Laurel and Hardy music
Encyclopedia
Laurel and Hardy
were primarily comedy
film actors. However many of their films featured songs, and some are considered as musicals in their own right. A compilation of songs from their films, called Trail of the Lonesome Pine, was released in 1975. Oliver was a trained singer and sang many of the tracks solo with Stan singing in duet occasionally. A number of the songs were sung by neither Laurel nor Hardy.
The composer Leroy Shield
scored most of Laurel and Hardy sound shorts although they were often misatrributed to Marvin Hatley
.
Honolulu Baby was written by Marvin Hatley
and sung by Ty Parvis with Laurel and Hardy.
as the on-the-hour chime for the Roach studio radio station. Generally known as "The Dance of the Cuckoos" it was copyrighted with the name "Ku Ku" and was first heard on the opening credits for Blotto
(1930) and the Spanish version of Night Owls (1930) Laurel heard the tune on the station, and asked Hatley to use it as the Laurel and Hardy theme song. In Laurel's eyes, the song's melody represented Hardy's character (pompous and dramatic), while the harmony represented Laurel's own character (somewhat out of key, and only able to register two notes: "coo-coo"). The original theme, recorded by two clarinets in 1930, was re-recorded with a full orchestra in 1935.
routine, the most famous of which is their dance to the song "At The Ball, That's All" sung by The Avalon Boys
in Way Out West
(1937).
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
were primarily comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film actors. However many of their films featured songs, and some are considered as musicals in their own right. A compilation of songs from their films, called Trail of the Lonesome Pine, was released in 1975. Oliver was a trained singer and sang many of the tracks solo with Stan singing in duet occasionally. A number of the songs were sung by neither Laurel nor Hardy.
The composer Leroy Shield
Leroy Shield
Leroy Shield was an American film score and radio composer.-Career:A native of Waseca, Minnesota, Shield was an employee of RCA Victor's National Broadcasting Company, for which he composed and conducted on-air musical pieces...
scored most of Laurel and Hardy sound shorts although they were often misatrributed to Marvin Hatley
Marvin Hatley
Thomas Marvin Hatley , professionally known simply as Marvin Hatley, was an American film composer and musical director, best known for his work for the Hal Roach studio from 1929 until 1940....
.
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
- Dance Of The Cuckoos (0:26)
- Introduction (0:16)
- Trail Of The Lonesome PineThe Trail of the Lonesome Pine (song)"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" is a popular song published in 1913, with lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and music by Harry Carroll. In the song the singer expresses his love for June who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The chorus is:...
(2:01) - At The Ball, That's All (2:01)
- I Want To Be In Dixie (2:01)
- Honolulu Baby (2:07)
- Stan's Voice (0:37)
- Lazy Moon (3:06)
- Swing Along, Chillun (1:03)
- I Want To Go Back To Michigan (1:28)
- Dance Of The Cuckoos (0:27)
- I Can't Get Over The Alps (2:29)
- The Mousetrap Song (0:38)
- The Cricket Song (1:45)
- Could You Say No (1:32)
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart (0:59)
- Never Mind Bo Peep (3:52)
- The Curse Of An Aching Heart (1:43)
- The Ideal Of My Dreams (1:24)
- Fra Diavolo (3:20)
- The Heart Of A Gypsy (1:45)
- I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls (3:24)
- Shine On Harvest Moon (1:13)
- Themselves. The Dance Of The Cuckoos (5:30)
Honolulu Baby was written by Marvin Hatley
Marvin Hatley
Thomas Marvin Hatley , professionally known simply as Marvin Hatley, was an American film composer and musical director, best known for his work for the Hal Roach studio from 1929 until 1940....
and sung by Ty Parvis with Laurel and Hardy.
Signature tune
The duo's "Cuckoo" theme tune was composed by Roach musical director Marvin HatleyMarvin Hatley
Thomas Marvin Hatley , professionally known simply as Marvin Hatley, was an American film composer and musical director, best known for his work for the Hal Roach studio from 1929 until 1940....
as the on-the-hour chime for the Roach studio radio station. Generally known as "The Dance of the Cuckoos" it was copyrighted with the name "Ku Ku" and was first heard on the opening credits for Blotto
Blotto (1930 film)
Blotto is a comedy film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.-Production background:The film survives only in a censored 1937 re-release print which has had Pre-Code sequences removed and a new music track added.Although the original 1930 version is now...
(1930) and the Spanish version of Night Owls (1930) Laurel heard the tune on the station, and asked Hatley to use it as the Laurel and Hardy theme song. In Laurel's eyes, the song's melody represented Hardy's character (pompous and dramatic), while the harmony represented Laurel's own character (somewhat out of key, and only able to register two notes: "coo-coo"). The original theme, recorded by two clarinets in 1930, was re-recorded with a full orchestra in 1935.
Dance routines
A number of their songs are accompanied with a danceDance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
routine, the most famous of which is their dance to the song "At The Ball, That's All" sung by The Avalon Boys
The Avalon Boys
The Avalon Boys were a quartet of singers popular in the 1930s. They appeared in a number of comedy films and had a memorable role in Laurel & Hardy's Way Out West.-Personnel:*Chill Wills *Art Green*Walter Trask*Don Brookins-Film appearances:...
in Way Out West
Way Out West (1937 film)
Way Out West is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1937. It was directed by James W. Horne, produced by Stan Laurel and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.-Plot:...
(1937).