My Favorite Songs of the 1930s -Part 5 Quiz

Answer: Back in the Saddle Again

Gene Autry and Ray Whitley wrote "Back in the Saddle Again" in 1939. The song was not only Autry's signature song, he also used it as the title of his autobiography in 1976. It was also listed as the fifth greatest Western song by members of the Western Writers of America.

In 1938, Whitley wrote a different version of the song for the movie "Border G-Men." Autry loved the song, and he and Whitley revised the song and Autry sang it in his 1939 movie, "Rovin' Tumbleweeds." It then became the theme song for his TV show "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" (1940-1956).

Answer: wicked

Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg wrote "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" for the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz."

In the movie, the song is intermingled with other songs, such as "The Lollipop Guild." The song (and those mixed with it in the movie) is to share the joy that the house fell on the Wicked Witch of the East and she is now dead. Munchkin City was taken over by this witch and now that she is gone they are once again free.

Originally, the movie has a reprise of this song called "Hail! Hail! the Witch is Dead" sung by the Winkies (who are guards for the Wicked With of the West) after she is melted. However, this was cut.

Answer: shout

George Harry Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley wrote "I'm a Little Teapot" in 1939. The dance that goes with this song is called "The Teapot Tip."

In 1941, Art Kassel and His Kassels in the Air orchestra had a hit with this song. Marion Holmes sang the vocals. Since then many artists have recorded the song, which is mostly found on children's albums.

Some recordings include Horace Heidt and Two Ton Baker.

Answer: Scarecrow

Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg wrote "If I Only Had a Brain" for the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz." In the movie, it was sung by Ray Bolger, who played The Scarecrow. Judy Garland (as Dorothy Gale) sings the line "With the thoughts you'd be thinkin' you could be another Lincoln."

The Scarecrow explains to Dorothy that he only had straw in his head, no brains. The same tune is used for the Tin Man's song "If I Only Had a Heart," as well as the Cowardly Lion's song, "If I Only Had the Nerve."

Extra Bonus regarding the Tin Man's version: The woman's voice singing "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" was sung by Adriana Caselotti, who two years before was the voice of Snow White in Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

Answer: my heart

Jack Lawrence wrote "If I Didn't Care" in 1939, and it was recorded by the Ink Spots.

The song says, "And what makes my head go 'round and 'round while my heart stands still?"

The song has since been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2018, the Ink Spots' version was chosen for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

Others have recorded it as well including the Hilltoppers, Connie Francis, and the Platters.

Answer: Glenn Miller

"In the Mood" is based on "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone. "In the Mood" was composed by Joe Garland, with lyrics later added by Andy Razaf. It is a bit confusing as the song is said to have come from 1939, but then it says Edgar Hayes made the first recording in 1938.

Artie Shaw bought the song, but he did not record it, he only performed it in live concerts. This was also said to be in 1938. It was in 1939 that Glenn Miller bought the song.

Answer: insect

Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg wrote "The Jitterbug" for "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939. However, it was cut during editing. "The Jitterbug," also a type of dance, was cut because it was too long in a movie that was already long. The insects were supposed to attack the main four to slow them down so the Winkies could get Dorothy and take care of the other three.

The song is included in some live versions of the show. The jitterbugs make you dance and dance until you collapse from exhaustion.

Answer: Cab Calloway

Cab Calloway, Frank Froeba, and Jack Palmer wrote "Jumpin' Jive." The song is also known as "(Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive." It is a jazz song. The song reached number two on the Pop charts.
In 1943, Calloway and his orchestra with Nicholas Brothers, performed the song in the movie "Stormy Weather".

In 1981, Joe Jackson covered the song and it reached 43 on the British charts.

A few other artists have also covered the song, including Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Answer: The Lion Sleeps Tonight

In 1939, Solomon Linda composed and recorded the song "Mbube," in Zulu. "Mbube" means "lion."

In 1961, the song was recorded by The Tokens in a version adapted into English by George David Weiss. "Wimoweh" which they repeated throughout the song, was a mishearing of the original lyrics which said "Uyimbube." This means "You are a lion" in Zulu.

The Zulu original version and the English remake have both been recorded by several artists. Some musicians who have recorded "Mbube" include Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Dolly Rathebe.

The Tokens' English version has also been recorded by Henri Salvador, The New Christy Minstrels, and Brian Eno.

In the 1994 Disney animated movie "The Lion King," Timone (voiced by Nathan Lane) sings "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as well.

Answer: when skies are grey

It is not certain who wrote "You Are My Sunshine" in 1939. The earliest known recording was by The Pine Ridge Boys in August of 1939. However, no songwriter was credited.

In September of that year, The Rice Brothers' Gang recorded the song and listed Paul Rice as the writer. Then right before 1940, they sold the song to Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Mitchell and Davis recorded the song and also copyrighted it. In 1990, a man named Theodore Pappas claimed in an article in "Chronicles Magazine" that Oliver Hood was the writer.

In any case, the song has become a classic. It is also the state song of Louisiana.

In 1999, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Other popular recordings of the song include Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, Doris Day, and Ray Charles.