ichadwick
Well-known member
I posted this on the UC forum yesterday, but I also wanted to share my good fortune with UU members:
Yesterday afternoon, I stopped by a local used book store to peruse. I noticed a familiar word in large, bold letters on the top of a pile of unsorted books: UKULELE.
There, amidst the collection of tattered romances, the heavily-thumbed crime novels, the science fiction tales and the spy thrillers, was a group of nine thin ukulele music books, held together by an elastic band. The price was $5.
Included in this trove of mini treasures is:
Quite a find, and sheer serendipity that I was there at that time. Many of the songs appear to be in the public domain - they're from the 1920s and 30s. Over the next few weeks I will try to get some quiet time on the scanner at work and put them into PDF format to share with my fellow uke enthusiasts.
I have another little gem - really quite a good collection - that I'll also include:
I tried a few songs from the others last night and found them a mix of interesting and awkward arrangements. But you can decide for yourself. I'll post a link as I get them scanned.
Yesterday afternoon, I stopped by a local used book store to peruse. I noticed a familiar word in large, bold letters on the top of a pile of unsorted books: UKULELE.
There, amidst the collection of tattered romances, the heavily-thumbed crime novels, the science fiction tales and the spy thrillers, was a group of nine thin ukulele music books, held together by an elastic band. The price was $5.
Included in this trove of mini treasures is:
- 20 Big Hits for Ukulele, arranged by John Lane (Robbins Music, 1956). Contents include Laura, You Never Say Yes, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Wang Wang Blues, Something's Gotta Give and House of Blue Lights (the last one co-written by Freddie Slack, who was a great stride piano player with the Dorseys and known for his work on such upbeat hits as Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar and Down the Road Apiece).
- Irving Berlin Songs Arranged for the "uke", by Roy Smeck (Irving Berlin Music Corp, 1950), including 20 songs: Always, Blue Skies, Marie, Mandy, The Girl That I Marry and others.
- Roy Smeck's Ukulele Fun Book; A Pocketful of Unrivalled Song Hits (Edward B Marks Music Corp., 1950). Includes In the Good Old Summer Time, Ballin' the Jack, Glow Worm, Pionciana and El Rancho Grande, etc.
- Smith's 200 Songs for Ukulele, revised edition (Wm. J. Smith Music Co, copyrighted 1924, 52 and 54). Includes La Cucaracha, Whispering Hope, Skip to My Lou, Two Gun Bill, Darlin' Let Me In, The Farmer in the Dell, Home Sweet Home, Tourelay, Rock of Ages and many more. A bit odd - a lot of the songs show the chords under the words, not above the staff, so it takes some getting used to.
- May Singhi Breen Collection of Ukulele Solos (Robbins, 1955). The "Ukuklele Lady's" collection of what appear to be chord-solo songs a la Lyle Ritz, including June Night, Lilacs in the Rain, Runnin' Wild, Wabash Blues, When You Wore a Tulip and others. She produced several uke books, and I'd like to find more of them.
- 20 All-Time Ukulele Hit Paraders, (Chas. H. Hansen Music Co, 1950), including You Are My Sunshine, Georgian on My Mind, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Toolie Oolie Doolie, Green Eyes and others.
- Mills Favorites for Ukulele, Arranged by Roy Smeck (Mills, 1950), including Jealous, When You're Smiling, Diga Diga Doo, The Sheik of Araby, Ma He's Makin Eyes at Me, Let a Smile be Your Umbrella, and others.
- The Remick Ukulele Song Book, As arranged and played by Roy Smeck (Remick Music Corp., 1950), including It Had to be You, I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover, Bye Bye Blackbird, Carolina in the Morning, Tamiami Trail, Sweet Georgia Brown and more.
- Ukulele Ike: Collection for the Ukulele #1 (Miller, 1949). This has previously been provided by other members as a PDF.
Quite a find, and sheer serendipity that I was there at that time. Many of the songs appear to be in the public domain - they're from the 1920s and 30s. Over the next few weeks I will try to get some quiet time on the scanner at work and put them into PDF format to share with my fellow uke enthusiasts.
I have another little gem - really quite a good collection - that I'll also include:
- A Pocketful of Songs for the Uke, complied and edited by Harry Reser (Shapiro, Bernstein & Co, 1950) including Sweet Sue - Just You, Side by Side, If You Knew Susie, Sunny Side of the Street and others.
I tried a few songs from the others last night and found them a mix of interesting and awkward arrangements. But you can decide for yourself. I'll post a link as I get them scanned.
