REQ: "Big Mabel Murphy" by Brook Benton
jmba...@earthlink.net
a Brook Benton LP entitled "The Best of Brook Benton", or something
similar. I'm looking for the complete lyrics, album title, and label
ID, if you have it. This song *may* have been written by Dallas
Frazier, and it seems to me that the first lines of this blues-type
ballad were:
Way back in '29, somewhere near Coffeeville,
There was a honky-tonk named "Big Mabel Murphy's".
She had a sweetheart, named Little Melvin,
And the hair would fly between them every Saturday night.
Thanks in advance!
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"Out on that Information Superhighway -- I'm riding a moped."
Jim Barnes jmba...@earthlink.net
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mamu
first? ok, first the baaaaaaaad news, I couldn't find the lyrics. :o( And,
I couldn't find it covered ever by Brook Benton. I am not doubting you, but I
checked his discography, and according to the AMG ( http://www.allmusic.com
) Only Diana Ross and someone named Sue Thompson have done it... in 1974. As
for the good news... well you were right, this song was written by Dallas
Frazier. AND, I did find it... Only it's spelled Big MABLE Murphy. That
allmusic link should take you to where you want to go as far as finding label
info and the Brook Benton discography... I even looked at all the rare and
oldies 45 sites I could find-- oh they had Brook Benton singles there, but no
Big Mable. <sigh> Ok, NOW for a little bit more of good news, there IS a
song called "Another Cup Of Coffee" on The Best of Brook Benton. Could that
be what you're looking for? if so, that can be found at CDnow
http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=210277435/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/ArtistID=BENTON*BROOK/itemid=454774
I hope you find this song, cause if you do, if it's done by him, I'd like to
get it myself. Good luck to you --mamu
jmba...@earthlink.net wrote:
--
"I'm gonna live the life I sing about in my song."
Mitch Drumm
: Sometime prior to 1975, I remember a recording of this song on
: a Brook Benton LP entitled "The Best of Brook Benton", or something
: similar. I'm looking for the complete lyrics, album title, and label
: ID, if you have it. This song *may* have been written by Dallas
: Frazier, and it seems to me that the first lines of this blues-type
: ballad were:
dallas wrote it and dallas had the original recording. sue thompson had a
minor hit with it.
don't know if brook did it.
W C
"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)", "Two of a Kind" "Paper Tiger" and "Big Mabel
Murphy". I believe Dallas Frazier recorded the song himself but Sue had
the hit. I'll post the lyrics later. Sue has a greatest hits CD
available. I never heard of Brook Benton doing this song.
Ronald E. Hontz
Ditto on Brook Benton. Good luck on the Sue Thompson "Greatest Hits"
CD. Without running downstairs to look, it's likely the same CD I have
and that song ain't on there. I've seen many LP's/CD's/cassettes
labeled "Greatest Hits" and then not all of the songs are by the artist
whose CD it is. 'spect it happens when the total of their own "hits"
isn't great enough to fill an entire LP, so they add some hits by other
folks. If she ever DID realease it as a single, Whitburn doesn't show
it as having even "bubbled under."
mamu
tho, now that my curiosity is piqued. Thanks for the addendum! --mamu
W C wrote:
> "Someone" named Sue Thompson? Sue had many 60's hits such as "Norman",
> "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)", "Two of a Kind" "Paper Tiger" and "Big Mabel
> Murphy". I believe Dallas Frazier recorded the song himself but Sue had
> the hit. I'll post the lyrics later. Sue has a greatest hits CD
> available. I never heard of Brook Benton doing this song.
--
W C
Way back in '29,
Somewhere in Coffeeville,
Was a honky tonk named
Big Mable Murphy's.
She had a sweetheart,
Named Little Melvin,
And the hair would fly between them
They say Little Melvin,
Got wild on bathtub gin,
Cause it made him grow
To almost twice his size.
He'd try to take over,
And sass Big Mable,
And her great big fists
Would blacken Little Melvin's eyes.
Big Mable Murphy,
She loved Little Melvin,
But he never would learn to do
Just what she said.
Cause poor Little Melvin,
Woke up every morning,
With two black eyes and
Knuckle bumps on his head.
Then late one rainy night
Scarface Mooziola,
Came in and started
Shovin' folks around.
Big Mable Murphy,
Was back in the kitchen,
So just for fun
He shot Little Melvin down.
Early next morning,
Down by the river,
Scarface Mooziola was found
Real short of breath.
They say that Scarface,
Had died from a whoopin'
He had two black eyes
and knuckle bumps on his head.
Big Mable Murphy's place,
Raved on until she died,
And they say sometimes
A tear would fill her eye.
And then she'd whisper,
Lord I'd give anything,
If once more I could
Blacken Little Melvin's eyes.
The Sue Thompson's Greatest Hits CD on Curb is available at CD Now on
sale for $6.99.
JimB
look out for that CD of hers.
cb
