Shine (1910 song)

Shine (originally titled That's Why They Call Me Shine) is a popular song with lyrics by Cecil Mack and Tin Pan Alley songwriter Lew Brown and music by Ford Dabney. It was published in 1910 by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company and used by Aida Overton Walker in His Honor the Barber, an African-American road show. According to Perry Bradford, himself a songster and publisher, the song was written about an actual man named Shine who was with George Walker when they were badly beaten during the New York City race riot of 1900.[1]

It was later recorded by jazz and jazz influenced artists such as The California Ramblers (their version was very popular in 1924),[2] Louis Armstrong (recorded March 9, 1931 for Okeh Records, catalog No. 41486),[3] Ella Fitzgerald (recorded November 19, 1936 for Decca Records - catalog. No. 1062),[4] Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Frankie Laine (1947 and 1957 - the 1947 version reached No. 9 in the Billboard charts),[5] usually without the sectional verse that introduces the song's narrator.

Bing Crosby & The Mills Brothers recorded the song on February 29, 1932 with studio orchestra conducted by Victor Young.[6] It was issued on Brunswick Records 11376-A, a 78 rpm record[7] and it is assessed by Joel Whitburn as reaching the No. 7 position in the charts of the day.[8]

As a member of the Hoboken Four, Frank Sinatra sang this song in 1935 on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

Albert Nicholas, clarinet, with The Big Chief Jazz Band recorded it in Oslo on August 29, 1955. It was released on the 78 rpm record Philips P 53037 H.

Joe Brown and The Bruvvers recorded the song in 1961 and reached the British charts with a peak position of No. 33.[9]

Anne Murray included this song on her 1976 Capitol Records album, Keeping in Touch.

Ry Cooder recorded the song complete with introduction in 1978 (see below).

Spanish vocal quartet Los Rosillo, recorded a Spanish version, with the original spoken intro, in their debut album in 1988.

  1. ^ Morgan, Thomas L. "Cecil Mack – R. C. McPherson". Jazz Roots. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-89820-083-6.
  3. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-89820-083-6.
  6. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  7. ^ "Brunswick 6000 series numerical listing". The Online Discographicsl Project. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-89820-083-6.
  9. ^ British Hit Singles & Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records Ltd. 2005. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-904994-00-8.