'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query

Subject: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 10:06 AM

Buried in another thread, so I am pulling it out, Threadheads.
In "Lady Sings The Blues", the film about Billie Holliday, the film starts with the playing of a 78 of "Ain't Nobody's Bizness". I assume it is someone like Bessie Smith -- it must be someone in the 20's, to make the sequence work right (B. Holliday as a young girl inspired by the song). I do remember being much more mesmerized by it than by the rest of the film, but didn't get the recording from the credits (this is 20 years ago now). Does anyone remember, or have the soundtrack album which might possibly have it on (though Diana Ross might have been wise enough to leave the competition off)? Anyone?
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: MTM
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 10:37 AM

Haven't seen the film in a long time, but that would almost certainly have been Bessie Smith's 1923 recording of "'Tain't nobody's bus'ness", and to the best of my memory it is not on the soundtrack.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 11:21 AM

I have the piano roll of this and it's damned tricky to sing along to.(I have difficulty pedalling, singing and drooling at the same time) As well as Bessie Smith, I have Ottilie Paterson doing a fine version to her own piano accompanyment when she was with Chris Barber.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: MTM
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 11:39 AM

Roger-Is your piano roll based on the Clarence Williams accompaniment?

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Oct 99 - 03:53 PM

Thanks Roger, and MTM. That may be why I can't figure out what has kept me from just finding the soundtrack album and checking it out. I must have done that once, and failed to find anything. I was resisting going and getting the video -- it might not even be in the credits!!! I too think it must be Bessie Smith, but I would like to be sure. I may have to go and get it (drat). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: _gargoyle
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 12:29 AM

T'AIN'T NOBODY'S BIZ-NESS IF I DO

A woderful blues tempo song that allows for LOTS of vocalist and acompaniment improvisation .... a great deal of FUN for BOTH.

Copyright 1922 and 1950 by MCA Music Publisher, a division of MCA Inc. NY, NY.

Words and Music by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins
at least one of several recordings is by Billie Holiday.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 12:41 AM

Having heard and loved the Bessie version I was surprised that I also loved the song as sung by Ric Von Schmidt, the Boston artist and blues singer.

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 11:47 AM

MTM. I'll check the piano roll tonight & report back! (I can never get my "dooby doobies" in quite the right tempo!)

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 03:46 AM

INterestingly, the composer on the piano roll (QRS 2270)is given as Clarence Williams but the version I have is as played by Mrs Waller's charmful little armful, Thomas (Fats). The verses are fewer than on the recordings I have, but that is typical of piano rolls.
RtS

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: MTM
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 08:26 AM

Waller is my most absolute adored showman/ musician of all time. Some three years ago I put together a cabaret show with a load of his best compositions, most of which were left uncovered by the Broadway revue. There is some absolutely marvelous material--songs like "This is so nice, it must be illegal," "You're only slightly less than wonderful," and "More than Satisfied" that only collectors could show me the way to. That stuff has just sat in the LOC and collected dust. How fortunate for you to have one of Fats' rolls (?) Odd that Williams is attributed with authorship though. I thought it was a Porter Grainger tune.

MTM

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 08:31 AM

MTM, you should see me pedal away on Alligator Crawl and African Ripples
Good for the thigh muscles
If only I could play them too!
RtS

Subject: RE: 'Ain't Nobody's Bizness'? - Movie Query
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 11:35 AM

"I'd be a beggar or a knave for you -- what is a knave, anyway? -- if that isn't love -- well, skip it -- It'll have to do, until the real thing comes along -- whaddya want me to do, rob a bank?" (and so on)