Hi Joy

well it took some time - been away a lot and business commitments - then I had to find the thread again!! Still, here goes.

The song was written and recorded in 1946 by Slim Dusty, "Australia's King Of Country Music". The recording was published 1n 1947 on a Regal Zonophone 78 number G25092 backed with "You Don't Know How Sad I Feel". It was subsequently reissued on a 3CD set on EMI Australia "The Slim Dusty Regal Zonophone Collection" number 8142472.

Dusty was never a great yodeller and never claimed to be. Indeed, after the very early years he largely dropped the yodel apart from the occasional Jimmie Rodgers styled monosyllabic phrase (he adored Rodgers' songs). In my view, whilst the frequency reduced, the quality of his yodel improved with age and he showed this on his superb, cajun-styled duet with daughter Anne Kirkpatrick "Drovin'" which was recorded in the late 80s.

On "Modern Yodelling Song" he reflected the vogue of Australian country music of that time - almost everything had a yodel in it - and Slim certainly proves he is up to the test. He starts out with an Elton Britt styled yodel before singing the chorus and then the first verse. Before the second chorus and verse he gives us a yodel in the typical Australian bush ballad style pioneered by Tex Morton, Buddy Williams and Gordon Parsons and then borrows from Hank Snow's "Texas Cowboy" before finishing off with a yodel and extended note a la Elton Britt's "Chime Bells"!

Dusty of course went on to become THE master of the Australian bush ballad, along with such hallowed names as Tex Morton, Buddy Williams, Gordon Parsons, Smoky Dawson and Shirley Thoms. He recorded well over 100 albums, had a wall full of gold and platinum discs and was awarded the OBE for his services to music.

He was only comfortable performing in Australia so although he holidayed in USA and UK he rarely performed outside his native country. Even after the massive international hits of "Pub With No Beer" in 1957 and "Duncan" in the 70s he refused to tour overseas. He finally made it to tour the UK in 1996 and brought the house down every night with his slick, true country music supported by his singer, songwriter, accordionist wife Joy McKean, award-winning Anne Kirkpatrick and the super-talented Travelling Country Band.

Now for the lyrics:

A MODERN YODELLING SONG Copyright 1946 EMI Music

Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye

Yodel

Chorus

Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye, Yodel a song in the modern way
It's not what you sing but how it swings
Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye

All spruced up in my saddle, as I ride to town today
The folk in town look at me and frown, but I grin back and say
"You can have your life of hurry, you can peer at my western clothes
But I can rope and sing like anything, and yodel through my sunburnt nose"

Yodel

chorus

Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye, Yodel a song in the modern way
It's not what you sing but how it swings
Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye

Ain't got no debts or worries, not tied to any gal
My home is just a saddle seat, my pony is my pal
When the mustering months are over and we bid goodbye to spring
You'll find me the same as I am today, pushing back my hat to sing

Yodel

Yipi Yi Yippi Yi Aye



That's it - hope it was worth the wait - sorry it took so long.

Enjoy!!

PAUL