rats in my room / leona anderson
Michael Greenberg
I know this was discussed awhile back, but I would appreciate answers to a few things. I'd like to learn more
about Leona Anderson - the story behind Music to Suffer By (as well as the track listing, when it was recorded,
it's catalog number, who wrote the individual tracks), whether she did any other recordings, etc..
I'd also like to know about the other version of Rats in My Room, done by a duo, I believe, and how I can get a
copy of that recording. I'm familiar with NRBQ's version and would like to hear this other version.
Please e-mail me directly and thanks in advance!
Michael.
Norm Katuna
On 3/23/59 Billboard magazine reviewed Aladdin 3449, The
Blenders------"Soda pop", and on Fri, 16 Aug 1996 16:04:09 -0400, on a
totally different subject, Michael Greenberg
<mgre...@mail.psychiatry.sunysb.edu>, wrote:
::: I know this was discussed awhile back, but I would appreciate answers to a few things. I'd like to learn more
To the group and to Michael by e-mail.
A couple of things. It is not really polite to ask a question publically
and then ask for the answer by e-mail. The best way is to ask the
question, and then ask for a copy of the answer to be forwarded to you by
e-mail. There may be several people that see your question and would like
to know the answer themselves.
With that said here goes.
The original "Rats in my room" was done by Joey and Danny on Swan records.
The same Swan that Freddy Cannon and the Beatles were on. Joey was Joey
Reynolds the famous New York (I think) disc jockey. The reason that I say
that this was original was that he was part writer of the song. They also
had a follow-up called "I got rid of the rats" on Swan.
Now about the info on Leona Anderson. I posted an article here months ago
about her from one of my "Hit Parade" or "Song Hits" magazines. I do not
keep copies of these postings and refuse to re-type this for you. But....
since I posted the same article to alt.rock-n-roll.oldies, I have a friend
that may have kept it in the archives. I am going to ask him for the
article and if he has it I will re-post it here and send you a copy by
e-mail.
I also have a friend that bills himself as the biggest Leona Anderson
collector in the world. He sometimes peruses r.m.d. I will forward this
to him and maybe he can come up with the track listings that you want.
_________________________________
Norm Katuna
------------------
Arthur Matthews Hot diggity dog Dig 117
Sticks McGhee Head happy with wine King 4610
Jerry McCain That's what they want Excello 2068
Norm Katuna
On 3/23/59 Billboard magazine reviewed Aladdin 3449, The
Blenders------"Soda pop", and on Fri, 16 Aug 1996 16:04:09 -0400, on a
totally different subject, Michael Greenberg
<mgre...@mail.psychiatry.sunysb.edu>, wrote:
::: I know this was discussed awhile back, but I would appreciate answers to a few things. I'd like to learn more
::: about Leona Anderson - the story behind Music to Suffer By (as well as the track listing, when it was recorded,
::: it's catalog number, who wrote the individual tracks), whether she did any other recordings, etc..
::: Michael.
To Michael and the group.
We found the post. There are also a few paragraphs at the end that weren't
in the original post.
Leona Anderson was the Mrs. Miller and Tiny Tim of her time.
The following is from "Song Hits" magazine from July 1957
Leona Anderson, contrary to the rumors spread by jealous rivals, is
not a fictitious person.
The "world's worst singer" is a lady who is determined that she will
not surrender to the hotel lobby-sitting that is the career of many
ladies her age. She has managed to carve out a niche for herself in
the competitive sphere that is the record business
Leona bills herself as "the world's worst singer", although there
are people who have different opinions.
Leona says that an artist mustn't expect complete objectivity from
everyone -- there will always be those who will not appreciate her
act.
Miss Anderson was discovered by Tom Murray and Tony Burrello*, who
felt that since the world was apparently interested in buying terrible
records, they would help meet the demand. The organized Horrible
Records, signed their songs to the Miserable Music Company and
released them through Terrible Distributors.
They had Leona sing a song called "Rats in my room". It created a
tremendous sensation and shocked Tin Pan Alley into the realization of
what was taking place. Leona received probably more publicity than
any single recording star of that year.
She was stolen from Horrible Records by Columbia, who had her
satirize other record companies' artists, with sides like "I'm a fool
to care" and "Mama Doll". Leona wanted to do a recording based on one
of Columbia's big hits, but for some reason they said no.
Stanley Borden, of RKO-Unique Records, knowing how effective Leona
is, signed her to record for them. They have just issued her first
album, "Music to suffer by" (or "The worst of Leona Anderson"!).
Included in the album are such gems as "I love Paris", "Chloe",
"Indian Love call, "Hep cat", "Il Bacio", "Limburger Lover", "Giannina
Mia" and "Yo ho the crow".
Leona, who started in show business in George M. Cohan musicals, is
the sister of Bronco Billy Anderson, who starred in Hollywood's first
western, "The great train robbery". She studied serious music both
here and abroad for some years, but then decided she wasn't going to
be a real top-notcher. And, as Leona says, "If you can't be the best
-- then be the worst"! So she has trained herself to be the world's
most horrible singer.
"Anybody who tries for laughs through burlesquing any well-known art
form has got to know something about the art form," says Miss A. "I
still study with serious teachers, and as I learn more about the
technique of good singing, I get better at bad singing. Of course,
this voice of mine gives me a little edge on all the other bad
singers!"
Leona's fan clubs reach from Albany to Australia and are growing
larger all the time. They all appreciate the fact that she enjoys
kidding herself as much as they enjoy listening to her.
*Tony Burrelo had the sickening record called "There's a new sound".
The one about Worms.
Also the "Tag line" for Horrible records was "If it's a really
Horrible record--it's bound to be a hit".
One more item. The flip of "There's a new sound is "Fish" by
Leonna(sic) Anderson---God is it awful. The label says Vocal? with
Tenor tuba and calliope. It also says that it was recorded in the
Holland Tunnel.
_________________________________
Norm Katuna
------------------
Trying to be the biggest collector in the world of Stan Freberg
records on 45 and 33. Especially his commercials, and Freberg Ltd.
items.
Gary Flinn
I own a Canadian pressing of Leona Anderson's album MUSIC TO SUFFER BY
on the Sparton label and made by Sparton of Canada Ltd., London, Canada.
The catalog number is LP-115 and says arr: RKO-Unique Record Mgr. Corp.
The tracks are: Side one: I Love Paris; Chloe; Hep Cat; Habanera (from
"Carmen"); Il Bacio; Tell Me A Tall Tale.
Side two: Indian Love Call; Limburger Lover; Giannina Mia; Rats In My
Room; Yo Ho The Crow; Italian Street Song.
-Ghastly Gary sez STAY DEMENTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iamnotnmbr
In article <3215d9e8...@news2.cts.com>, no...@cts.com (Norm Katuna)
writes:
> It is not really polite to ask a question publically
>and then ask for the answer by e-mail. The best way is to ask the
>question, and then ask for a copy of the answer to be forwarded to you by
>e-mail. There may be several people that see your question and would
like
>to know the answer themselves.
Hear, hear! I'd like to see this in the netiquette faq!