Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 30 May 03 - 12:29 AM

Yes, Edna Gockel Gussen is a name that only a mother could love. I wonder if there's ever been a study of odd names and just how long a woman was in labor?

pax yall

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 May 03 - 11:07 AM

It looks like a lot of the states have changed songs--I love that Alabama song(not to be confused with "The Alabama Song"), it is the Alabama entry in the Almanac, set to music. Of course, the fact that it was written by Edna Gockel Gussen is pretty good, too.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:17 PM

For completeness:

From the website: 50 States Official Songs

Check out Tenn. they really like music there.


Alabama Alabama

Alaska Alaska's Flag

Arizona Arizona

Arkansas Arkansas Oh, Arkansas

California I Love You, California

Colorado Where the Columbines Grow   

Connecticut Yankee Doodle

Delaware Our Delaware

Florida Swanee River Florida, My Florida

Georgia Georgia on My Mind

Hawaii Hawaii Ponoi

Idaho Here We Have Idaho

Illinois Illinois

Indiana On the banks of the Wabash

Iowa The Song of Iowa

Kansas Home on the Range

Kentucky My Old Kentucky Home

Louisiana Give Me Louisiana You Are My Sunshine

Maine State Song of Maine

Maryland Maryland My Maryland

Massachusetts Hail Massachusetts

Michigan Michigan, My Michigan

Minnesota Hail! Minnesota

Mississippi Go Mis-sis-sip-pi

Missouri Missouri Waltz

Montana Montana Montana Melody

Nebraska Beautiful Nebraska

Nevada Home Means Nevada

New Hampshire Old New Hampshire

New Jersey I'm From New Jersey

New Mexico O, Fair New Mexico

New York I love New York

North Carolina The Old North State

North Dakota North Dakota Hymn

Ohio Beautiful Ohio

Oklahoma Oklahoma

Oregon Oregon, My Oregon

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

Rhode Island Rhode Island It's for me

South Carolina Carolina

South Dakota Hail, South Dakota

Tennessee My Homeland Tennessee When It's Iris Time In Tennessee My Tennessee The Tennessee Waltz Rocky Top Tennessee

Texas Texas, Our Texas

Utah Utah, We Love Thee

Vermont Hail, Vermont

Virginia Carry Me Back to Old Virginia

Washington Washington, My Home

West Virginia The West Virginia Hills This Is My West Virginia West Virginia My Home

Wisconsin On Wisconsin

Wyoming Wyoming

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:11 PM

Sorry, I was wrong:

The official state song of Alabama is:

Alabama
Written by Julia S. Tutwiler
Composed by Edna Gockel Gussen

Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee,
From thy Southern shores where groweth,
By the sea thy orange tree.
To thy Northern vale where floweth,
Deep blue the Tennessee,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

Broad thy stream whose name thou bearest;
Grand thy Bigbee rolls along;
Fair thy Coosa-Tallapoosa
Bold thy Warrior, dark and strong,
Goodlier than the land that Moses
Climbed lone Nebo's Mount to see,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

From thy prairies broad and fertile,
Where thy snow-white cotton shines,
To the hills where coal and iron
Hide in thy exausted mines,
Strong -armed miners -sturdy farmers;
Loyal hearts what'er we be,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

From thy quarries where the marble
White as that of Paros gleams
Waiting till thy sculptor'ss chisel,
Wake to life thy poet's dreams;
Fear not only wealth of nature,
Wealth of mind has no fee,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

Where the perfumed south-wind whispers,
Thy magnolia groves among,
Softer than a mother's kisses,
Sweeter than a mother's song,
Where the golden jasmine trailing,
Woos the treasure-laden bee,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

Brave and pure thy men and women,
Better this than corn and wine
Make us worthy, God in Heaven
Of this goodly land of Thine.
Hearts as open as thy doorways.
Liberal hands and spirits free.
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

Little, little can I give thee,
Alabama, mother mine.
But that little - hand, brain, spirit.
All I have and am are thine.
Take, O take, the gift and giver.
Take and serve thyself with me.
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!

On March 3, 1931 the music by Mrs. Edna Gockel Gussen, Birmingham, was adopted by the State Federation of Music Clubs and through their efforts, Alabama House Joint Resolution 74 , Act no. 128, adopted the music and words as the state song of Alabama.
Source: Acts of Alabama, March 9, 1931 Alabama State Emblems, Alabama Department of Archives and History


It think they should at least adopt "Stars Fell" as a second song, When was the last time someone covered the above? Hell, "Sweet Home Alabama" would be preferable.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:07 PM

poppagator,

It is the official tag for Alabama and I believe that it's also the state song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:39 PM

I've got the fakebook version, lyrics and chords to the chorus(no verse) in the key of C--Bb instruments would play it in D--Teegarten's version is in G, Bb instruments would play in A--I have a MIDI file of the chords(no melody), but the patches are off to the point that it is funny--You're welcome to copies of whichever you like, just give me an e-mail to send them to--

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:04 AM

I have a fake book version (one-page) of this one that shows 3-part harmony (in Eb) for Bb instruments, plus chord names that you could transpose back to Db (Bbm?) for a guitar or piano backup. If you're up to it I could scan and email a jpg or pdf you could use to make your own backing track(?) Log in and PM me an email addy, if you're interested.

The arrangement is by Michael Edwards, in Mills All-Time Favorites for Ork Combos, Bb Book, Mills Music, Inc, 1952, and indicates © 1934, Mills Music, Inc, by Mitchell Parrish and Frank Perkins.

Unfortunately, the fake books of that era typically omit lyrics, but you should be able to fit the ones given above into the score mine gives.

John

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Fortunato
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:06 AM

Fox4zero,

Glad to know you're on the 'CAT. This song was one of the favorites of the swing band I was with for ahile. It is has a gread smoothness to the lyric and a sense of story that I appreciate. But the wonderful phrase: "Moonlight and Magnolias" is nothing short of poetry.

Great stuff.

cheers, Chance

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 May 03 - 09:55 PM

We see Alabama motorists passing though New Orleans pretty regularly, and lately I've noticed Alabama license plates bearing the motto "Stars Fell On / ALABAMA." I'm not sure if it's the new regular plate or some kind of special issue, but either way it's nice to see anything musical endorsed by any level of government, especially such a great old standard.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 26 May 03 - 05:37 PM

You might be asking in the wrong place - I doubt that too many of us here use backing tracks. Have you tried looking either at sites for karaoke or sites for musicians who have "electronic" bands?

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Bobby
Date: 26 May 03 - 02:55 PM

Many thanks for suggestions so far, and I was interested to know there was a completely different song with the same title.

I should have said it was to accompany tenor sax, a Bflat instrument. Very useful to know the chords anyway, but still looking for anyone who might publish a backing track.

Don't let me down, Mudcatters, I want to play it at my wife's birthday party as when we first met (many years ago) she told me it was her favourite melody.

Speaking of different versions I would strongly recommend people try the one by Billie.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 May 03 - 10:15 PM

The version I was familiar with is by Jack Teagarden (Click here for the sound recording).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Blackcatter
Date: 24 May 03 - 10:02 PM

Jimmy Buffett even covered it in the early 80s

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Mudlark
Date: 24 May 03 - 07:45 PM

Larry...Stars Fell on Alabama has long been one of my favorite standards. Some good jazz renditions of this as well as vocals over the years.

Guest Gern...thanks for words and chords...I'll give it a whirl.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: fox4zero
Date: 24 May 03 - 05:32 PM

I thank all who remember my Dad's lyric and Frank Perkin's beautiful melody.
I think that Sinatra made the most popular recording of the past 2-3 decades.

Larry Parish

Subject: Lyr Add: Stars Fell on Alabama 2/Parish/Pershing
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 May 03 - 11:47 AM

STARS FELL ON ALABAMA 2
Stars Fell On Alabama
By: Mitchell Parish, Frank Perkins

Moonlight and magnolias, starlight in your hair
All the world a dream come true
Did it really happen, was I really there
Was I really there with you

We lived our little drama, we kissed in a field of white
And stars fell on Alabama that night
I can't forget the glamour, your eyes held a tender light
And stars fell on Alabama last night

Chorus:
I never planned in my imagination, a situation so heavenly
A fairy land that no one else could enter
And in the center, just you and me, dear
My heart beat like a hammer, my arms wound around you tight
And stars fell on Alabama last night

--Spoken:
"Alright, let's take it on down from Muscle Shoals through Decatur"
"Mmmm, Birmingham, ooh Montgomery"
"Right up over Spanish Fort into Mobile, my hometown"
"Mister T..."

(harmonica solo)

Chorus:
I never planned in my imagination, a situation so heavenly
A fairy land that no one else could enter
And in the center, just you and me, dear
My heart beat like a hammer, my arms wound around you tight
Ah, stars fell on Alabama last night

--Spoken:
"One more time boys..."

Yes, we lived our little drama
We kissed on the dunes so white
And stars fell on Alabama
Last night

Home
Wisp: A
West Wight
Potter
Songs of Salt Water, Life, and Love
Halcyon Days
at Sail Beach,
Boats,
Coasts, and
Surf Cams
Beach
Music


From: http://home.att.net/~e.zeiser/lyrics/stars_fell_on_alabama.htm
With MIDI in the background. Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 24 May 03 - 11:31 AM

"we lived our little drama/ We kissed in a field of white/ and stars fell on Alabama last night/ I can't forget the glamor/ Your eyes held a tender light/ and stars fell on Alabama last night/ I never planned in my imagination/ a situation so heavenly/ a fairy land that only two could enter/ and in the center, just you and me, dear/ My heart beat just like a hammer/ My arms wound around you tight/ and stars fell on Alabama last night" Approximately. Chords for verse are roughly C-a7- D-G7; C- Em- Ebm-; Dm-G7- C. Bridge: Dm- Gv- Em- Dm- Gz- C. Dm- E7 Am- B7- E- G... A gorgeous tune. You'll find a surprisingly pleasant version by Jimmy Buffet, I think on the "One Particular Harbor" LP.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Sorcha
Date: 24 May 03 - 11:01 AM

That can be the troubles with just a title. Can you get me a lyric snippet? Then, maybe I can find the music.

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 24 May 03 - 10:17 AM

I'm completely unfamiliar with the above posted song. But I do know the standard "Stars Fell on Alabama" by Mitchell Parrish, I believe. The lyrics to this version are on Rabid Squirrel's jazz lyrics site, accessible thru Mudcat links.

Subject: Lyr Chord Add: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Sorcha
Date: 24 May 03 - 10:14 AM

I would gather you want something for karaoke, or somethng? Didn't find that but I found the lyrics and chords:

STARS FELL ON ALABAMA

  
  
  G                D          Cadd9              G
  you looked real calm as we made our way up the walk
  
  G                D      Cadd9               G
  there were lazy kisses, hands brushing and small talk        
  
  G             D    Em                  C            G      D    G
  the moon was high, your smooth face was dry, and the kudzu grew
   
  G             D           Cadd9    G
  and the stars fell on alabama
  
  G            D                G
  and your eyes filled up with light
  
  G            D            Em  C  G    D    G
  and the stars fell on alabama
  
  the warm earth underneath us gave way
  dry grass crinkled like paper as a breeze came in across the bay
  cold clean water nearby, glimmered in your eyes 
  and your pistol glistened.
  
  and the stars fell on alabama
  and your eyes filled up with light
  and the stars fell on alabama
  
  but if you think i'll take a bullet for you - you're dreaming.
  

From: http://www.themountaingoats.net/chords/nine_black_poppies.txt
Sheet music is available to purchase here.
(But it looks like it is US)

Subject: RE: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 24 May 03 - 08:44 AM

If you join Mudcat and send me a p.m I can send you a copy of the sheet music.

Subject: Stars Fell on Alabama
From: GUEST,Bobby
Date: 24 May 03 - 08:00 AM

I am seeking a backing tape and sheet music for 'Stars Fell on Alabama'. Has anyone come across one, please? (Published in the UK preferably).