Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....

Subject: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:38 PM

There was song that came out in the at least the Mid-Atlantic region in the 50's and it was like a conversation between a woman and "Amos" (no, not our Amos but another Amos...)

"Hey, Amos! Why we walkin' in this subway tunnel?"

"Shut up and keep on walkin'"....

Anyone rememeber this song and if so, who did it?????

Bobert

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:53 PM

I remember it Bobert, she had a really whiney voice and he sounded a bit like the fellow on Dragnet. Can't remember who did it though.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:54 PM

I think the line was "Jus' keep walking". Here's what Jerry Osborne says about it:

"You are on the right track (subway, that is), though there is no Sydney in this musical adventure. The determined fellow marching underground is named Ambrose.

Thus, the title is "Ambrose (Part 5)." Ambrose's willing but curious hiking mate is Linda Laurie, the credited artist. This late 1958 recording made the Top 60 in early '59 (Glory 290).

Don't read anything into the "Part 5" reference. It means nothing and there are no earlier Parts.

Besides the Linda Laurie original of "Ambrose (Part 5)," Glory hedged their bet by releasing an instrumental of "Just Keep Walking (Ambrose)" on Glory 292, just two numbers later, by the Hal McKusick Quartet.

At the same time, guitarist Jimmy Valentine put out a marvelous cover of "Just Keep Walking (Ambrose)," which didn't chart" but received considerable air play, as did its flip side, "Rockin' Hula" (Cub 9024).

Though the instrumentals do not have anyone doing Linda Laurie's part, they do have the Ambrose character occasionally saying "Just Keep Walking."

Linda's sequel to "Ambrose (Part 5)," a 1959 issue, is titled "Forever Ambrose" (Glory 294). In this adventure, Laurie and Ambrose are cuddled up — not in a subway — discussing such timely topics as her family's shame over not owning a color television.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:56 PM

Ya beat me to it Amos, I just found the same info.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:56 PM

Ambrose
It's very dark in here
Ambrose
Where are you
Oh oh Ambrose hold my hand
Ambrose
Ambrose something's vibrating
The walls are shaking
Ambrose we can't go on like this
Why can't we sit in the park like other boys and girls



Why do we have to walk in the subway tunnel

Just keep walking

Ambrose when you grow up
Why don't you be a doctor?
You don't wanna be a doctor?
You wanna be a disc jockey?
Oh Ambrose
You can't spend the rest of your life avoiding responsibilities
Ambrose
How many times have you been in love?
Can't you ever be serious?

Just keep walking

Ambrose
If I gave you my picture
Would you carry it in your wallet
Well if I gave you a wallet
Would you
I'll put some money in it
What do you mean how much

Honest Ambrose
It's not that I didn't want to have the party at my house
I couldn't
My mommy wouldn't let me
She's ashamed
We haven't got a color television
Ambrose what was that
Oh Ambrose I've asked you a million times
Why do we have to walk in a subway tunnel

Just keep walking

Ambrose
Ambrose
Maybe
Maybe you'd like me better
If I peroxided my hair like Eloise
Eloise
Eloise you know Eloise
Your mother
You wouldn't like me peroxided

Just keep walking

Ambrose
Ambrose just think

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:58 PM

Glory REC# 45-294 YEAR 1959
Linda Laurie
Forever Ambrose 2:32
Wherever He Goes, I Go 2:07

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:58 PM

Mets, sorry -- didn't mean to step on yer toe in the rush to help ol' Bobert out! :D


A

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 11:04 PM

no toe steppin at all Amos. LOL, but now I can't get the stupid thing out of my mind.

And it really was stupid.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 11:08 PM

Aayambwoze....argh!

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Amos
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 11:10 PM

Just keep walkin' Mets!! LOL!


A

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,marks
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 10:32 PM

Hey Bobert

The "artist" was, as I recall, Arnold Stang, and I believe it was about '56 or '57.

Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Dixie
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 09:57 PM

I've been searching since 1959 for these lyrics. I'm glad someone recalls them except it was Blanche, not Eloise. "You know, Blanche (with a decided Bronx accent) Blanche, your muddah!"

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 01:50 AM

Oh geez....it has been a thousand years since I heard this...and it had been buried deep in the memory bank and now you have dredged it up again!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Clay
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 04:40 PM

This is the correct version and tune

Written by Linda Gertz (Laurie), Wes McWain, and Lou Sprung

Her only charted single as a performer

Peaked at # 52 in 1959


Linda Laurie did BOTH voices. Echo effect simulates a subway tunnel. Piano plays casual jazz piece throughout




Ambrose.
It's very dawk in here.
Ambrose!
Where are you?
Oh, oh, Ambrose,hold my hand
Ambrose!
Ambrose, something's vibrating!!!
The walls are shaking.
Ambrose, we can't go on like this.
Why can't we sit in the pawk like other boys and girls?

Why do we hafta walk in the subway tunnel?

Just keep walkin'

Ambrose, when you grow up
Why'n'tcha be a doctah?
You don't wanna be a doctah?
You wanna be a disc jockey?
Oh, Ambrose,
You can't spend the rest of your life avoiding responsibilities.
Ambrose,
How many times have you been in love?

Can't you ever be serious?

Just keep walkin'

Ambrose
If I gave you my picture,
Would you carry it in your wallet?
Well, if I gave you a wallet,
Wouldja?
I'll put some money in it.
Whaddya mean how much?

Honest Ambrose,
It's not that I didn't wanna have the pawty at my house
I couldn't.
My mommy wouldn't let me.
She's ashamed.
We haven't got a color telephone.
Ambrose, what was that?
Oh Ambrose, I've asked ya a million times,
Why do we hafta walk in a subway tunnel?

Just keep walkin'

Ambrose.
Ambrose.
Maybe you'd like me beddah
If I p'roxide my hair like Eloise.
Eloise.
Eloise. you know Eloise.
Your mutha.
You wouldn't like me p'roxide?

Just keep walkin'

Ambrose.
Ambrose, just think……..

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 04:55 PM

Wow!!!

I posted this and never saw any responses until just today...

Thanks all for the words, etc...

Think it would make a good one chord Mississippi Hill Country song to do... Think I'll copy the words and give it a try...

Just gotta work on my Flip Wilson...

B~

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Clay
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 05:00 PM

To: Judge Jim K., long time music fan and Seattle resident and jurist, if you remember this, then you truly walked with the ancients. The song was released in 1958 and hit the charts in 1959. About that time, I discovered Rock & Roll in the voice of Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny Horton, Buddy, The Bopper, Richie, Chuck, Little Richard, and the hundreds of songs that just had that special beat. As Bob said 17 years later, "I love that ole' time" R&R. Thanks for reminding me of this classic.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:26 PM

Well, thanks all...

I now have the lyrics and I'll see if I can work it into something I can perorm...

B~

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:34 PM

They played it on the radio today in New Zealand. What a hoot and quite memorable and scary at the same time

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,TooTall
Date: 18 May 09 - 07:56 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhZWh90eoZU

Check it out! Just keep walking in all it's 1959 glory.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 12:52 PM

I've been searching for this song, too! In 1957 when this song first played in my hometown of Ashland, Kentucky, the DJ said the male's voice we Charlton Heston. I haven't been able to prove this.
ry

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Tiffany
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 11:37 PM

It was Linda Laurie. She wrote that among many other hits. And it wasn't Amos...it was Ambrose. The song is
"Ambrose Part V". Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Mr Gee
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 10:26 PM

I thought this was a great record when it came out, It's so typical of the times back in the 1950's . I'm so glad I came across it again, after all these years.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:10 PM

When I was 10, I heard this once on the radio, and it haunted me for years. No one in my small PA town seemed to know anything about it. The couples' words just came back to me, and Google has given me my long awaited answer.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Carol P W
Date: 30 Jul 16 - 09:01 PM

This is an instrumental.
At some point, you (the listener) realize there
is a couple walking through a subway tunnel.
She says, "Gee, Ambrose, it's dark in here".
She sounds a little frightened.
In a very deep voice, he say,
"Just keep walking."

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Sep 17 - 05:31 AM

Brings back so many memories.. thank you so much 😊

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: Cool Beans
Date: 16 Sep 17 - 11:32 AM

Linda Laurie died in 2009. Here's her Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Laurie

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,JerryLeeLarry
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 12:36 PM

I have always wondered who played the piano accompaniment on "Ambrose"?

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 19 - 11:16 PM

Hi Clay,
Your response to this post way back when (2008) for the song "AMBROSE" included: "Linda Laurie did BOTH voices. Echo effect simulates a subway tunnel. "Piano plays casual jazz piece throughout."

I am a piano player and have been searching for years to find out who played that "casual jazz piano piece throughout the song." It was written by Wes McWain, Linda Gertz Laurie and Lou Sprung. GLORY records is long gone and so probably are the musicians for that studio by now. Any ideas how one would go about finding this out?

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Shut up! Just Keep Walkin'....
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 04 Oct 19 - 10:19 AM

Something I read suggested Bill Evans might be the piano player; however, I can locate nothing to support that. It is quite common even today for back-up musicians who have an exclusive deal with another 'label' to do studio work but under a name assumed for different recording sessions, or no name at all. Perhaps someone who knows lots about jazz piano--specifically Bill Evans' work--could look into that aspect of it. Sorry I can't help more. (I listened to the recording for about 45 seconds, but the twee kid voice made my teeth itch so I had to stop.)