Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
50
THE MUSIC TRADE
SELF-STYLED CRITICS ARE WRONG
REVIEW
JUNE 1, 1918
ONE OF W. J. POND'S BEST SONGS
Soldiers and Sailors Want New Patriotic and Hamilton S. Gordon Having a Big Success With
Semi-Patriotic Songs, and Do Not Want to
"Bring Back the Kiss That I Gave"
Stick to Old-Time Numbers, Says Harris
The new song recently released by Hamilton
Chas. K. Harris says: "It is really funny to S. Gordon, entitled "Bring Back the Kiss That
read the articles that are being written regard- I Gave." is from all indications one of the best
ing war songs by so-called critics, who have, songs Walter J. Pond ever wrote. The sales
never written a song in their lives, but who set so far have exceeded expectations, and with the
campaign the publishers have in view to pop-
themselves up as musical critics.
"Several of them who have written articles for
the trade and dramatic papers and magazines
decry the writing of any new patriotic songs,
stating that the soldier boys as well as the
sailors only want to sing the old songs like
'Marching Through Georgia,' 'Suwanee River'
and 'A Hot Time in the Old Town To-Night'
'Nothing else,' as one of them remarks in an
article printed last week and which is given much
prominence. If such is the case the best thing
for the popular writers as well as popular music
publishers to do, is to close up shop imme-
diately and enter into some other business.
What's the use of writing any more new war
songs, or encouraging new song geniuses to
write new material, when, as the critics say, 'The
only songs that the soldiers and sailors fall
back on are the old familiar songs as above men-
tioned"?
To disprove some of their contentions Mr.
Harris tells of the same things that were said
and the same articles were written by some self-
styled song critics during the Spanish-American
War, but that did not deter Mr. Harris from
HAMILTON S. GORDON
N £ W YORK
writing "Break the News to Mother," one of
T^tle
Page
of
New Gordon Co. Song
the biggest war song hits the past century and
which is a bigger hit in this war. It also did ularize the number its success should be as-
not deter the late lamented Paul Dresser from sured. W. T. Whitehead is the author of the
writing his famous "Blue and the Gray," and lyrics of "Bring Back the Kiss That I Gave,"
another writer gave us "Good-bye, Dolly Gray," and he has incorporated in them a love story
as well as "He Laid Away a Suit of Gray," and which at this time is especially appropriate.
Of special note concerning the above number
dozens of others which were big hits during the
Spanish-American War, in spite of the old-time is the fact that there were other publishers be-
sides the Hamilton S. Gordon Co. who desired
war songs.
to buy the song. Walter J. Pond sang it shortly
It is strange how writers will try to write before it was published at a 125th street theatre
about something they are not familiar with. and a prominent music publisher in the audience
When one of them states that the soldiers and immediately invited Mr. Pond for a consultation
sailors will not sing any of the new songs under and offered a very liberal royalty arrangement
any circumstances: "If he could come up to my as well as an extra large advance payment. The
office," says Mr. Harris, "and remain there for Hamilton S. Gordon Co. 'has given "Bring Back
a few hours and see the office crowded with the Kiss That I Gave" a very attractive title
soldier boys from Camp Upton and sailor boys page, as can be seen from the reproduction.
on leave, learning new songs such as 'Yankee'
(He's There, All There), 'I'll See You Later,
NEW SONG FOR "HITCHY=KO0"
Yankee Land,' 'Will You Be True?' 'What a
Wonderful Dream it Would Be,' 'Break the
Raymond Hitchcock recently introduced a new
News to Mother'—all . soldier songs—in fact, song in "Hitchy-Koo" now playing successfully
patriotic numbers, and how eagerly they are re- at the Colonial Theatre, Chicago, and it was
hearsing and learning them, and how delighted immediately received with great favor.
It is
they are to receive copies, so that they can go of the novelty order and has so many points
back to the camps and sing them to the boys, of attractiveness that it will probably become
they would soon change their opinion regard- very popular during the coming months. It is
ing how the boys wanted only the old-time called "It'll All End Up With the Right End
songs." If they also could see the hundreds of
Up," the title itself creating much attention.
letters that daily pour into Mr. Harris' office The song is the work of Henry J. Marshall. M.
from band and orchestra leaders' playing •Witmark & Sons are the publishers.
throughout the various camps of the United
States, as well as Europe, for new up-to-date
PUBLISH "HEARTS OF THE WORLD"
music, those self-same critics would soon change
their tune.
The Echo Music Publishing Co., New York
and Seattle, have just issued a new ballad en-
Clarence E. Steere, one of the oldest active titled "Hearts of the World." The song is by
business men in Worcester, Mass., celebrated Bartley Costello and James W. Casey, and the
his seventy-fourth birthday last week, at his title is taken from that of the successful new
music store at 18 Mechanic street.
Griffith film drama.
BRING BACKTHE KISS
THAT I GAVE
TO MUSIC DEALERS
WE ARE JOBBERS
OF MUSIC
Popular, Classic, Music
Books and Studies
Our price* on all classes of music will average the
lowest. Located in the center of the country and
carrying the tremendous stock that we do we are
in a position to supply all your wants at a SAVING
TO YOU OF TIME, MONEY AND EXPRESS
CHARGES.
All orders shipped the day we get them.
GIVE US A TRIAL ORDER
McKINLEY MUSIC CO.
1501-1513 E. 55th Street
CHICAGO
McCORMACK A GREAT COLLECTOR
Noted Tenor Raises Over $400,000 for Charitable
Purposes During the Past Year—Featuring
"A Mother's Prayer" in Coming Concerts
At the John McCormack concert held at the
Hippodrome Theatre Sunday night over $35,000
was realized for the Catholic orphans. This
makes over $400,000 John McCormack has raised
during the last year for patriotic and charity pur-
poses and demonstrates the power he holds over
the song-loving public of the United States.
One of the features of the concert was his in-
troduction of a new song entitled "A Mother's
Prayer," a patriotic number which was so well
received he probably will place it permanently
in his program. The concert was well attended
as is usually the case when McCormack is to
sing. "A Mother's Prayer," the song which
stood out so prominently, will probably become
quite popular, as it has much which will make it
appeal to the heart and the home. Boosey &
Co., New York, are the publishers of "A
Mother's Prayer."
The Song of the Moment
"KEEP THE HOME-
FIRES BURNING"
(Till the Boys Come Home)
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
41 East 34th St.
NEW YORK
BUY Y O U R MUSIC FROM
BOSTON
WALTER JACOBS
8 Bosworth St,
ra
BOSTON, MASS.
at
Sr
"See Dixie First"
Oliver Ditson Company
BOSTON
NEW YORK
Anticipate and supply Every Requirement ef Minis
Dealers
White-Smith Music Pub. Co.
PUBLISHERS, PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS OF MUSIC
Two Sensational English
Ballad Successes
"Somewhere a Voice is Calling"
"The Sunshine of Your Smile"
T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter
62 West 45th Street
NEW YORK
Main Offices: 62-64 Stanhope St., Boston.
Branch Houses: New York and Chicago.
WILSONIAN'
r "FAUSTINA" \ s
ROBERT TELLER SONS & DORNER
"WITH THE COLORS" Y
THE HIGH PRIVATE 0
HAIL TO OLD GLORY-
VANGUARD-DEMOCRACY'
Mmic Engravers and Printers
" KHAKI BILL
I C.L.BARNHOUSE
05KAL0QSA.I0WA
SEND MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OF
TITLE FOR ESTIMATE
311 West 43d Street
New York City
J3a.\£>on attb Compaiu 1