As seen on TV
I’ve taken the opportunity provided by falling ill on a holiday weekend to plow through a stack of unlistened-to 78 RPM records today. In the pile, I found a disc that actually somewhat startled me. It was a disc featuring one of the most familiar songs in North American recorded music — certainly one that is at the top of the recognizability list for music played on television. I had never really stopped to think about its origins, or the fact that this weird little tune is probably one of the most familiar pieces of music to any kid who grew up after the dawn of the television age — but there it was, spinning ’round my battery-powered wrecka playa. A quick InterWeb search led me to this blurb about the performing artist, which I found humorously obscure:
“Williams was discovered by the (label’s) president in a Chinese restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Tempo Records first approached another bones player, Ted Goon, known as Mr. Goon-Bones, but Ted had a conflict at the time. Before Ted got his conflict resolved, Tempo discovered Williams and his first hit record hit the airwaves.” (Ted Goon died in 2003 at the age of 92. Ted was an Honorary member of the Rhythm Bones Society and lived in California just a few miles from the home of Williams.)”
My challenge to you is to deduce the song in question from the information gleaned in the above text. Do us all a favor and don’t cheat by searching for the entire text string on Google or something lame like that. There are some clues that are in plain sight:
1. “Williams”
2. Rhythm bones
4. Familiarity to TV watchers from the 1950s until today
I’ll give you one more: the fact that this artist was discovered in Los Angeles may throw you off the trail.
Go to it! And, just remember — if you’re completely stumped, you get just as much credit for an imaginative answer as you do for a correct one.
I look forward to your responses.
HVB
You know what? Because this is a holiday weekend, I’ll give you another clue: the song in question is an instrumental, and I guarantee you’ve never seen it performed by “Williams.”. So that “Williams” clue sucks.
If the song is what I think, the well-known version is an instrumental; however, the song as originally written as performed is not.
Tonyola, I suspect you have identified this tune!
I didn’t grow up watching a lot of classic tv, but Mr. Royale did and believes he knows the tune you are referring to. We are guessing that it has to do with the number three.
I believe the Beatles were on a recording of this song – but not the famous version.
Tonyola almost *certainly* has it, but I’m not as sure about the Royale household. Take Tonyola’s last post as your next clue!
I think we were barking up the wrong tree. The Beatles clue doesn’t seem to fit our guess.
I’m lost in a netherworld of “My Bonnie,” Larry Williams, and the theme from Benny Hill. I’m highly impressed by tonyola.
Next clue: you may know this instrumental from the world of “sports.”
Well, that basically confirms my guess.
Originally we were thinking that it was the Nairobi Trio but we can’t think of a connection to the Beatles.
We also considered The Addams Family, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Wide World of Sports. None seem to match all the criteria.
We could use another clue!
I hope HVB corrects me if I’m wrong about this but here goes…
The song in question is listed as an active registered trademark by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Is it a commercial jingle?
No, it’s more of a theme — though, again, my surprise discovery was that before it was adopted as a theme, it was a modest hit on its own. Not that any Townspeople would have ever heard it before it became a theme!
Here’s another clue for you all, and it’s a big one: the melody in this version is carried by whislting.
Here, then, are your clues:
1. A “theme” connected to televised sports
2. Rhythm bones
3. Whistling
4. Introduced (I think) in the 50s, and still in use today
5. More commonly known as a vocal with instrumental accompaniment, but this version is an instrumental
6. The Beatles were involved in a cover of this song at one point in their career.
I think at this point we can acknowledge Tonyola as the winner of the patented RTH No-Prize — but I’ll ask him to save his big reveal in case these clues have jogged anybody’s memory. Anybody other than Townsman Tonyola care to blurt out the answer?
(without mentioning the title) might it be the warm-up number for Geese, Meadowlark et al?
I think we’re with you on this one. We finally figured it out and your guess cements it.
DINGDINGDINGDINGDING! Tonyola gets the coveted RTH No-Prize, but Delmore and the Royale household bask in the glow reflected from his No-trophy.
If I ever get around to another Thrifty Music post, I’ll be sure to rip the B-side to the “Brother Bones” version of “Sweet Georgia Brown.”
When, not if, my man!
Well played, all – and nice debut (?) by delmore!