Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: GUEST,late 'n short 2
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 06:52 PM

Jim Croce, as well, has an acoustic version

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: tritoneman
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 06:24 PM

I'd completely forgotten that LP of Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan that Jim produced. I used to have a copy - and hopefully may still have one somewhere amongst the vinyl. As Jim says, Martin's performance in their 'Shimmy Like My Sister Kate' should be heard. I'd add that Martin Winsor should be heard anyway. He was a great character and a superb performer.

Graham

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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: CupOfTea
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 12:57 PM

My introduction to this song, back in the early 70s was through James Taylor covering it. I'm not sure if I heard it first on the radio with James Taylor singing it, or second hand through the wild and crazy bus driver for my horseback riding lessons who sang us James Taylor songs. I can still remember his name: William R. Catesby Jones, Jr. Wonder if he's still singing somewhere...

Joanne in Cleveland (who'd be scary lookin if I tried to shimmy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: goatfell
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 12:47 PM

Johnny Silvo also does this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: Jim McLean
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 08:08 AM

I just found this on YouTube, taken from the LP I produced. Troubadour

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: Jim McLean
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 07:04 AM

In 1971 I recorde and produced an LP called "Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan, hosts of the Troubadour with friends".
Their version of "I wish I could shimmy ...." is on the LP. Redd sings the 'straight' version while Martin adds a camp version about his brother Roy as Graham posted.
I have the album and can post the lyrics if required however it is Martin's performance which should be heard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: tritoneman
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 11:41 PM

During the late 1960's Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan used to do a great version of this at the Troubadour in London. They sang a verse that started with 'I wish I could do it like my brother Roy...'If I can somehow remember the rest of it I'll post it!

Graham

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 11:08 PM

The Internet Archive has several recordings of I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE:

Eva Taylor, 1922

Memphis Five, 1922 – instrumental only

Virginians, 1923 – instrumental only.

YouTube has:

The Goofus Five (California Ramblers), 1922 – instrumental only

Cotton Pickers, 1922 – instrumental only

The University Six, 1926 – instrumental only

Bob Wills, 1938

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: beeliner
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 04:33 AM

The Olympics' version, titled "Shimmy Like Kate" was probably too late (1959?) to be included in the 78's listed above, but is certainly one of the best and most orignal arrangements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e89KQC3RnbE

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 01:38 AM

No mention that I can find, above or on google, to the title by which I have always known this, & I am sure heard it sung, "Nobody can shimmy like my sister Kate".

Anyone else know it as that? Is it perhaps a title-rationalisation used for it to be sung by male singer, who would scarcely "wish" he could "like his sister"? -- tho the singers named on google [Sidney Bechet; Beatles...] as singing it would seem to preclude this?

Anyone else know it by this title/version? Anyone know where, or why, I recall this for practically ever as the title/first·line?

Or is it even maybe another song? Seems unlikely...

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: Ann N
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 11:57 AM

Here's a Youtube of Betty Grable singing 'Shimmy like my sister Kate'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: 106MartinPicker
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 08:33 AM

The Jim Kweskin version is the first track on the "Relax Your Mind" album and is entitled, "Three Songs - A Look At The Ragtime Era". It was expressly designed as a medley.

Complete Kweskin lyrics for all three songs follow:

1). Sister Kate's Night Out - A.J. Piron
Well, everybody Shimmy like my sister Kate
Shake like it jelly on a plate
My Mama wanted to know last night
How sister Kate could do it oh so nice

Now, all the boys in the neighborhood
Knew Kate could Shimmy, and it's mighty good
I may be late, but I'll be up to date
When I can Shimmy like my sister Kate
I mean, shake it like my sister Kate

Now, everybody shake it like my Kate
Never stay home, stay home too late
I get my stuff, about as high as a kite
You know I do it, boy, every night

Now, all the boys in the neighborhood
Knew Kate could Shimmy, and it's mighty good
I know I'm late, but I'll be up to date
When I can Shimmy like my sister Kate
I mean, shake it like my sister Kate

2). Heebie Jeebies - Boyd Atkins
Well, I've got the Heebies, I mean, the Jeebies
Talkin' about, I got the Heebie Jeebies
Hey, every girl and boy
Get hip with a little bit of joy

Hey, don't you know it
Don't you feel blue
C'mon down, someone will teach you
C'mon and do that dance
They call the Heebie Jeebies dance
Sweet Mama, Papa's got the Heebie Jeebies dance

3). 15 Cents - Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Come with me, don't ask no questions
The stuff is good, it ain't gonna hurt ya
Don't be so shy, and don't act so dense
I know where you can get it for 15 cents
What's that, Jimmy? (spoken)

Right up the alley, and down the line
You got the nickel, and I got the dime
We'll have a good time, and that ain't all
'Round the corner at the hole in the wall
Yeah, at the hole in the wall

Now, goodbye booze, I'm through with you
Whoa, goodbye booze, I'm through with you
Last night I told my wife
I'm gonna stay high the rest of my life
So, goodbye booze, I'm through with you, yeah, yeah
So, goodbye booze, I'm through with you
Just gimme some of that good brown rice (spoken)

JP the 1,000,000th Martin Picker

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 10:17 PM

This song was also revived by Tom Rush in the 1960's.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 05:10 PM

The album cover notes for Jim Kweskin's "Relax Your Mind" indicate that his version of "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" is part of a medley also including "Heebie Jeebies" (credited to Boyd Atkins) and "Fifteen Cents" (credited to Frankie Jaxon).

Subject: Lyr Add: I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 02:14 PM

From the sheet music image at Mississippi State University (on that page, click "View this item" to download a PDF file.):


I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE
Words and music by A. J. Piron*
Clarence Williams Music Pub. Co. Inc., 1922

1. Went to a dance with my sister Kate.
Ev'ryone there said she danced so great.
I realized a thing or two,
Then I got wise to something new.
I look'd at Kate. she was in a trance,
And then I knew it was in her dance.
All the boys are going wild
Just over Katie's dancing style.

CHORUS: I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate.
She shivers like the jelly on a plate.
My mammy wanted to know last night
Why all the boys treat Sister Kate so nice.
Ev'ry boy in our neighborhood
Knows that she can shimmy, and it's understood.
I know I'm late but I'll be up to date
When I can shimmy like my sister Kate,
I mean, shimmy like my sister Kate.

2. Thought if I want to be up to date,
I had to shimmy like Sister Kate.
Although I tried, 'twas all in vain,
But Sister Kate could not be blamed.
She made me dance till I got sore feet.
I will be glad when it's all complete.
Tried so hard to imitate,
To shimmy like my sister Kate.

*

*RedHotJazz.com says "Violinist Armand Piron is remembered most today as the early business partner of Clarence Williams. They owned The Piron-Williams Publishing Company in New Orleans that scored a hit with Piron's song "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" (although Louis Armstrong claims that he wrote it and sold it to them and didn't receive credit)...."

The version in the DT, called IF I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE, was taken from Jim Kweskin, and he changed it quite a bit. He even inserted part of a different song: THE HEEBIE JEEBIES.

The Online 78-rpm Discography Project lists the following recordings of I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE MY SISTER KATE (this includes some variant titles such as SISTER KATE and SHIMMY LIKE SISTER KATE)

Alabama Jug Band, 1934
Anna Jones, 1923
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, 1938
Boyd Senter, 1928
California Ramblers, 1922
Charles Pierce & His Orch, 1928
Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers, 1938
Clarence Williams and His Orchestra, 1928
Cotton Pickers, 1922
Eva Taylor, 1922
Frances Faye
George Wettling Rhythm Kings, 1940
Hoosier Hot Shots, 1936
Jan Garber & His Orch, 1928
Jazzbo Carolina Serenaders, 1922
Jesse Ashlock, 1938
Joe Haymes & His Orch, 1936
Lee Sims (piano), 1930
Leona Williams & Her Jazz Band, 1922
Mary Straine, 1922
Muggsy Spanier Ragtime Band, 1939
Okeh Syncopators, 1922
Original Memphis Five, 1922
Patricia Norman
Phil Napoleon Memphis Five, 1950
Ray Miller's Hotel Gibson Orch, 1928
The Georgians - Dance Orch., 1922
The Goofus Five, 1927
Tiny Hill & His Orch, 1940
University Six, 1926
Varsity Eight, 1927
Virginians, 1922
Whoopee Makers (E. Grosso), 1928
Wingy Manone

RedHotJazz.com has several recorded versions.