Songs about taxes

Everything about the swinging music we love to DJ

Moderators: Mr Awesomer, JesseMiner, CafeSavoy

Locked
Message
Author
User avatar
Gong-Oh
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Songs about taxes

#1 Post by Gong-Oh » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:09 pm

Do you know any swinging songs that refer to taxes? Taxes are due on April 15th, in the U.S. However, I'm posting this just for fun and not out of any particular DJ-ing needs. :) Preferably, you should suggest tunes either recorded between the 1920s and the early 1960s, or recorded later, but with an old school sound. Beside the title, you should also indicate recording artist/band, year and, ([edit]if it is not obviously Jazz [/edit]), genre.

The only one I can think of is
The Sales Tax Boogie, Piano Red (1952, R&B)

Thank you in advance,
Lorenzo
Last edited by Gong-Oh on Mon May 02, 2011 8:58 am, edited 3 times in total.

penguin
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:59 pm
Contact:

#2 Post by penguin » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:21 pm

The Fats Waller tune "We the people" has a few lines about taxation. I think it's on one of the chronological classics (37-38 maybe). There's also a cover by Catherine Russell on her latest album "Inside this heart of mine" . Genre is jazz.

User avatar
anton
Posts: 409
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:41 pm
Location: Malmö, Sweden

#3 Post by anton » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:26 am

Slim Gaillard - Tax Payer's Blues [1951]
The Harlem Hamfats - Sales Tax On It [1936]
Dick Robertson - I Payed My Income Tax Today [1941]
Eddie Vinson - Luxury Tax Blues [1947]
Le Jazz du Poste Parisien - Put A Tax On Love [1934]

Then we have everything issued on Tax Records (Sweden), but that label was named after a dog and not taxes...

Synecdoche
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:16 pm

#4 Post by Synecdoche » Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:52 am

Also:

"Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye ("Rockets, moon shots; Spend it on the have nots; Money, we make it; Fore we see it you take it"). Marvin Gaye is not swing, but Carla Cook does a great bluesy swinging cover.

In country-swing, there's "Income Tax" by Dub Adams, and "Sales Tax" by Missippi Sheiks. The lyrics to Sales Tax are pretty funny but not dance-able.

Strictly not swing, there's "Taxman" by the Beatles (and lots of covers).

Finally, not really about taxes but "Money's Gettin Cheaper" by Jimmy Witherspoon and "Inflation Blues" by Louis Jordan are swing-blues classics.

(Sorry I'm not organized enough to have recording years.)

User avatar
Gong-Oh
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

#5 Post by Gong-Oh » Sun May 01, 2011 11:51 pm

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Lorenzo
PS
A comment to Synecdoche's post: I'd rather label the Mississippi Sheiks as Country Blues than Country Swing.

Locked