Black Strap Molasses

This article is about the song. For the by-product of sugar cane refining, see blackstrap molasses.
"Black Strap Molasses"
Single by Danny Kaye, Jimmy Durante, Jane Wyman, and Groucho Marx
A-side"How D' Ye Do and Shake Hands (from the film Alice in Wonderland)"
ReleasedAugust 1951 (1951-08)
RecordedAugust 12, 1951 (1951-08-12), with chorus and orchestra directed by Sonny Burke
GenrePopular[1]
Length2:39
LabelDecca Records
Songwriter(s)Carmine Ennis, Marilou Harrington

Black Strap Molasses is a novelty song by Carmine Ennis and Marilou Harrington, released in August 1951.[2][3][4] It was recorded by the movie stars Groucho Marx, Jimmy Durante, Jane Wyman, and Danny Kaye, with chorus and orchestra directed by Sonny Burke.[5] The song was a popular success, reaching number 29 on the Billboard charts,[3][6] but was banned from some radio networks because it was perceived as promoting commercial products.[7]

  1. ^ "This Week's Best Sellers". Billboard. 29 September 1951. p. 25.
  2. ^ Yahn, M. A. (2007). The Music of the Marx Brothers: A Bio-discography of the Works of Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Gummo, and Zeppo Marx. PublishAmerica. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4241-6971-9.
  3. ^ a b Lonergan, D.F. (2005). Hit Records, 1950–1975. Scarecrow Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-8108-5129-0.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ban was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bakish was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Eyles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kick was invoked but never defined (see the help page).