Shorty's Got To Go

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Haydn · #1 Post by **Haydn** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:50 am

I have "Shorty's Got To Go" by Lucky Millinder on these two CDs:

1943-1947
Apollo Jump

Both CDs seem to have the same version. The high-energy hand-clapping part with 'Has anybody here seen Shorty?' starts at about 1m 03secs.

A few times I've heard DJs play what sounds like a different version of this song, (they've told me it's by Lucky Millinder). The difference is that the hand-claps and 'Has anybody here seen Shorty' are right at the start instead of one minute in, and the sound quality seems better.

Can anyone tell me which version this might be?

lipi · #2 Post by **lipi** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:29 am

allmusic to the rescue. the millinder recordings seem to be either around 3:00 or around 3:10 in length, so it looks like there are indeed two. i think the former is the one you're looking for, though i don't have a copy, so i am not sure.

you may want to try this one: 1946: the r&b hits.

Haydn · #3 Post by **Haydn** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:23 pm

lipi wrote:allmusic to the rescue. the millinder recordings seem to be either around 3:00 or around 3:10 in length, so it looks like there are indeed two. i think the former is the one you're looking for, though i don't have a copy, so i am not sure.

you may want to try this one: 1946: the r&b hits.

Thanks. Just looked on the iTunes store, which has Millinder versions at 3.13 and 3.04. Compared samples of these and they sound the same, but the 3.04 version is slightly faster and higher pitched, so I think it's actually the same version "speeded up" slightly.

J-h:n · #4 Post by **J-h:n** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:43 pm

I think you're thinking about Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back?, which is sort of Shorty Part 2, also by Lucky Millinder. It's on the Chronological Classics 1947-1950.

lipi · #5 Post by **lipi** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:19 pm

that's also on apollo jump, though, so haydn loses big points for not listening carefully if that's the case.

J-h:n · #6 Post by **J-h:n** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:21 pm

I'm not surprised. Anyone noticed the striking similarity between the material available on Proper and Chronological Classics releases? I strongly suspect that Proper sets are really Chrono Classics collections with the lame ballads removed, loads of noise reduction added, new artwork and better liner notes.

lipi · #7 Post by **lipi** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:40 pm

J-h:n wrote:I'm not surprised. Anyone noticed the striking similarity between the material available on Proper and Chronological Classics releases? I strongly suspect that Proper sets are really Chrono Classics collections with the lame ballads removed, loads of noise reduction added, new artwork and better liner notes.

yes, there's been quite some speculation along those lines, including on this forum. i can't be bothered to find the relevant thread on swingdjs just now, but here's the same sort of thing on organissimo.

document/membran is more blatant, i believe.

trev · #8 Post by **trev** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:27 pm

I'm pretty sure I have two versions of Shorty's Got to Go, but I don't have my collection with me right now to check. Also check out Bull Moose Jackson: he was a member of Lucky's orchestra who recorded some of the Millinder material on his own, and I'm pretty sure he re-did Shorty's Got to Go.

Haydn · #9 Post by **Haydn** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:43 am

J-h:n wrote:I think you're thinking about Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back?, which is sort of Shorty Part 2, also by Lucky Millinder. It's on the Chronological Classics 1947-1950.

That's it

. Thanks Johan.

Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back? is around 2m 40secs. After a short intro, the words start about 13 seconds in with hand-claps in the background:

"There was a guy around 40, they called him Shorty
The kind of guy who rambled around
Until the fellows got together, decided whether
They should run Shorty out of town

Oh Shorty had to go, Let me tell you 'bout
Shorty had to go
'Cos the fellows got together and decided it was better
And Shorty had to go

All the guys called a meeting and took a vote
That was all poor Shorty wrote
They wanted satisfaction
So they went into action
And ran poor Shorty out of town"

etc ...

Haydn · #10 Post by **Haydn** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:24 am

According to my discography, Shorty's Got To Go was recorded in 1946 and Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back in 1950, which might explain why the sound quality is better on the latter.

I found this image of the vinyl of Shorty's Got To Go on this site

Decca describe the song as a 'Fox Trot'

CafeSavoy · #11 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:42 am

There is another version. I think it's by Bill Johnson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT6O5t8F6fE

Ari · #12 Post by **Ari** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:53 pm

J-h:n wrote:I think you're thinking about Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back?, which is sort of Shorty Part 2, also by Lucky Millinder. It's on the Chronological Classics 1947-1950.

But if you want really good quality version of Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back, check out CD "Jiving Jamboree 3" (ACE CDCHD848), all the recordings are transferred from original analogue master tapes and the sound so much better than other versions I've heard. I think that's only version taken from master tapes out there at the moment?

Ari,
Finland

Eyeball · #13 Post by **Eyeball** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:45 pm

The title - memories! Two guys I worked with in Sam Goody's were always cutting each other down for laughs. One guy sees this title on an LP in the store and yells to the other guy, "Hey Gary! This one's for you! Shorty's got to go! Hahahahaha." The he gets the cashier to play the song on the store system. Many laughs all around as the guy gets mocked in public by an old record.

OK - now back to your new adventures in music.

Eyeball · #14 Post by **Eyeball** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:48 pm

Haydn wrote:
I found this image of the vinyl of Shorty's Got To Go on this site

Decca describe the song as a 'Fox Trot'

Haydn-

That is a 10 inch 78 rpm shellac record. Original label. Lots of those numbers are labeled as "Fox Trot" for some reason. There likely is a reason, but it is one of these things you learn to ignore and/or accept.

Haydn · #15 Post by **Haydn** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:41 am

Ari wrote:But if you want really good quality version of Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back, check out CD "Jiving Jamboree 3" (ACE CDCHD848), all the recordings are transferred from original analogue master tapes and the sound so much better than other versions I've heard. I think that's only version taken from master tapes out there at the moment?

Ari,
Finland

Thanks Ari, I know the Ace label specialise in 40s and 50s music, so perhaps that CD would be a good buy.