Origins: It's Illegal, It's Immoral, or It Makes..

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S ILLEGAL IT'S IMMORAL OR IT MAKES...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 08:51 PM

You can hear this recording at YouTube:


IT'S ILLEGAL, IT'S IMMORAL, OR IT MAKES YOU FAT.
As sung by the Beverley Sisters

CHORUS: It's illegal, it's immoral, or it makes you fat.
Oh, it really doesn't matter what you're aiming at.
If it's something you enjoy, you can be certain that
It's illegal, it's immoral, or it makes you fat.

There there are many philosophers who will agree
That the best things in life are absolutely free,
But you're bound to find out before you go too far,
If it happens to be fun, the chances are—CHORUS

If you shoot the tax collector who plagues you all your life,
If you kiss a pretty girl when you have an ugly wife,
If you can't look a treacle pudding in the eye,
Then you might as well lay down and die. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Origins: It's Illegal, It's Immoral, or It Makes..
From: autoharper
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 03:57 PM

On September 16, 1933 the Albany Evening News of Albany, New York published a column called "As I Hear It" by "The Listener" which reported on the content of recently broadcast radio programs. The columnist stated that Alexander Woollcott could be heard on the WOKO radio station on Wednesday and Friday nights at 10:30 PM.

The program began with a cry of "Hear ye! Hear ye!" and the ringing of a bell according to "The Listener". Indeed, Woollcott's CBS radio show "The Town Crier" used precisely that introduction. Fortunately for 21st century researchers, the columnist decided to record some of the remarks made by Woollcott over the air:

Quoting Woollcott's story about Mr. Frank Rand of St. Louis who, in the interest of his girth, was lunching on bouillon cubes and undressed lettuce.

"Do you eat that stuff because you like it?" someone asked Rand.

"No, I hate it," he replied. "But it seems as if anything I like is either illegal or immoral or fattening."

Hence, the first known instance of the expression occurred in an anecdote told by Woollcott to his radio audience, and the words were credited to a person named Frank Rand. Top-notch researcher Suzanne Watkins identified "The Listener" as Mary A. O'Neill based on an engagement notice in the Albany Evening News in February 1934 that stated she was the writer of the "As I Hear It" column.

-Adam Miller
Folksinging.org

Subject: RE: Origins: It's Illegal, It's Immoral, or It Makes..
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 09:42 AM

Thanks for the link, Arkie.

Subject: RE: Origins: It's Illegal, It's Immoral, or It Makes..
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 04:51 PM

Anything new on this turned up in the last seven years. I have a recording by Five Happy Fellas and there are versions by several artists on youtube.

Syncopated Sisters

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fa
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 01:39 AM

Nurse, the screens please.....and the med cart

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fat?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 11:50 PM

SHAMBLES - Why do you ask?

Supply a context/background/encounter/date/reason OR personal-experience and your thread will take on more meaning.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fat?
From: GUEST,singer of songs
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 11:44 PM

HI:
I was just doing some research on this tune as well. I discovered it in an old Frank Sinatra songbook but cannot seem to find out if in fact he ever recorded it.
I have the composers listed as:
Wally Griffin, Ken Hecht and Gary Bruce
It's quite a quirky tune...
singer of songs

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fat?
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:18 AM

W. Griffin, K.Hecht, G.Bruce    Barton Music Corp.

This attributes it to those posted above.

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fat?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 10:22 PM

Several web sites have sound samples of Edmundo Ros performing IT'S ILLEGAL, IT'S IMMORAL, OR IT MAKES YOU FAT on the album of the same name. I was able to transcribe this much:

...who first said
That it's illegal, it's immoral, or it makes you fat.
It really doesn't matter what you're aiming at.
If there's something you enjoy, you can be certain that
It's illegal, it's immoral, or it makes you fat.

When you go on a diet, though you cut out all your beef,
Eat lots of spinach or a lettuce leaf,
You'll notice that all your favorite recipes
Are the ones that have too many calories.
It's illegal, and it's immoral.
It's illegal, it's immoral, or it makes you fat.

There are plenty of things that you are free to do
Without anyone trying to...

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fa
From: Paul Burke
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 03:46 AM

It's from a quote usually attributed to Dorothy Parker: "All the things I really like are immoral, illegal, or fattening", but other sources suggest Alexander Woollcott might have said it first.

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fa
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 03:11 PM

The Harry Fox Agency licensing site, songfile.com shows a song called "Illegal, Immoral, and Fattening" written by H. Kaylan and M. Volman and recorded by Flo and Eddie. Probably not the same song, but interesting. I see also that there's a Ewan MacColl song titled "Legal Illegal," and I'm sure that has nothing to do with being immoral and fattening...
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Song info: Illegal, Immoral or it makes you fat?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 02:58 PM

yes - most of the web references are to him - but evidently he and his band performed it in the early sixties.

Subject: RE: Illegal, imoral or it makes you fat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 02:50 PM

I dont know why , but I would have said Edmundo Ros wrote it !

Subject: RE: Illegal, imoral or it makes you fat?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 02:42 PM

The Beverley Sisters Recorded it on Decca in the 50's ; but I can't find an attribution for composer or author.

Subject: Illegal, imoral or it makes you fat?
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 02:20 PM

Can anyone tell me who wrote the song - It's illegal, it's imoral or it makes you fat?

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/2228520/a/It's+Illegal,+It's+Immoral+Or+It+Makes+You+Fat.htm