ADD/info: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)

Subject: RE: ADD/info: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: reynard
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:20 AM

The Isaac Guillory recording referred to above is on the "Live" album.

You can buy it (and hear a clip) from here:

http://www.guitarcds.net/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=126

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: Mike in Brunswick
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 12:48 AM

The OP May no longer be around - her last post was in 2003 - but the album she's looking for appears to be Just About Everything by Bob Dorough. It contains both Baltimore Oriole and Tis Autumn.

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 07:34 AM

Minor differences!?   Joe, you must not be a birdwatcher. Changing 'jaybird' to 'blackbird' is not a minor difference. Jays are mean, aggessive birds, the big bullies of the backyard until a mockingbird comes along.

I believe I've heard 'jaybird' used as an expression of disdain for a jerky human before.   

Blackbirds (either the red-winged or yellowheaded kind) are peaceful, decent country birds.

I like it that the singer knows his birds.

Tangipaho - hard g or soft? I'm gonna go see if there actually is such a river.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: s&r
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 05:34 AM

The late great Isaac Guillory recorded this but I'm not sure of the album title.

Stu

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 03:30 AM

Apologies: it's sung by Frances Langford rather than Francis Langford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 03:29 AM

Funnily enough I recently came across a Hoagy Carmichael CD that I'd forgotten that I had. It's called Essential Collection Hoagy Carmichael, released by Avid Entertainment including a version of Baltimore Oriole sung by Francis Langford but featuring whistling by Hoagy
: it doesn't include " How She Could Sing".

Subject: ADD: Baltimore Oriole (Webster/Carmichael)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 02:28 AM

I'm going to post one more transcription, this one from page 403 of Reading Lyrics by Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball. I've found the lyrics in this book to be very accurate. Note that the lyrics were written by Paul Francis Webster (1907-1984), and Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music. The song was published in 1942, and appeared in the film To Have and Have Not in 1945.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE
(Paul Francis Webster/Hoagy Carmichael)

Baltimore Oriole
Took a look at the mercury, forty below.
No life for a lady
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow.

[HE] Leaving me blue,
Off she flew.

[Or SHE] Leaving her mate,
She flew straight

To the Tangipaho,
Where a two-timin' blackbird
Met the divine Miss O!
I'd like to ruffle his plumage!

Baltimore Oriole
Messed aroun' with that big mouth
'Til he singed her wing
Forgivin' is easy,
It's a woman-like,
now-and-then-could-happen thing.
Send her back home,
Home ain't home without her warbling;
[How she could sing]
Make a lonely man happy.
Baltimore Oriole
You come down from your bough
Fly back to me now.

Note: This is not exactly the text that Carmichael sang on his recording. "How she could sing" is not in the printed text, but Carmichael adds that line. There are other minor differences - for example, Carmichael sings "jaybird," while the printed text has "blackbird."

Subject: ADD: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 01:56 AM

I'd agree that the Lorez Alexandria recording is a very interesting Latin arrangement - she has a wonderful voice. Click here for a YouTube recording of the George Harrison version from the Somewhere in England album. Apparently, it's only George Harrison who explains that the Tangipaho is "down in Louisiana" - it's not on the Hoagy Carmichael recording.

Here's my transcription of the Judy Henske recording, which is a bit different from Carmichael's:

BALTIMORE ORIOLE
(Paul Francis Webster/Hoagy Carmichael)

Baltimore Oriole
Took a look at the mercury, forty below,
No life for a lady
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow
Leaving her mate, she flew straight
To the Tangipaho
Where a two-timin' jaybird
Met the divine Miss O!

Baltimore Oriole
Messed around with that big mouth
Till he singed her wings
Forgivin' is easy - it's a woman-like, now-and-then
Could-happen thing
Call her back home
Home ain't home without her warbling
Make a lonely girl happy,
Baltimore Oriole
You come down from your bough
Fly back to your daddy now.

---

Is it "Messed around with that bigmouth," or do others hear something else on the Henske recording? Others sing "Flew around with that jaybird."
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baltimore Oriole (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: GUEST,jobe
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 01:11 AM

the lorez alexander version is most excellent

Subject: RE: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: winniemih
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 11:30 AM

Thanks for the information, folks. The singer I heard was not the composer of B.O. I'll look up those albums listed to hear those versions. But the one I heard years ago must have been very obscure; I would still like to find out who he was, but don't have much to go on....

Subject: RE: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: Seth
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 07:46 AM

If you haven't heard Hoagy Carmichael sing this song ( or other ones), try to find his recordings somewhere. I found a copy of of a French LP of him singing about 12 of his songs at -where else- the Goodwill. I don't have it with me, but his singing is quite special, like no one else. Seth from China

Subject: RE: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 09:55 PM

One of the great overlooked Folk singers of all time, Judy Henske, sang Carmichael's "Baltimore Oriole" on her "High Flyin' Bird" album on Vanguard back in the early '60's. A highly recommended album.

Subject: RE: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 04:18 PM

Ed, I think w only wanted the author, and the album heard may have been the orig. Carmichael. I have never heard him sing, so I don't know if he is "unremarkable" or not......

Subject: RE: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: Zebedee
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 03:37 PM

Sorcha,

Whilst you're obviously correct in naming Hoagy Carmichael as the author of Baltimore Oriole, I'm pretty sure that 'Somewhere in England' isn't the album that Winniemih is after.

There are certainly no songs about autumn on the record.

winniemih. Can you give us any more information on the record? Or did you simply want to know the author? In which case you have the answer.

Ed

Subject: Lyr Add: BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Hoagy Carmichael)
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 03:18 PM

Is this the right one? No date on the composition by Hoagy, I think 1981 is probably the CD release date,

Song: Baltimore Oriole

Track No.: 5
Composer: Hoagy Carmichael
Vocals: George Harrison
Year: 1981

Lyrics:


BALTIMORE ORIOLE
(Hoagy Carmichael)

Baltimore Oriole
Took one look at that mercury, forty below
No life for a lady
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow
Leaving me blue, off she flew
To the Tangipaho - down in Louisiana
Where a two - timin' Jaybird
Met the divine Miss O

I'd like to ruffle his plumage
That Baltimore Oriole
Messed around with that big guy
Till he singed her wings
Forgivin' is easy - it's a woman like, now and then
Could happen to thing
Send her back home
Home ain't home without her warbling
How she can sing
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole
Come down from that bough
Fly to your daddy now.


from the CD Somewhere in England, URL is http://web.mit.edu/scholvin/www/harrison/c309.htm

Subject: Help: who composed Baltimore Oriole?
From: winniemih
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 10:37 AM

I've been searching the recesses of my mind to no avail. Years ago I heard an album (you know, the vinyl sort) that a housemate had, and I can't get it out of my mind. The singer/composer was a man with a rather unremarkable voice, the songs however impressed me. It was jazz/blues, and the only two titles I can remember are Baltimore Oriole, and another titled It's Autumn, that I've heard since by another performer. Thanks for the help. Winnie