The Manhattan Transfer
" Swing "

Purchase the CD here


Tracks:
1. Stomp Of King Porter
2. Sing A Study In Brown
3. Sing Moten's Swing
4. A-Tisket, A-Tasket
5. I Know Why (And So Do You)
6. Sing You Sinners
7. Java Jive
8. Down South Camp Meetin'
9. Topsy
10. Clouds (adapted from "Nuages")
11. Skyliner
12. It's Good Enough To Keep (Air Mail Special)
13. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie

Swing is the album that Manhattan Tranfer fans have been wishing for! This collection of 1930's and 40's swing music with a jazz twist is what The Manhattan Transfer does best and this album is certainly among their best efforts. Here are Tim Hauser's comments on the origins of each of these great, classic songs:

  1. Stomp Of King Porter (also called "King Porter Stomp") - Originally recorded by Fletcher Henderson in 1928. Our version is based on the Benny Goodman recording of 1935.
  2. Sing A Study In Brown - From the instrumental tune written by Larry Clinton, this version is from an aircheck recorded live by the Count Basie Orchestra at Frank Daley's Meadowbrook Inn in Cedar Grove, N.J., 1937 (The Meadowbrook Inn was on the Pompton Turnpike in Cedar Grove. The Charlie Barnet recording of Pompton Turnpike was a tribute to that great big band venue.)
  3. Moten's Swing - Benny Moten's Kansas City Orchestra.
  4. A-Tisket, A-Tasket - Chick Webb Orchestra, featuring Ella Fitzgerald, 1938.
  5. I Know Why And So Do You - From the motion picture soundtrack of Sun Valley Serenade, recorded in 1941 by Glenn Miller Orchestra, featuring The Modernaires.
  6. Sing You Sinners - Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, 1936.
  7. Java Jive - The Ink Spots, 1940.
  8. Down South Camp Meeting - Originally recorded by Fletcher Henderson. Our version is based on the Benny Goodman version, recorded in 1936.
  9. Topsy - Count Basie Orchestra- I forget the recording date-late 30's.
  10. Nuages - The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France, featuring Django Reinhardt, 1940.
  11. Skyliner - Charlie Barnet Orchestra, 1944.
  12. It's Good Enough To Keep (Air Mail Special) - Our version is based on the Benny Goodman Sextet recording, featuring Lionel Hampton and Charlie Christian, 1941.
  13. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie - Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, 1946.

Moten's Swing, A-Tisket, A-Tasket, and Java Jive were recorded with Asleep At The Wheel.

Sing A Study In Brown, Topsy, and Nuages were recorded with The Rosenberg Trio. Nuages also features Stephane Grappelli.

Ricky Skaggs is featured on Skyliner and It's Good Enough To Keep.

Mark O'Connor is featured on I Know Why, It's Good Enough To Keep, and Choo Choo Ch' Boogie.

About half of the tracks feature lyrics by Jon Hendricks. The re-mix enginner was Ed Cherney and the album was produced by Tim Hauser.

The COVER ART for Swing comes from a matchbook cover advertising "Hollywood's Jitterbug House" located at 875 North Vine Street in Hollywood (long gone) which featured Louis Prima and his band. Tim found it in a book of classic matchbook covers called "Close Cover Before Striking" published by Abbeville Press in 1987. (see page 79)



Swing debuted at Number One on the Billboard Jazz albums chart!!
L Y R I C S

This archive is furnishing these lyrics to be used only for purposes of private study, scholarship, or research. A user who copies such items for other uses may be in violation of copyright laws. Many items in this archive do not contain individual copyright notices. The lack of a notice does not necessarily mean than the work is not protected by copyright law.

STOMP OF KING PORTER
Music by Jelly Roll Morton
Lyrics by Jon Hendricks

Alan's solo:
Gather roun' 'n hear my story
Oh boy!
'Bout the time when Jelly Roll was in town
(Stompin' it off, stompin' it off...)
He heard a local pianist
What joy!
Stompin' out music on an old upright pi-ano
Here comes King
that was downright ragged in a Scott Joplin way
(Here he comes-Master of the stomp)
Ol' Jelly knew the fella could play
Dig him!
by the things he heard his right hand say
(Now - we're gonna romp)

(There was no doubtin' that the man could swing)

When Jelly Roll demanded his name
Hail! King Porter
Well, the man responded "Porter King"
(Dig 'Im!) By order!
Well, Jelly lef' th' city, but he wrote
(Dig 'Im!) Y' wanna dig 'im
a rompin' ditty 'bout the Porter
(Dig 'Im!) Y' gonna dig 'im
who was "King O' The Stomp"
Porter King sho' can stomp

Jelly wrote a ditty 'bout a fella who could romp
This is the tune - "King Porter Stomp"

When Porter's stridin' hands are flyin'
An' all his fingers are testifyin'
His two feet stompin' in ragged time
That's a feelin' that is so sublime - Y' dig it?

He's generatin' so much excitement
Y' keep forgettin' just what uptight meant
N' that's that fella named Porter King
His style's the essence o' Swing

(Well, well, well)

Oh, well, go on n' tell it

Cheryl's solo:
When Jelly first heard Porter King
He declared he heard the very heart an' soul of swing
A certain ragged kind o' romp
in between a jump and a stomp
When Jelly heard, well, he really knew
because he played too
That Porter was a King, really n' truly a stone king
Another thing, somethin' never heard of
"Somethin' else" is the sort o' phrase
A fella'd prob'ly have t'use
if'e was gonna describe
the way Porter plays

There never was - an never's gonna be
another strider fine as he
I know no other ear will ever hear another like it here.

Cheryl's solo background:
Who you hunchin'?
Dig them stompin'
See them bunchin'
They rompn'

Sweat is poppin'
Hips're rollin'
Funk is droppin'
Souls soulin'

Heat is massin'
Folks're swingin'
Time is passin'
Arms flingin'

There's contagion
Takin' over
Swing is ragin'
All over

Janis' solo:
Hey!!!
Stop that!!!
That stomp knocked me outta my hat!
Who's that abusin' piano?
Tell me his name, because he's boun' f' fame
'N how'd he figure such rhythm?
Did he bring it here with 'im?
What kinda cat is King Porter?
Plinkin' an' plunkin' that romp he calls a stomp.

Janis' solo backgrounds:
Everybody groovin' and gigglin'
Mercy! Take a look at that wigglin'
See the cutie in the corner
She's losin' her blues by stompin' outta her shoes
The folks are hoopin' n' hoppin'
Dig how all the fingers're poppin'
Over there's a wild cat stone drunk
The floor be his bunk.

Tim's solo:
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp
Just keep on ballin' till we
start fallin' right through the floor
It's so natch'ral
You want more?
Come - git it!

Porter - he's the King!
He knows how to stomp an' swing,
That's King Porter
Master of how to stomp

Tim's solo backgrounds:
Outside the moon is beamin'
Inside the joint is steamin'
Them folks can really, really party
All night long
Porter's stompin'
Gits everybody rompin'
Then everybody knows that one thing
Porter's king.

Who's the absolute Master of Stomp?
King Porter!
The rollicking Rajah of Romp?
King Porter!
The plinkin'est plunker
This side o' the border?
Who? Except King Porter

Who is the King of the Keys?
King Porter!
An' constantly able to please?
King Porter!
An' who tickles ivories like nobody livin'?
That's King Porter! He's the man!

Unloosen yo' shoes
(unloosen yo' shoes)
Start payin' them dues
(start payin' them dues)
Git shed o' them blues
Git shed o' them -
Dang them blue! You don't shed 'em, you lose
Spend a quarter!
(spend a quarter)
Give the order!
(give the order)
Mr. Porter -
Mister Barrellhouse man git t' stompin'
Make 'em git hot - git 'em rompin
The got t' dig King Porter Stomp!





SING A STUDY IN BROWN
Music by Larry Clinton
Lyric by Jon Hendricks

Intro:
Picture this: Rhythm n' happiness
Souls in bliss 'n havin' fun
(Oh no)
If you can't there's nothin' to it
(Oh no)
I'm thinkin' I have t' paint you one

Verse:
I'm gonna paint a sepia panorama
so full of life the painting will come alive
Bathed in blues 'n full of drama
An' all the swing they needed so they'd survive
I'll add some tans an' yellow ocher
Such soul! So full of rhythm
an' then some orange t' tone up the black a bit
My goal is to be with 'em
Purple haze t' lull the smoker
What swing! What syncopation
an cherry red t' loosen the back a bit
That thing captured a nation

An' then a mere patina of subtle green
Get down with me - you'll dig my study in brown
to lighten up the purple n' tone it down
Get down with me - tell about it all over town
A dancing glow to highlight the subtle scene
Get down with me - Dig how I'm paintin' the town
an' there you'll have a study in brown
My study in brown

Well, git brown!
Oh yeah, brown is the pigment
Well, git down!
Oh yeah, that's what cha' really meant
Clown!
Oh yeah, that's some study

We're puttin' down "A Study In Brown"

Coda: (That's why we're callin' it, "A Study In Brown!")

Git brown!
Oh yeah, brown is the pigment
n' git down!
Oh yeah, that's what cha' really meant
Clown!
Oh yeah, that's some study

Dig what I mean! It's in the scene

Guitar solo

What cha' talkin' 'bout?
(Rhythm-A-Ning)
That's my scene rhythm n'dancin'
(Rhythm-A-Ning)
you can add real romancin'
(Yep!)
I'll come clean,
That's the way I like it
Y' start real thin, then put some color in
(Rhythm-A-Ning)
Fuschia hues blended with subtones
(Rhythm-A-Ning)
Spread them blues, blarin' trombones
(Yep!)
Paint that scene
Just the way I like it
A dab or two - that's how to do it.

Piano Solo
Y' talkin' loud, hope people hear y'

Guitar Solo
Hey dad! Mama's gonn git 'cha soon as you git home!

Piano Solo
Thatís the ticket
But where'd y'fin' th' wicket?
Repeat from Verse to Coda





SING MOTEN'S SWING
Music by Buster & Bennie Moten
Lyrics by Jon Hendricks

That's swing! Yes, sir!
(Swingin' from the time of birth)
Hip thing - gasser!
(Swingin' fit t'shake the earth)
My man! Benny!
(Swing a man for all he's worth)
that's Moten's thing

Verse 1
Swing, that's the thing
Y'gotta dig it
Bust loose 'n give it a try
Go! Go! Go!
Swing it! Swing it! Swing it!

Verse 2
Put some pepper in the pot
'n that'll make it sweet an' hot
'Cause you're swingin', swingin', swingin'

Guitar Solo
Repeat Verse 1
Violin Solo/Background Vocals:
Take it Jackson!
Make some action, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up, stir it up Benny
Hey!
Moten's motion
Makes you feel some, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up
Let the chick steal some - GO!!!

Steel Guitar Solo
Repeat Background Vocals

Let the chick steal some - GO!!!

Janis' Solo:
Aw - shake that pretty little bundle
Til you're poppin' your top
"Cause I'm jus' gittin' in the groove
Baby, please don't stop
Ooh - turn me loose, lemme go, gimme room,
lemme flow like water downstream
I'm livin' my dream. swingin' like a rusty gate - oops!
That's it, it's the Moten's swing

Violin solo/Janis' Solo:
If you ever git it, don't 'cha run wit it,
Benny done did it way back
Yes, sir, Mr. Moten
It's his thing
That's swingin' - He's a swingin' it

Nobody can define it
It's a thing you can't describe in words
It's swingin', it's swingin'
Swing, they call it
Benny Moten does it

Mos' people groove behin' it
Crowdin' every ballroom floor in herds
Jes' swingin', an' swingin's
What they call it
Benny Moten was it

Satchmo from Oliver defined it - Singin'
Basie with Moten, he refined it - swingin'

Now everyone's hip
Everyone's hip to the tip
People say it drives you crazy
Everyone digs that thing
Everyone likes a fling
Everyone likes to swing





A-TISKET, A-TASKET
By Ella Fitzgerald & Van Alexander

A-tisket, a-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I sent a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

She was truckin' on down the avenue
Not a single thing to do
She went peck, peck, peckin' all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it, she took it,
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I will die

A-tisket, a-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
And if that girlie don't return it
Don't know what I'll do

Oh dear, I wonder where my basket can be?
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee, I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)

Oh why was I so careless with that basket of mine
That itty-bitty basket was a joy of mine

A-tisket, a-tasket,
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again, again!

(Was it green?)
No, no, no, no
(Was it red?)
No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?)
No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow basket

A little yellow basket





I KNOW WHY (And So Do You)
Music by Harry Warren, Lyric by Mark Gordon

Why do robins sing in December?
Long before the Springtime is due?
And even though it's snowing, violets are growing
I Know Why and so do you
Why do breezes sigh ev'ry ev'ning
whispering your name as they do?
And why have I the feeling stars are on my ceiling?
I Know Why and so do you
When you smile at me
I hear gypsy violins
When you dance with me
I'm in heaven when the music begins
I can see the sun when it's raining
hiding ev'ry cloud from my view
And why do I see rainbows when you're in my arms?
I Know Why and so do you
I Know Why and so do you





SING YOU SINNERS
Music by W. Franke Harling, Lyric by Sam Coslow

Once a mockingbird (dig) - he was overheard (what)
-singing out a word (I) - to a cattle heard: (heard)
(Quoth the mockingbird - "dig what I'm layin' down")
"All you bovine creatures - dig what I'm layin' down!"

All you sinners drop everything
everything
Let the melody and the harmony ring
let it ring
Lift arms up to Heaven and sing
ring-a-ding
Sing you sinners woncha sway n' swing
what a thing

Start with clappin' y'hands all about
all about
Don't be silent - Let the Lord hear y'shout
shout it out
And jus' let the music come out
of yr snout
Sing you sinners woncha sway n' swing
check it out
(Dig the drift of what I mean)

In a world where there's no music
(Old Scratch)
Satan gets his kicks
(He's up to his tricks)
He'll be laughing up and down the banks
(Hee, hee, hee)
Of that river Styx

You're so wicked baby, and you're depraved
You can rave
It's apparent that you have misbehaved
To your grave
But if you should wanna be saved
Jus' behave
Take a listen now to the bird...

Janis' solo:
Stop all that chewin' yer cud - and all that standin' in the mud there
Swing people! Swing every chortle from yer mortal portal
I dig that everyone believes that all cattle prodigies
are like a sneeze
Hard blowin'-missin one lick of blowin' talent to show

(If y'sing - y' gotta swing!)

But remember that the day will come when you
will be just steak on a plate
(Folks, y'know it's fate)
So dig the music of the swing-o-sphere -
(before your swing arrives too late)

Janis' solo, continued:
That's a little too dark
Still, it's true - we've got breath for such a limited time
What are ya, stupid, ya cows?? - you'd think to sing was a crime

In defense now; hence now; Here's comes Adele McCluck:

Cheryl's solo:
Mrs. Mockingbird, I must say you haven't heard
the friendly bellowing swing of our friends the cows -
as they shed their way from Teagarden to Fuller
Instead of spendin' ev'ry day jus' sneakin' around
to life another lick -
These cats work on their cow-tone, so when they get up to blow
They blow a fatter bone-tone into the ozone

(And furthermore...)

Alan's solo:
You tweety-birds are always singin' away
Never givin' up thought of what you say
We cows do - shedding takes up most of our day
So when we start and settle in to play - we can say
A moo is an array of what we've always known to be
the best and only way to play

(What we mean to say is...)

Before the band will letcha sing
(Sing with Fletcher Henderson)
You've got to get y'self to swing
(Like the Bean or Satch)
So your horn can blow - a single note or two
of deeper thinking
(That's the way to swing)
So set your mind upon a tone
(When you're shedding all alone)
And you will have a cornerstone
(Like the bass trombone)
Blow your horn and take a bow
So that you're swinging like the cows
Pythagoras would be so proud of us





JAVA JIVE
Music by Ben Oakland, Lyric by Milton Drake

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Tim's solo:
Slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
and I'll cut a rug till I'm snug in the jug
A slice of onion and a raw one,
Draw one!
Waiter, waiter, percolator!

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Boston beans (soy beans) Those reetie-vootie beans!
(cabbage n' greens)
You know that I'm not keen about a bean, unless it is a
chili chili bean, boy
I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup - a cup - a cup...

Cheryl's solo:
Blow me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in my pot - Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter percolator

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive an' it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup - BOY!





DOWN SOUTH CAMP MEETIN'
Music by Fletcher Henderson & Irving Mills
Lyric by Jon Hendricks

Intro:
Ga-ther here, come ye from far an' near
Get the meetin' on

Saints and sinners, come one, come all
(Have a little revival)
Losers, winners, answer my call
"Cause right now the tent's up
(Really it is)
The word's out -
(Truly, it is)
An' has been since the dawn
(Hear me tell ya)
The call's out
(Really it is)
An' we're 'bout
(Tendin' t'biz)
To git this meetin' on - Hear me tellin' you
Brothers n' sisters who want to repent
(That's right!)
You'll find what you've been lookin' for right here in the tent

Cheryl's solo:
Lend an ear an' you'll see
"Cause when it comes t' needin' savin' ain' nobody
knows it better than me
I was so low that I know that only a miracle like this is
the only way t' heavenly bliss

It's really the truth, Lawdy, I know it
I know it 'cuz I been taken through it
Now the spirits in me an' allowed the Lord
t'win me, I can testify to it

Sweet, sweet the angel's song
Sweet the feelin' I been searchin' for
for ever so long
I never again imagine livin' life
like I was livin' when I lived wrong

Cheryl's solo backgrounds:
Hear that sister testify
What she's sayin' ain't no lie
Over and over and over again
She tells the story of how she conquered sin
No one listenin's ever bored
Hearin' how she found the Lord

Git ready
(Sing)
Here they come! the choir's all set
Be steady
(Pray)
See the people fillin' them pews
Be willin'
(All)
To announce without a regret
It's thrillin'!
(Day)
Tell the world the wonderful news

Folks are troopin' in from far 'n near
f' news that they can hardly wait to hear
They're nearly starved 'cause they're waitin'
for food for the soul, yeah

Starved 'cause they're waitin' for what will not grow old

Preacher's openin' up the book
He's gonna pause awhile an' take a look
'n then he'll start tellin' everyone
'jes how t' do, yeah

Start tellin' everyone jus' what's true, yeah

Sister Emmy Lou done gone t' shoutin'
an jumpin' 'cause she feels the spirit
the congregation's stompin' it's feet
an' everybody's movin' outta their seat
They really gonna get this meetin' on
An' praise the Lord until the dawn

(Yeah) - Hear that preacher spread the word
(Hear that Preacher)
'cause it's the greatest word you ever heard
He's our teacher
When he says "I'm callin' sinners right now you hear?
I'm callin' sinners right to me"
When ol' Satan grabs your soul
When he grabs you
It takes the Lord's true word to break his hold,
Trouble nabs you
So I say, "You got to listen mostly to me.
You got to listen closely."

Don't let the devil catch y' nappin'
Gotta' keep the vigil every minute
or the devil gonna' surely git you

"Watch your step 'n how you act
Watch what you do
Mister Scratch is here, an' that's a fact
He wants you too
If anyone can stop him, I can
That's why I'm the Preacher Man"

We hear the word
We hear your voice
We know there really isn't any other choice

Head f'heaven t'day
(We're on the gospel train)
We can show you the way
(Relieve all strain)
Leave your cares and your woes
(Yes!)
Heaven knows
(Yes!)
Y' dodge that devil in his fine fancy clothes
(Yes!)
Come git aboard
(We still got space)
Hear the word of the Lord
(We saved your place)
Save your soul while y'can
(Yes!)
Sinner man
(Yes!)
Git on as fast as you can

(Repeat)

You've heard the sermon sublime
Down South Camp Meetin' time!





TOPSY
By Eddie Durham & Edgar Battle
Additional Lyric by Tim Hauser
(Lyrics are based upon the original Count Basie recording.)

Janis' solo:
Brothers n' sisters listen while I tell you about the strangest thing
Somethin' you might have heard before, like a bell's familiar ring

Topsy-thought he had it all covered, Yes sir!
Turvy, he never really had a mind to hear
what Mr. Topsy had to say

It's such a scene
Fightin' all the time
They're gettin' mean
All the sparks're flyin'
Is this a dream?
Makes you wanna cry
I'm gonna scream
What's the point?
I wonder why.

Janis' solo continued:
My, my, my, my, my people you should know -
these cats'll never get no relief
Turvy, and sweet - Top-sy - it's so pulverizin', paralyzin';
Doncha know?
(YES YES)

Tim's solo:
Y' know I really don't get it
That's the way it always seems to be-dread it
Everytime I come around these cats are always
scrappin'
Yappin' all about some little fluffy piece of ding a lingin'
stain around the elbow
A bit of this, a bit of that - you bet your dollar that the
joint's a hellzapoppin'
Man alive!
Topsy's in a fit
Turvy's in a snit
Ain't there anyone here who can put out the fire?

This is the most exasperatin' situation tell ya
I ain't-never seen the likes of this one
And I have seen a bunch that'll really make y' think
about it
Wait a minute, hold your horses, here they comin' now

Oh Mr. Topsy you sure bring me down
Better believe you're spittin' the cotton-you are spittin' the cotton now
Ah!
And Mr. Turvy your head's no where bound
It's somethin' I would rather do without
Ha!

Piano Solo

Ain't you had enough of Topsy Turvy
I've had more than I can handle n' it's tested my patience now
Sick and tired of this crazy scene
I'm a little more than sick n' tired, oh, I'm really wired
There's another way to go about this brother
Won'tcha hear me now, got'ta dig what I'm 'bout to tell ya
Loving one another's what I mean
-Boy love'll really straighten y' out - If you'll only check it out

It's such a scene
Fightin's such a crime
Now, they're gettin' mean
Bound t' lose their mind
Man, is this a dream?
Wastin' so much time
Help! I'm gonna scream
Wastin' yours
And wastin' mine

Topsy Turvey's World is Topsy Turvy
a little lovin' might undo it
Just because they can't meet in between

Woe, (oh) Woe (no) Woe (oh) Woe (no) Woe
Woe, Woe, Woe, Woe, Woe
Woe, (oh no) Woe (oh no) Woe (oh no) Woe (oh no)
Woe
Top-sy Tur-vy Top-sy Tur-vy Oooooooh

What a pity.





CLOUDS (Adapted from "Nuages")
Music by Django Reinhardt, Lyric by Jon Hendricks

See the white and fluffy clouds
Adore the sun
As he shines his light
On each and every one
Still, those clouds can hide his light
Till the day becomes like night
So my light heart would darken too
If I ever lost you

As the clouds begin to shed
Their tears of rain
So my aching heart would
Shed its tears of pain
Till that happy moment when
Darkened clouds roll by and then
White and fluffy clouds
Adore the sun once again

Cheryl's Solo:
When I was young
I'd long to touch a cloud
On my back on a bed of green
I'd contemplate the cloud scene
They would form themselves
into a lot o' different kinds o' pictures
Of the kind that pre-existed in my mind
Paintin' the kind o' scene
That I never saw on a wide screen
Look! Ain't that Moses on the mount!
There! Monte Christo an' a gallant count!
Four white horses and a coach
Proceeding madly to approach
the sunlit castle of his majesty the king

Isn't that a flying saucer
and a pilgrim out of Chaucer going by?
They're all right there in a cloud
Standing tall and proud
How thrilling to see!
A panorama that will never end
like the movies do
"Cause they're yours alone
an' under your direction
How'd y'like the movie
that was showin' t'day?
An' what a cast!
An' not only the casting
but a story full of glory everlasting
the errant, fluffy clouds
doing everything they have always done
Like adore the sun
Come out an' do their thing again

Stephane Grappelli/Stochelo Rosenberg Solo
See the white, fluffy clouds adore the sun
As he shines his light on each and every one
White and fluffy clouds adore the sun
Once again.





SKYLINER
Music & Lyric by Charlie Barnet

I'm hurrying home to you
I'm through with being lonely
I'm hurrying home to you
Don'cha know you're my one and only
Fast fast travelin' fast dear
The quarrels of the past we'll keep 'em in the past

(Higher Higher Ever Higher)

Skyliner Skyliner
flying so freely
We seem to really touch heaven
Sunbeams all dance on your
wings where the light falls
And then when night calls

Stars giving a show for the people below the sky

(I'll get home sooner if the)

Jet streams behind me
memories remind me
Your love will guide me
Skyliner fly

(Right to your lover and then)

You'll hold him closely
And sing to him sweetly
Skyliner Skyliner

A silver stream that's crystallized
Shining its rays across the sky

('n bye and bye the clouds roll by)

Why don't we dig that crazy kingdom in the sky, that

Hi-fly swinging in the Sky-liner
Just forgetting the troubles below me

Alan's solo:
Flyin' in the sky
It's a natural kind of high
When you're ridin' in the atmosphere
The steadily movin' ozone
will direct you to this song you want to hear

Hey (you dig me) If I'm dreaming shake me(better believe it)
Say (you wig me) If I'm sleeping wake me

Tim's solo:
It's a little short time now upon this place
We're workin' a lot n' frettin' about
The who have n' who have not
So please just take a moment out
And move a little closer
We will sing this song and try to make you happy

Giving a show for the people below as we fly
Hearing the beat of the motors repeat with a sigh

(And so we're riding on the)

Skyliner Skyliner
(I'm hurrying home to you, I'm through with being lonely)
flying so freely
(I'm hurrying home to you, don'cha
know you're my one and only)
We seem to really touch heaven
(Fast fast hurrying fast
dear-the quarrels of the past we'll keep 'em in the past)

Sunbeams all dance on your
(I'm gonna be holdin' you, And now I'm feelin' jumpy)
wings where the light falls
(I'm gonna be holdin' you, I don't care if the ride gets bumpy)
Then when the night calls (Fast fast travelin' fast dear)





IT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP (Air Mail Special)
Music by Benny Goodman, Jimmy Mundy, & Charlie Christian
Lyric by Alan Paul

The jam is jumpin'
the drums are pumpin'
the groove is lockin' in the rhythm like we want it to be

No time for stallin'
We're really haulin'
we've gotta keep it in the pocket or we'll stagger behind

You never know just when to leave it when you're riffin' in time
Or if the time itself will falter, or of words even rhyme
But we admit, the trick to it is not to think about it
when you're busy bravin' all the notes in the line

This time we mean it
We're gonna swing it
And take you right up to the end before we try to unwind

Alan's solo:
I've never been the kind of guy who could just normally quit
Never could decide when to rest my pride
and feel all right with just good enough
Thoughts, they gather
tellin' me to look to find a bright new way
to assemble all the stimulated motives that haunt me
tryin' a live it, be in the moment, tryin' to sing it alone
can beckon to me, a feelin' of being bent
so I believe, takin' a leave is the brightest way to stop
All the chatter boxin' going 'round in my brain
so I'm wailin' - movin' and groovin' this part of this song
I hope that my riff's good enough to keep
better leave it now or go out of my mind

Violin Solo
Tim's solo:
Now I dig you think that perfect's what we should make it
But I've been down that road and I can tell ya how we feel's
the most important thing about it
Whether you're right or whether you might think
we're pathetic
A little lighter on the reins will help you loosen up the chains
that are still binding you -
In the past, whenever thoughts I had would try to re-
evaluate all that i would do
I'd hesitate, consolidate, and motivate
All the little pearls of doubt that strive to break up
every single bit of
precious joy that flowed from God's soul spark that
shines within me
That's it in a nut shell
So take advice from this sap, go for feel and leave it alone

Mandolin Solo:
Now's the time to sing
Swing is what we bring
Rhythm that's the thing
To really get your spirit movin' higher

Gonna jump and play
Dance the night away
Make you really sway
And let the music take you even higher

E-lla sang this song real special
Come on, come on - we'll sing this special song for you

One more one we'll go
but before we blow
we want you to know
The take is really good enough, we'll keep it!





CHOO CHOO CH' BOOGIE
Music and Lyric by Vaughan Horton, Milton Gabler & Denver Darling

I'm headin' for the station with a pack on my back
I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack
And hear the lonesome whistle
See the smoke from the stack
And pal around with democratic fellows named "Mac"
So, take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo-Choo Choo-Choo Ch-Boo-gie
Woo-woo, Woo-woo Ch' Boogie
Choo-Choo Choo-Choo-Ch-Boo-gie
Take me right back to the track, Jack!

You reach your destination but alas and alack
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You take a mornin' paper from the top of the stack
And read the situations from the front to the back
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
So, put it right back in the rack, Jack!

Choo-Choo Choo-Choo Ch-Boo-gie
Woo-woo, Woo-woo Ch' Boogie
Choo-Choo Choo-Choo Ch-Boo-gie
Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Gonna settle down by the railroad track
And live the life o'Riley in a beaten down shack
So when I hear a whistle I can peep thru the crack
And watch the train a rollin' when it's ballin-the-jack
For I just love the rhythm of the clickety clack
So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo-Choo Choo-Choo Ch-Boo-gie
Woo-woo, Woo-woo Ch' Boogie
Choo-Choo Choo-Choo-Ch-Boo-gie
Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Repeat last chorus



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