Cats, Bananas & Cars, Oh my! - New York Novelty Songs of the 1920s
August 1, 2020
Listen to the playlist: "Cats, Bananas and Cars, Oh my!" - New York Novelty Songs
"Cats, Bananas and Cars, Oh my!" New York Novelty Song Playlist
"Taxi" - Music by Mel B. Kaufman, Lyrics by Harry Kerr, Performed by Lenzberg's Riverside Orchestra
"Me-Ow" - Music by Mel B. Kaufman, Lyrics by Harry Kerr, Performed by Studio Orchestra for 'The Freshman'
"Historic Narration" - History behind the music
"Yes We Have No Bananas" - Lyrics by Frank Silver, Music by Irving Cohn, Performed by Billy Jones Orchestra
"Historical Narration by Richard Webb" - Richard Webb - Local writer and historian
The birth of Twentieth century music had its share of composers and lyricists who captured the playful spirit of newly minted urbanites. Prolific and wildly popular composer, Mel B. Kaufman, penned the way for novelty songs such as the instant hit "Yes, We Have No Bananas", written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn.
In 1922, on his way to work, future songwriter Frank Silver stopped to buy bananas from his local green grocer. The grocer, an upbeat, affable fellow, began all his sentences with the word "Yes". So, when Frank didn't see any bananas, he asked for them, and the grocer enthusiastically replied "Yes, we have no bananas". Frank thought the reply funny and it stuck in his head, so much so,that he wrote the verse to which his partner Irving Cohn "fitted the tune". And from there they had their first hit, it remained a number one hit for 5 weeks in 1923.
Due to a banana blight in Central America during the 20s there would be no bananas for a while. Closer to home, blights and plagues afflicted Fairfield County farmers during the same era. Author and historian Richard Webb talks on this point at the end of the playlist.