capitol 390 (1946)
Reissues:
CD: "The Ernie Kovacs Record Collection"
Varese Sarabande VSD 5789 (1997)
general fast activity music: "Saxophobia"
[Saxophone virtuoso Rudy Wiedoeft (1893 - 1940)
composed this novelty tune classic, and even recorded it
in 1951.]
Composer: Rudy C. Wiedoeft (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: [public domain]
Copyright Date:
Recordings:
78rpm single: by Rudy Wiedoeft's Californians
(circa 1916 - 1924)
LP: "Saxophobia"
Clancy's Clowns
Capitol 1614 (1951)
Reissues:
CD: "The Ernie Kovacs Record Collection"
[contains reissue of version #2 above]
Varese Sarabande VSD 5789 (1997)
a sentimental ballad: "There's a Little Spark of Love Still Burning"
[ASCAP title: "Theres Little Spark of Love"
Contributor Mark Johnson wrote in March, 2005, that Ernie used this
1914 sentimental ballad beginning with his early local broadcasts
in Philadelphia during the 1950's, right through his final days
on network TV circa 1961/62; and that the version Ernie used
was a 1915 78rpm Victor ("Talking Machine") acoustic disc by
Henry Burr. Henry Burr was the pseudonym of Harry McClaskey who
recorded under both names. He was called "the dean of ballad
singers", and sang with several groups also on various labels,
including The Peerless Quartet.
Fred Fisher (1845 - 1942) was a German immigrant who co-wrote
the hit "Peg O'My Heart" the year before -- in 1913; In 1919 Fisher
published under his own name the song "Dardanella", which he bought
for his publishing company from the true authors. He also hit it big
in 1922 with the song "Chicago", which became a Sinatra smash over 25
years later.
Lyricist Joe McCarthy (1885 - 1943) was 40 years younger than Fisher, his
collaborator; He was just 29 at the time they collaborated on this song;
McCarthy went on to write the hit waltz "Alice Blue Gown" (1919);
and eventually penned a lyric for the pop song "I'm Always Chasing
Rainbows", based upon the haunting melody from the middle section of
Chopin's piano showpiece "Fantasie Impromptu".
By the way, this Joe McCarthy was no relation to the infamous Senator
Joseph Raymond McCarthy who instigated the Communist scare of the 1950s.
This Joe McCarthy became a director of ASCAP -- the first U.S. performance
rights organization.]
Composers: music by Fred Fisher (ASCAP),
lyric by Joseph ("Joe") McCarthy, Sr. (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Leo Feist, Inc. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Leo Feist, Inc. (ASCAP)
2005 Publisher: EMI-Feist Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP)
div. of EMI-April Music, Inc.
c/o EMI Music Publishing
New York, NY
Composition Date: 1914.
Copyright Date:
Recordings:
78rpm single: by Henry Burr
(circa 1915, on Victor)
Copyright 1960 - 2018 by The Media Management Group. All Rights Reserved