Composers and bands in the 1920s and 1930s were obviously keen on tunes with titles about 'messing around'.
There was 'Come on Boys Let's Do That Messin' Around'. This was recorded (in 1926) by Blind Blake, who presumably also wrote it..
You can hear his performance BY CLICKING HERE.
It's no surprise that Tuba Skinny took up this tune, with Greg Sherman taking the vocal. You can enjoy one of their performances of the song BY CLICKING HERE.
Also in 1926, we find 'Messin' Around', composed by Charles 'Doc' Cooke, with lyrics by Johnny St. Cyr. It was recorded that year by Cooke's band Cookie's Gingersnaps. Freddie Keppard and Jimmie Noone were among the players. To hear the recording, CLICK HERE. Several other bands were quick to record it over the following couple of years.
Again, Tuba Skinny gave it a new life almost a century later. They replaced the piano-with-voices Introduction with an eight-bar instrumental Introduction, but they faithfully copied the order of events and the melody from Cooke's original, including playing the Chorus before using the Verse as an interlude. Listen BY CLICKING HERE.
Then there was 'Fourth Street Mess Around', composed by Will Shade for the Memphis Jug Band in 1930. You can enjoy the original recording BY CLICKING HERE.
Once again, eight decades later, we find Tuba Skinny reviving the number and producing their version. Very entertaining it is, even keeping the amusing sung Coda ('Here we come, all drunk again. Ooooo-oooooo.'). Listen BY CLICKING HERE.
We are all deeply indebted to the six generous folk who have made these videos available to us on YouTube:
RagtimeDorianHenry;
RaoulDuke504;
Resurgam1901;
James Sterling;
Orchard Enterprises;
jazzbo43.
There was also in 1926 'That Dance Called Messin' Around' recorded by Sara Martin; and 'Everybody Mess Around' by the Georgia Strutters (and others, including Ethel Waters) in 1926; and in 1927, there was also a 'Messin' Around With The Blues' recorded by Fats Waller and 'Beale Street Mess Around' from The Memphis Jug Band (four years before their 'Fourth Street Mess Around').
And of course Louis Armstrong in 1926 famously recorded 'Don't Forget to Mess Around'.
There was also in 1926 'That Dance Called Messin' Around' recorded by Sara Martin; and 'Everybody Mess Around' by the Georgia Strutters (and others, including Ethel Waters) in 1926; and in 1927, there was also a 'Messin' Around With The Blues' recorded by Fats Waller and 'Beale Street Mess Around' from The Memphis Jug Band (four years before their 'Fourth Street Mess Around').
And of course Louis Armstrong in 1926 famously recorded 'Don't Forget to Mess Around'.
