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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JULY 12,
1919
RECIPE FOR MAKING A SONG HIT
A SUCCESSFUL YOUNG COMPOSER
THE SONG WRITER'S REWARDS
Harold Orlob, Composer of "Listen Lester,"
Tells How It Is Done
Lee David Putting Over Some Good Numbers
for B. D. Nice & Co.
The New York World Makes Editorial Com-
ment on What Song Writers Earn for Efforts
"It's the song that makes a fellow want to
get right up, no matter where he is, and be-
gin whistling and dancing all over the place
that makes a hit these days." This is the opin-
ion of Harold Orlob, composer of "Listen
Lester."
"A modern song," declares Mr. Orlob, "to
make any kind of a hit at all must have 'pep'
to it, and also must have a 'catchy tune' that
unconsciously sticks to the mind of the hearer.
I have made it a point to study the audiences
at various performances of 'Listen Lester' in
order to note whether my songs have produced
the results which I first mentioned. I have
found that such songs as 'Waiting for You,'
'Two Is Company' or 'I'd Love To' invariably
set a large part of the audience, particularly
younger members, to beating with their feet and
swinging their shoulders rhythmically. Also I
have never failed to hear, after the performances
and between the acts, a number of men whistling
snatches from 'A Very Good Baby in the Day-
time,' 'Sweet Stuff,' or one of the other songs
of the play.
"These facts tell me that I have succeeded in
accomplishing in my songs just what I strove
for, namely to produce in the audience the desire
to dance and whistle these songs as they are
coming out of the theatre, and teach me that
these songs have 'stuck' with them and possess
the essential elements of 'catchiness.'
"The successful song writer of to-day must
necessarily be something more than a mere
juggler of harmonious sounds. He must be a
student of what the public wants—a sort of
psychologist. The mushy, sobby, sentimental
love songs of twenty or more years ago would
not be at all popular to-day. Nor would be
semi-martial music of songs popular during the
United States' participation in the war make
a hit now.
"What the public wants to-day are lively, jazzy
songs—not too jazzy—with love interest, but
without the sickly sentimentality in vogue a
generation ago.
"The musical comedy audience is a particu-
larly discriminating class, and will not accept
some of the ragtime pieces popular elsewhere.
It demands songs that are not only jazzy, but
which are also musical.
"The musical comedy without this class of
songs is like a canoe without paddles. No one
knows where it will eventually drift to—but it
is certain it will meet with some catastrophe in
very short- order."
Lee David, while one of the youngest, appears
to be one of the most successful of our present-
day composers. He has for a number of years
written successful works, bnt it was not until
his "Wild Honey" became popular that recog-
nition in a large way was extended to him.
That the rewards of the song writer are
worthy of editorial comment even by a metro-
politan daily is evidenced in the following ed-
itorial which appeared in the New York World
of Monday morning of this week:
Andrew Fletcher, of Scotland, was a remarka-
ble man, "brave as the sword he wore and bold
as a lion; a sure friend and an irreconcilable
enemy; would lose his life readily to serve his
country, and would not do a base thing to
save it," as a contemporary said. He wrote
much, but probably it would have surprised him
could he have foreseen that his literary produc-
tion would rest upon a single remark, "I know a
very wise man that believed that if a man were
permitted to make all the ballads he need not
care who should make the laws of a nation."
It is not every song, though temporarily fa-
mous, that touches a nation's heart, and fewer
still are the songs that put a goodly sum of
money in the maker's purse. The song writers
of to-day are not concerned about law-making,
but royalties, especially from the gramophone,
are vital matters.
We read of writers who have made fortunes
by a single song, possibly one that neither ele-
vates taste nor inspires the people. Will some
popular song-maker take the public into his
confidence and tell us just how much he makes
by his craft? In lieu of such an authoritative
statement an English writer gives the follow-
ing songs and prices the publishers gave for
them: "Get Your Hair Cut," $25; "Waiting to
Hear the Verdict," $75; "There Is a Picture for
You," $75; "For Old Time's Sake," $75.
He would be a prolific writer who could get
rich at these rates, and yet, considering these
titles, the pay seems liberal. The same writer
tells us that the composers of "Ora pro Nobis"
and "The Trumpeter" both died penniless. And
Mozart was buried by his friends at their ex-
pense in an unknown grave.
"DEAR HEART" CONTINUES POPULAR
"Dear Heart," the big song and instrumental
success from the catalog of C. C. Church & Co.,
Hartford, Conn., continues in heavy demand
despite the summer season. Three factors c o n -
tribute to its popularity: its appeal as a song, its
success as a dance and the beautiful title page in
which it is issued, which is without doubt one
of the most artistic published in many seasons,
The success of this number has made the en-
tire Church catalog show much activity. A new
number issued by the above company is entitled
"Buddy." The song is quite original in lyric
and melody and one which in the short space
of time since its release has shown up well.
NEW SONG BASED ON MOVIE FILM
The theme of the musical setting of the Para-
mount-Artcraft
special photo-drama,
"The
White Heather," is the melody of a song based
on the story. It is being published by the Mc-
Kinley Music Co. under the same title as the
picture itself. The picture will be featured
throughout the country in some of the leading
motion picture houses and as now arranged the
audiences will be encouraged to sing the chorus
of the song, a move which will, no doubt, add
to its popularity.
Lee David
Some months ago a firm of music publishers,
bent upon entering the high-class publishing
field, signed him to a contract to write for them
exclusively for a period of years. This organi-
zation, B. D. Nice & Co., are now campaigning
with three numbers, "Wond'ring," "Romance,"
and "Tents of Arabs." The first is a ballad, the
second is issued in song and instrumental form,
while the latter is a one-step intermezzo and
song.
All of these numbers have been featured by
the orchestras during the past two months and
professional singers have been at the studios
of the company placing them in their reper-
toire.
Benjamin W. Levy, president of the publishing
firm mentioned above, has a well-planned drive
arranged for the early fall featuring all of the
new works of Mr. David. The company is
using considerable space in publications, ac-
quainting the trade and professional circles
with the merits of the numbers in question, and
this is to be followed with publicity going di-
rect to the teachers and the public.
NEW THIEBES PUBLICATION
ST. LOUIS, MO., July 7.—The Thiebes Piano Co.,
in furtherance of plans to magnify its sheet
music publishing function under the new Had-
dorff management, has issued the first of a
series of compositions by St. Louisans. It is
"Tulips," a song by John Holmes, lyric by Ella
Mason. Harry L. Alford, of Chicago, who made
the orchestra arrangement, predicts that it will
be a hit. The parenthetical spelling of "Tulips"
is "Two-Lips."
WAS NOT RENT PROFITEER
Theodore Tobani, the composer of "Hearts
and Flowers," was recently called before the
New York Mayor's Committee on Rent Profit-
eering on the complaint of several tenants of
one of his houses. After a hearing by the
Mayor's representative it was decided that the
tenants were not justified in their attitude. It
was stated by the composer that the build-
ings were purchased with the money derived
from the royalties on his well-known number.
E. Ray Goetz, the well-known composer, has
made arrangements with Jerome H. Remick &
Co. whereby that concern will publish his music.
WANTS JUILLIARD CONSERVATORY
Bodanzky Suggests That National Conservatory
Be Established With Generous Bequest
Artur Bodanzky, conductor of the New
Symphony Orchestra, has put forward a recom-
mendation that the Juilliard foundation for
music, the $5,000,000 and more set aside by the
late A. D. Juilliard, be used for erecting and
maintaining a national conservatory of music.
Mr. Bodanzky says:
"The provisions of Mr. Juilliard's will are so
magnificent that 1 am free to say that only in
the United States could such things happen.
What we most need is a national conservatory,
founded on a broad scale, with the best available
teachers in the world. Such a conservatory
would create an artistic and musical atmosphere
wherein talented young Americans could be edu-
cated and cultivated. It is only in this way
that, in the course of time, we can get com-
posers and great musicians."
A NEW HIGH=CLASS NUMBER
Miss Glad Forster has written a new song,
described as an ideal American ballad, entitled
"Each Smiling Hour." The number, which Leo
Feist, Inc., have accepted for publication, will
be placed in the high-class catalog of the firm.
Miss Forster is fast being recognized as one of
the mbst successful of our younger composers.
TO PUBLISH WILLIAMS' SONGS
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., have made ar-
rangements to publish the songs of Spencer
Williams, a composer who has had much success
during the past season. Shortly to be released
are "Yama Yama Blues," "Trix Ain't Walking
No More" and "I Ain't Gonna Give This Jelly
Roll."