Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama (Wells, Cooper, Rose)

Subject: Red Hot Mama, Red Headed Gal
From:
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 01:44 PM

I'm trying to find the lyrics to these tunes. My mother, now 85 remembers these songs from her childhood, but can no longer remember the lyrics.

In "Red Headed Gal" the last line always included something like, "She still has her 'hi dee ho'."

"Red Hot Mama" has several verses, including a line about 'Siegfield Follies, Hot Tamales'.

Thanks for your help!

Please send me an email if you have these lyrics.

Claudette

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama, Red Headed Gal
From: ddw
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 05:18 PM

Claudette, I was just listening to Red Hot Mama on my way to work. It's on a compilation CD I just got and I can't remember who does it. If nobody posts lyrics for you in the next day or two, keep this alive and I'll copy the words for you. Sorry, don't know Red Headed Gal.

david

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama, Red Headed Gal
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 11:02 AM

Well, HERE is some info about the guys who recorded it, no lyrics but I'll keep looking.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMA (from Sophie Tucker)
From: ddw
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 10:18 PM

RED HOT MAMA

Well I'm just a girl, a wonderful girl
The sweetest one in town
You can search for miles around
And not one like me can be found
I've got a smile, a wonderful smile
And a certain little way
And ever time the boys get near me
They look at me and say

Red hot mama, red hot mama, You're the one we need
Red hot mama, some charmer, yes, indeed
They say that I should be
In the follies, hot tamales
They say that I've got a pair of eyes
Just like old Svengali's
I confess that I possess
The sweetest charms in town
And unless I miss my guess
The boys all follow me around.
I could make a music master drop his fiddle
Make a bald-headed man part his hair in the middle
Cause I'm a red hot mama, red hot mama
But I'll have to turn my damper down.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK:

I'm a red hot mama, red hot mama
I'm the one they need
Red not mama, some charmer, yes indeed
There's not a model chair that I couldn't sit in, just like a kitten
There's not a Broadway show that I couldn't fit in
I confess that I possess
The sweetest charms in town
And unless I miss my guess
The boys all follow me around
I could make a Texas farmer forget his hay
I could make the devil throw his fork away
Cause I'm a red hot mama, red hot mama
But I'll have to turn my damper down.

The version that I took this from is by Sophie Tucker on a 2-CD set from Europe called The Ultimate Encyclopedia of American Blues Classics. Not sure of the producing company's name, but the catalogue number is R2 CD 40-33.

BTW, the line in italics is very difficult to understand. I did the best I could to transcribe it, but I don't guarantee it's right. If anyone else knows exactly what it is, I'd welcome a correction here.

Hope transferring all the HTML stuff from Quark Express to the Mudcat works.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMA (from Cliff Edwards)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:08 AM

I transcribed this version from the recording by Cliff Edwards "Ukulele Ike" (also the voice of Jiminy Cricket) from 1924, which you can hear at The Red Hot Jazz Archive:


RED HOT MAMA
(Gilbert Wells / Bud Cooper / Fred Rose)

[VERSE] Say, I got a gal, a cute little gal,
The sweetest gal in town.
You can look for miles around,
But not one can be found like this one.
She's got a smile, a cute little smile,
And what a winning way.
Ever' time I get near her,
Here's what I have to say:

[CHORUS] Red hot mama, red hot mama, you're the one I need.
Red hot mama, you're some charmer, yes, indeed.
I claim that you should be
In the follies, the Ziegfeld Follies.
Ever' time I look at you,
I have to holler, "Hot tamales!"
I confess that you possess
The sweetest love in town,
And unless I miss my guess,
The boys all follow you around.
You went to the North Pole, couldn't stay.
You melted all the ice and the snow away.
Red hot mama, red hot mama,
You're the gal I need.

[SCAT INTERLUDE]

[CHORUS] Red hot mama, red hot mama, you're the gal I need.
Red hot mama, you're some charmer, yes, indeed.
I claim that you should be
In the follies, the Ziegfeld follies.
Ever' time I look at you,
I have to holler, "Hot tamales!"
I confess that you possess
The sweetest love in town,
And unless I miss my guess,
The boys all follow you around.
You'd make a music master drop his fiddle,
Make a bald-headed man part his hair in the middle.
Red hot mama, red hot mama,
Turn your damper down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 12:04 PM

The Coon Sanders Nighthawks Orchestra (1924) sings only these lyrics:

[CHORUS] Red hot mama, red hot mama, you're the one I need.
Red hot mama, you're some charmer, yes, indeed.
I claim that you should be
In the follies, with the dollies.
You have a pair of eyes,
Just like old Svengali's.
I confess that you possess
The sweetest love in town,
And unless I miss my guess,
The boys all follow you around.
You'd make a music master drop his fiddle,
Make a bald-headed man part his hair in the middle.
Red hot mama, red hot mama,
Sweetest gal in town.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama (Wells, Cooper, Rose)
From: GUEST,ETT
Date: 17 Oct 19 - 04:22 PM

Red hot mama, red hot mama you're the one I need
Red hot mama you're some charmer yes indeed
I know that you should be in the follies, hot tamale
You've got a pair of eyes like old Svengali

I confess that you possess the sweetest charms in town
And unless I miss my guess the men all follow you around
You make a music master drop his fiddle
Make a bald headed man part his hair in the middle

Red hot mama, red hot mama turn your dampers down

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama (Wells, Cooper, Rose)
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Oct 19 - 08:50 PM

I find the versions in which she boasts of her own attractiveness charming. Are there any other songs like that?

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMMA (Wells, Cooper, Rose)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Nov 19 - 09:09 AM

From the sheet music at York University:

[I have retained the spelling "mamma" as it appears in the sheet music, but I have made other adjustments in the spelling and punctuation.--JD]


RED HOT MAMMA
Words and music by Gilbert Wells, Bud Cooper, and Fred Rose. ©1924.

1. I’ve got a girl, a wonderful girl; she’s the sweetest one in town.
You can search for miles around, but no one can be found like this one.
She has a smile that will open your eyes with a certain little way,
And ev’ry time that I get near, her I look at her and say:

CHORUS 1: Red hot mamma, red hot mamma, you’re the one I need.
Red hot mamma, you’re some charmer, yes, indeed.
I claim that you should be in the Follies hot tamales.
You have a pair of eyes just like old Svengali’s.
I confess that you possess the sweetest charm in town,
And unless I miss my guess, the boys all follow you around.
You make a music master drop his fiddle,
Make a bald-headed man part his hair in the middle.
Red hot mamma, red hot mamma, sweetest girl in town.

2. I’ve got a plan, a marvelous plan, that I figured out last night.
You just let me put you right, that never have I been as clever
As when I thought that I’d purchase a ring for her pretty little hand,
And then instead of her initials, I’ll have it monogrammed.

CHORUS 2: Red hot mamma, red hot mamma, you’re the one I need.
Red hot mamma, you’re some charmer, full of speed.
Sometimes I really think you’re a demon; hear me screamin’.
When I look into your eyes I can see you steamin’.
I confess that you possess the sweetest charm in town,
And unless I miss my guess, the boys all follow you around.
And then you went up north and couldn’t stay
Because you melted all the snow and ice away.
Red hot mamma, red hot mamma, sweetest girl in town.

Subject: Lyr Add: GIVE ME A RED HOT MAMA AND AN ICE COLD BE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 22 - 12:59 PM

Maybe we should collect all the songs about red-hot mamas and put them here.

You can hear this one at the Internet Archive:


GIVE ME A RED HOT MAMA AND AN ICE COLD BEER
As recorded by Smiley Maxedon on Columbia 21188 (1954).

Give me a red-hot mama an’ a ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.
Gi’ me a long-gone baby to cuddle up near,
Then just leave me alone.
I’ll take a table in the corner, turn the lights down low,
A nickel in the jukebox, and let her go!
Oh, with a red-hot mama, an ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.

Need a red-hot mama and a ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.
Gi’ me a clean-cut baby without a care
And I just couldn’t go wrong.
Don’t have to work in the mornin’; I can stay out late,
So me and my baby can operate.
‘Cause there’s a red-hot mama, an ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.

Gi’ me a red-hot mama, an ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.
Gi’ me a loud-box cutie without a fear
That any thing can go wrong.
Don’t want no pepsi, just bring me some brew.
Maybe your daddy’s got work to do,
‘Cause a red-hot mama, an ice-cold beer,
And I can sorta get along.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMA (AND ICE COLD PAPA) (Penny)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 22 - 06:12 PM

You can hear this at the Internet Archive:


RED HOT MAMA (AND ICE COLD PAPA)
(Rickie)
As recorded by Hank Penny on King 770-B, (1947)

1. She’s a red-hot mama; he’s an ice-cold papa and they just don’t get along.
She’s a red-hot mama; he’s an ice-cold papa; I tell you, there’s something wrong.
Well, Mama’s wound up and a-rarin’ to go,
But Papa’s run down; he’s awful slow.
She’s a red-hot mama; he’s an ice-cold papa and they just don’t get along.

[In every verse, lines 1, 2, and 5 stay the same; only lines 3 and 4 vary:]

2. Well, Mama says Papa’s not the only fish,
But all that Papa can do is wish.

3. Papa tries hard to cure his ills,
But what he needs ain’t vitamin pills.

4. Now, Papa tries hard to stay in the race,
But Mama sets an awful fast pace.

5. Well, Mama told Papa to try again,
‘Cause the best tunes come from an old violin.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMA FROM WAY OUT WEST
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 22 - 06:44 PM

You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive:


RED HOT MAMA FROM WAY OUT WEST
(Leon Chappelear)
As recorded by Leon’s Lone Star Cowboys on Decca 5551 B, 1937.

1. I got a red-hot baby; she lives out west; she’s the hottest gal I know.
She’s a red-hot mama from El Paso; boy, you ought to see her go.
Just the other night we went for a stroll.
She kissed me and I hollered, said, “To save my soul!”
She’s a red-hot baby from way out west; she’s the hottest gal I know.

2. She’s a red-hot baby from way out west; she’s the hottest gal I know.
She makes a old man young, a young man old; boy, you ought to see her go.
Now, when she gets drunk on beer and wine,
You better look out for the red-hot kind.
She’s a red-hot baby; she lives out west; she’s the hottest gal I know.

3. She’s a red-hot mama from way out west; the kind of gal I like best.
She says she lives out at El Paso; her name I do not know.
I do know that she can go.
She’s so hot that she hits zero.
She’s a red-hot baby; she lives out west; she’s the hottest gal I know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Hot Mama (Wells, Cooper, Rose)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 22 - 11:03 AM

For the song by Wells, Cooper, & Rose, the George Blood collection at the Internet Archive has recordings by:

Georgia Melodians (1927)
Freddie 'Schnickelfritz' Fisher And His Orchestra (1938)
Beatrice Kay and Her Kay Jammers (1950)
Joe Potzner's Quartette, with Kathlean Kohls, vocalist (1950)
Georgia Gibbs, vocalist, with Orchestra (1950) – includes verse.

(All except the last have only the chorus as vocals. I have omitted some that are pure instrumentals.)

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT MAMA (FROM A BLUE NOTE TOWN)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 22 - 11:27 AM

My transcription from the recording at the Internet Archive. I have omitted some spoken patter.


RED HOT MAMA (FROM A BLUE NOTE TOWN)
Words and music by Deuce Spriggens and Margaret Taylor.
As recorded by Deuce Spriggens with Tex Williams’ Orchestra on Capitol 15405 (1949)

She’s a red-hot mama from a blue-note town,
Oh, red-hot mama from a blue-note town,
And her lamp is still lit when the town closes down.

Now, early to bed and early to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,
But if you are healthy, wealthy, and wise,
Hey, boy, don’t close your eyes; uh-uh! Stay up all night.
Find a red-hot mama from a blue-note town.

Well, you knock on the door, say: “Let me in.”
It’s just about time for the fun to begin.
Push things to it; look all over, round and round,
And there on the stairs in the most beautiful gown
Is a red-hot mama from a blue-note town.

So listen here, boy; now, don’t think it’s rough
If your gal friend says you done lost your stuff.
Just decide to hang around.
Wait until that old red sun goes down,
And find a red-hot mama from a blue-note town.

Subject: Lyr Add: I’M THE LAST OF THE RED HOT MAMMAS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Feb 22 - 02:37 PM

Not the same song as RED HOT MAMA, which Tucker also recorded.
My transcription from the Internet Archive:


I’M THE LAST OF THE RED HOT MAMMAS
Words by Jack Yellen, music by Milton Ager, 1929.
As recorded by Sophie Tucker with Ted Shapiro's Orchestra, on Bluebird B-6835-B, 1929.

Sheiks, neckers, and jellybeans, lend me your ears.
So you think you’ve been petted?
Don’t be silly; forget it!
Debs, flappers, and baby vamps bore me to tears.
What do they know concerning love?
Come to me for your burning love!

‘Cause I’m the last of the red-hot mammas;
They’ve all cooled down but me.
Flapper vamps, say, what do they know?
Come get your hot stuff from this volcano!

I’m an overheated,
Try and beat it,
Hotsy-totsy Hottentot.
Now, it may be snowing,
But when I get going,
Oh, baby, I’m hot!

You can keep your collegiate charmers.
Their lovin’ isn’t worth a dime.
Away up in Alaska where the natives freeze,
An Eskimo left my hut in his BVD's,
‘Cause I’m the last of the red-hot mammas;
I’m gettin’ hotter all the time.

I don’t want to brag but in my hotel suite,
A dozen firemen were overcome by heat.
A Scotsman wants to marry me, the dear sweet soul;
He thinks with me around he’ll save a lot of coal.

I met a movie star who’s famous for his passion.
I gave him one kiss and singed off his mustache.
A funny thing happened; I nearly died!
I sat down on an egg, got up, the egg was fried.

I’m the last of the red-hot mammas;
They’ve all cooled down but me.
I don’t pet and only neck ‘em.
No, sir, I’m a mamma who loves to wreck ‘em.

I can make ‘em sizzle,
Make ‘em fry and frizzle.
If you want to know the truth,
I can warm the cold ones,
Give the old ones
Back their flaming youth.

I was born in the hot Bahamas.
Right now I’m in lovin’ prime.
Others pet and kiss and hug and don’t know what it’s all about.
Say, when I kiss men, they feel they’ve had their tonsils taken out.
‘Cause I’m the last of the red-hot mammas;
I’m gettin’ hotter all the time.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED HOT PAPA (Hank Penny)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Feb 22 - 03:18 PM

Also from the Internet Archive:


RED HOT PAPA
(Penny)
As recorded by Hank Penny and his Radio Cowboys on Vocalion 05321 (1939)

Now, I’m just a daddy from out o’ the sticks,
But listen here, mama; I can show you some tricks.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.
Now, I’ve a gal from Alabam’
And I throwed her down ‘cause she wasn’t worth a flip.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.

Oh, I’ve got a gal and she lives down the lane.
She’s tall and skinny but I love her just the same.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.
Old Uncle Joe ain’t seventy years.
He says: “Look out, mama; I’m a-shiftin’ my gears.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.”

Now, I love my sweetie and I love her good,
But I still don’t love her like a good man should.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.
Now, I may be old, a-gettin’ up in years,
But I can still climb a hill without shiftin’ my gears.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.

Now, I’ve got a gal and her name is Jean.
I’ll tell you, boys, she sure is a queen.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.
Oh, I’m just a daddy from out o’ the sticks,
But listen here, mama; I can show you some tricks.
  I’m a red-hot papa and I just got into town.