Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'

Subject: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 04:15 PM

I used to hear this oldie occasionally but have not recently until today when I heard it on 88.7 FM Spindale, NC. I would like to learn it if someone can provide a download or link where I can hear it. Jeepman

Subject: Lyr Add: GOOFUS
From: GUEST,bseed(charleskratz--from school)
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 04:36 PM

I don't know how to post the tune, but here are the lyrics:

GOOFUS

I was born on a farm down in I-o-way,
A flaming* youth who was bound that he'd fly away;
I packed my bag and I grabbed my saxaphone.
I don't read words but I play everything by ear,
I made up tunes from the sounds that I used to hear:
When I'd start to play, folks used to say, "Sounds a little goofus to me."

Corn-fed chords appeal to me,
I like rustic harmony,
Hold the note and change the key,
That's called goofus.
Not according to the rules,
That you learn in music schools,
But the folks all danced like fools,
They loved goofus.

I got a job but I just couldn't keep it long,
The leader said that I played all the music wrong,
So I set out with an outfit of my own.

Aww, dammit. Somebody help me--I can't remember the last three lines. Ack.

--seed

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: GUEST,--seed
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 05:12 PM

I forgot to put in the footnote. Here it is:

*I think "flaming" had a different meaning than the current one.

--seed(who still can't remember the last three lines)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Zebedee
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 05:16 PM

You can listen to a midi of the tune by clicking here

If you want to save the file you can (probably) 'right click' on the link and choose 'save target as'

Hope this helps.

Ed

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 07:32 PM

Thanks, Z man. That is the tune. Could you tell me where you found it? Jeepman

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 01:08 PM

(Really, it's Ferrara using Bill D's log-on)

Right now I think I can remember two of the three missing lines in the second verse:

We all played just that same Goofus harmony .... And I must admit, we made a hit, Goofus has been lucky for me!

Does that bring it back, 'seed?

Ferrara

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 11:41 PM

The above lyrics are still missing a line in the middle of the last verse. I found it at http://www.vex.net/~paulmac/carpenter/lyrics/goofus.html. Also, nobody has posted the songwriters' names:

GOOFUS
(Wayne King, William Harold & Gus Kahn)
...
Got a job but I just couldn't keep it long.
The leader said that I played all the music wrong.
So I stepped out with an outfit of my own.
Got together a new kind of ochestree,
And we all played just the same "Goofus" harmony,
And I must admit, we made a hit.
"Goofus" has been lucky for me.

[Wayne King was probably the first to record it, but it has also been recorded by Chet Atkins, The Carpenters, Tommy Dorsey, Duane Eddy, Phil Harris, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Slim Lamar & His Southerners, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Mercer, and Les Paul.]

Subject: Lyr Add: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 12:47 AM

Just an Add for Jim Dixon's post of 25 Jun 03 - 11:41 PM this thread. It's more complete.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 02:34 AM

I've got the tune in an old fakebook, but no lyrics. It shows Kahn, King, and Harold in the credits, and a copyright 1930, Leo Feist, Inc, which would probably place the date of origin pretty well. Copyright renewed 1952, same guys.

John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 02:39 AM

Just so things are clear - words were by Gus Kahn, music by Wayne King and william Harold, published in 1930.
I didn't know the name until I saw this thread, but the tune sure is familiar.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 03:03 AM

It was a really popular tune for the old ladies at the Elks/Moose club dances my high-school-era combo played for in the late 50s. Probably reminded them of their own teen-time sock hops.

The modulation on the chorus was always a problem for our trumpet, but then he never got "In the Mood" right either.

John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 03:51 PM

Well, I've let this thread go past a couple of times but I guess I have something that probably can be mentioned and add a bit of history and interest.

Note that the guy grabs his saxophone and not something else. Why is that?

The tune was written as noted in part by Wayne King "The Waltz King" who featured the most syrupy sax section on the planet at that time although they may have been overtaken by Guy Lombardo's "Royal Canadians" with their even more jaw dropping, incessant, and annoying vibrato. Combined with the sickeningly sweet sound, suffice it to say that none of those guys were Charlie Parker although they certainly made a good living and rarely died at 34 like the Bird did. But that's only part of the reason that sax was picked.

The 30's were the time of the C Melody Tenor, a saxophone anyone could play badly and many folks did. It was far more prolific than guitars or pianos in average households, cheap to buy and in C which meant no transposing to play along with pianos, guitars and the like. Most were of very poor quality and I have never played one that wasn't "stuffy" and out of tune in the lower and upper registers.

The C Melody Tenor was slightly smaller than a B-flat Tenor and larger than an E-flat Alto, used it's own mouthpiece, but Tenor reeds. Almost all were a burnished silver finish. You still see them around in junk stores and pawn shops but there are none of them worth more than 50 bucks and that's being damn generous. If you run across one in a closet, even in new condition, don't get too excited.

Because sax requires less embouchure than clarinet and Tenor less than Alto, you could generally get some (bad) sounds of it and the fingering pattern isn't hard to learn, also shared with very little modification by Flute and upper register Clarinet (Boehm System). Sax became billed as the instrument anyone could learn to play. Probably true in some respects, but you need to add "badly" to most claims like that as well. It was popular though and folks had a lot of fun in their parlors with the things. Sadly, quite a few decided they were in a league with Ben Webster or something and played in public to the chagrin of many listeners. They eventually went the way of other nutball ideas and leave us a legacy of old folks saying how well "Uncle So-And-So" played.........yeah, right.

Anyway, there's my 2 cent addition.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 05:07 PM

In other words, Spaw, the penny whistle of the '30s?

The C melody sax was an "instrument for everybody" and was, without doubt, the easiest "keyed" wind instrument for people to pick up and play a little - and I'll agree, usually badly. While it doesn't require the tense embouchre needed for a clarinet in the "common" lower (2+) registers, when you get into the top 2 octaves (of the 4 octave range available) it very much requires embouchre control seldom developed by clarinetists (and almost never by casual saxophonists). Of course, using the upper registers of a C melody sax would sort of defeat the purpose of the instrument.

Most "professional" bands and "dance orchestras" used the Bb tenor and Eb alto saxophones. The Bb tenor could read from the Bb trumpet/cornet and clarinet parts easily, and the Eb alto could read the C trombone (written in bass clef, read it as treble and add 3 sharps to the signature). Much of the music written for these kinds of bands/orchestras was in "flat" keys, to suit the instruments used.

I can't be sure, but the original "Goofus" was probably notated in Ab. F, Bb, and Ab notations seem to prevail on sheet music I've "collected" from the era. (I'm not sure why Eb seems to have been less common.)

One of the "problems" with "melody" instruments is that one isn't ever enough. While guitarists "think in chords" the instruments that play one note at a time have to "think in harmonies." It takes a minimum of about 3 instruments to "get a sound" that's really musical, so the "solo" wind instrument player doesn't really have a chance.

Unfortunately, the C melody sax was marketed mainly to those who didn't have a band. Possibly the second most popular "home musician" instrument of the era was the mandolin (more frequently picked up by those with some music training); although one may also recall the "fads" with the zither and pan pipes from near eras.

Harry Chapin's rendition of Six String Orchestra will give you a more modern perspective on the "amateur musician" thing.

John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Old instrumental called 'Goofus'
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Jun 03 - 12:31 AM

Jim Craig, owner operator of Hogeye Music store in Evanston, Illinois does a very nice smoother-than-most version of Goofus while picking the hell out of his 6-string. Jim, to my mind, has the best voice ever to come out of the Chicago folk scene over the last 40 years or so. He has always reminded me of Cisco Houston's best solo vocalizing (means without Woody)---but better.

Wayne King was from the Mississippi River town of Savanna, Illinois, a place where I often disembarked the steamboat Julia Belle Swain that I played on for ten years. I'd wait there for fifteen minutes or so until the boat Twilight came along and picked me up to do a show for their passengers as well. Good memories.

Art Thieme