Bob Wills songs

Subject: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 10:12 PM

I need some info on two Bob Wills Songs:

Stay All Night- Is this an original composition or did Wills adapt it from a folk source? Does there seem to be any similarity to "Cripple Creek"? Is this PD? Any info would help.

L'il Liza Jane- Need Lyrics to Bob's 1941 version or early versions of "Little Liza Jane" after the original 1916 version.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 10:40 PM

Stay All Night is by Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan--it is not PD.
I hear NO similarity to Cripple Creek, but a lot to Take Me Back to Tulsa, also a Bob tune.

Hundreds of Liza Janes out there.......ask Google.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 10:44 PM

Sorcha

I have a version of "Stay All Night" collected by Lomax in 1944. Do you want me to post some of it?

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 11:00 PM

"Stay a Little Longer" by Bob Wills is on The Record Lady's Site

"Real Country Archives- Page A10"

(no direct links)

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 11:35 PM

Here's the first verse and chorus collected by Mayo/Jamieson and Simon (not Lomax) in 1946 (not 1944).

"Stay All Night, Stay A Little Longer"
From the singing of Palmer Crisp Allen KY, 1946
Library of Congress AFS record 8482 B1.

You ought to see my blue-eyed Sally,
She lives way down on Chin Bone Alley,
Number on the gate and nuber on the door,
The next house over by the grocery store.

Chorus: Stay all night, stay a little longer,
Dance all night, dance all night.
Pull off your coat and throwe it in the corner,
I don't see why you don't stay a little longer.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 12:19 AM

"Stay a Little Longer," Bob Wills version, is in thread 43912: Stay a Little Longer as well as google sites

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 12:38 AM

Thanks Guest-Q,

I already have the lyrics to "Stay A Little Longer." When was it recorded by Wills? Are there earlier versions like the "Shinbone Alley" thread?

Is this song an example of Wills borrowing lyrics as he did with Ida Red?

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 01:05 AM

Looking for the song, I found that copyright was held by
Anne Reichel Music Corp.
%Warner/Chappell Music Inc.
10585 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025

I went to the Warner/Chappel site and found Bob Wills under:
Bob Wills 1 song listed, no society listed.
Bob Wills (USA1) 1 song listed, no society listed, Spanish Two Step
Wills, James Robert ("Bob") 94 songs listed, ASCAP
"Stay A Little Longer" is NOT in the list, but versions of these are:
Cotton-eyed Joe- 2 versions
Ida Red          1 version
Little Liza Jane 1 version
Sally Goodin      1 version
Not sure what any of this means. NO DATES GIVEN

Couldn't find an Anne Reichel Music Corp.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 01:16 AM

Richie,

The Meade discography gives 2 early recordings of 'Liza Jane' by groups I'm not familiar with:

John and Emery McClung 'Liza Jane', recorded 7 March 1927 in NYC and issued in October 1927 as Br 135.

Tayor Flanagan & His Trio 'Li'l Liza Jane', recorded ca November 1930 and issued in January 1932 as Br 573.

The only other entry is the 1941 Bob Wills recording.

Attribution for words and music is to Countess Ada de Lachau 1916.

Here is the text of the Bob Wills recording. No attribution is given in Proper box set notes, but on a later [1946] Tiffany transcription that I have, it is attributed to Wills/Duncan:

LI'L LIZA JANE

Now I got a gal and you got none
Li'l Liza Jane
I got a gal and you got none
Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane

Spoken [by Wills] Look out, Liza, here comes Al [Stricklin, pno] Oooh,
Oh, Tommy [Duncan, vocal]

Come, my love, and live with me
Li'l Liza Jane
I will take good care of thee
Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane

Bumble bee is out to sip
Li'l Liza Jane
Take my sweet pea from her lips
Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane

Spoken [by Wills] Turn on there, Mr Tierney [Louis T. Fiddle]

Now every morning when I wake
Li'l Liza Jane
Crave my ham and buckwheat cake
Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane

Spoken [by Wills] Ooooh! Don [Harlan], oh man, let's hear you play that li'l ol' clarinet. Yeh!

House and (love?) in Baltimore   (Could be 'land' or something else again)
Li'l Liza Jane
Lots of children round the door
Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane
Oh, Liza, Li'l Liza Jane

Source: transcription of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys 'Li'L Liza Jane' recorded in Hollywood, California, 24 July 1941 and issued as OK 06371.   Reissued on Disc 4 of 4CD box set: Various Artists 'Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys: The Golden Years of Western Swing' Proper P1124.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: nutty
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 11:34 AM

The sheet music for the above can be found on the Levy Site

L'IL LIZA JANE

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 01:59 PM

What was the date on Bob Wills' "Stay All Night"?

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 06:08 PM

Thanks Stewie, for the lyrics, any info on "Stay a Little Longer?"
Here are the original lyrics, as we can see Wills has a copyright for his version but does not own the song.

Lyr. Add: L'IL LIZA JANE: Southern Dialect Song-By Countess Ada de Lachau – 1916; Publication: San Francisco: Sherman, Clay & Co., 1916; Form of Composition: strophic with chorus; Instrumentation: piano and voice.

*I's got a gal and you've got none, L'il Liza Jane
I's got a gal and you've got none, L'il Liza Jane
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Come my love and live with me; L'il Liza Jane
I will take good care of thee; L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Jimmy John is layin' low, L'il Liza Jane
Come and take me for you beau, L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, l'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Gwine ter th'ow the dice away, L'il Liza Jane
When you name that happy day, L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Bumble bee be out for sips, L'il Liza Jane
'Takes my sweet-meats from yo lips, L'il Liza Jane
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Liza Jane done cum ter me; L'il Liza Jane
Bof as happy as can be; L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Ev'ry mawnin' when I wakes,
Smell de ham an buck-wheat cakes,
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

House an' lot in Baltimo', L'il Liza Jane
Lots of chilluns roun de do', L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

Notes: The first line does not rhyme, suggested alternate below. It's odd that know one seems to know much about his song. From my notes I have the verse as a similar tune to "Camptown Races," maybe a rewrite with chorus added?

*She does not rhyme the first line?!

Never mo' from you I'll roam; L'il Liza Jane.
Bestest place is home sweet home; L'il Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 06:11 PM

Sorry, copied wrong verse. Suggested correction of first verse is:

*I's got a gal and you've got none, L'il Liza Jane
I's got a gal and that calls me "hon", L'il Liza Jane
CHORUS: Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane; Oh Liza, L'il Liza Jane.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 08:00 PM

Richie

Judging from the original, the word I could not decipher in the last stanza of Wills' version of 'LLJ' is probably 'lot'.

Meade et alia have no entry for 'Stay'; it is outside their time frame. The only info I have is from the booklet to the Proper 4CD set: Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys 'Take Me Back To Tulsa' Properbox 32.

'Stay A Little Longer' was recorded on 28 January 1945 in Hollywood, California. The band was: Bob Wills (fdl); Tommy Duncan (vcl); Cameron Hill (el gtr); Jimmy Wyble (el gtr); Noel Boggs (stl gtr); Ted Adams (bs); Milard Kelso (pno); Alex Brashear (tpt); Joe Holley (fdl); Monte Mountjoy (dms). The only reference is 'H 1247-1' wherein 'H' appears to refer to 'Hollywood' since 'DAL' appears for 'Dallas' recordings in this discography. The recording company [from the main notes], however, was Columbia and the well-known 'Roly Poly' was also recorded at this 28 January 1945 session.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 11:47 PM

Thanks Stewie,

It's hard to tell for sure but it appears that if the song was collected in 1946 in Kentucky that it comes from some previous source and that Wills arranged it.

Thus his arrangement is copyrighted but the song is not.

Does anyone have anything to add?

Thanks,

Richie

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 04:51 PM

I saw a short film about Bob Wills, and the popularity of his style of music on ACM (from 1944.) If I can find it on the net, I'll post it here.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHOA BABE (Bob Wills)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 03:09 PM

WHOA BABE
As recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, 1938. (Columbia 20308)

Whoa, babe! What can the matter be?
Whoa, babe! Somethin’s a-botherin’ me.
How come I can’t come knockin’ around your door?

Whoa, babe! How come you let me down?
Whoa, babe! Why can’t I hang around?
Since when ain’t I your fair-haired boy no more?

Ev’ry night I take you out.
You’re the one to frown and pout.
Someday you’ll make me shout:
“Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!”

Whoa, babe! How do you get that way?
Whoa, babe! Someday you’re gonna pay.
When I leave you, I’ll darken your door no more.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 03:49 PM

Excellent source for his songs at

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 03:49 PM

https://www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com/bobwillssonglyrics.html

Sorry, last post was mine.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 02:21 PM

Although Wills adapted many traditional country songs, which he undoubtably heard growing up, he never wanted to be thought of as a country musician. He labeled his music Western Swing or Southwestern Swing and modeled after the leading dance bands of the Forties. There was a strong element of traditional jazz in his bands.
He however was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame for exerting influence in country music.

Subject: RE: Bob Wills songs
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Oct 19 - 04:02 PM

Here's a version of Stay a Little Longer by Andy Roberts' band on 19/12/84 at the Sir George Robey in Finsbury Park!!

Tex Maniax - Stay a Little Longer