Music! Music! Music!
Encyclopedia
"Music! Music! Music!" is a popular
song
written by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum
and published in 1949
.
The biggest-selling version of the song was recorded by Teresa Brewer
on December 20, 1949, and released by London Records
as catalog number
604. It became a #1 hit and a million-seller in 1950
. However, it has been rumored that some radio stations refused to play the record because of the thought that the lyric "I'd do anything for you/Anything you'd want me to" might be construed as indecent. It became Brewer's signature song and earned her the nickname Miss Music.
A version recorded by British singer Petula Clark
was popular in Australia the same year.
Joe Loss and His Orchestra
recorded a version in London on March 6, 1950. It was released by EMI
on the His Master's Voice label as catalogue numbers BD 6065, IM 1476 and HE 2793.
An instrumental version was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets
in 1959 and released as a single in 1960; it was the band's final release for Decca Records
and was only a minor hit. The R&B group The Sensations
released an updated rendition in 1961. The song was also covered by The Happenings
in the late 60's. Melanie
covered the song on her 1976 album Photograph. Guy Mitchell
also released a version that can be found on several of his greatest hits albums.
Teresa Brewer recorded several renditions of the song during her career. In addition to the London verion, the Coral label made a recording for their catalog, which had a larger orchestral arrangement and stronger beat. When she moved to the Philips label in 1962, Brewer made a new recording in Nashville. In 1973, she recorded a rendition with a strong rock and roll beat on the Amsterdam label. When Brewer was with the RCA label in 1974-75, she recorded yet another new version. Finally, in 1976 on the Signature label, she recorded a disco version. Only the original London release was a chart hit, although, the 1973 version was a regional hit in some markets, including Milwaukee (it charted on Top 40 station WOKY
's survey).
In 1977, she performed the song on The Muppet Show
.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum
Bernie Baum
Bernie Baum was a songwriter who worked extensively with Elvis Presley. He grew up in New York City and later worked with Harvey Zimmerman and Florence Kaye. The majority of their songs were used in Presley's musicals. Their work was also credited in the American version of Kimba the White Lion...
and published in 1949
1949 in music
-Events:*February 4 – Ljuba Welitsch makes her Metropolitan Opera début in Salome.*September 5 - Wagnerian tenor Walter Widdop appears at The Proms, singing "Lohengrin's Farewell", the day before his sudden death at the age of 51....
.
The biggest-selling version of the song was recorded by Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
on December 20, 1949, and released by London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
604. It became a #1 hit and a million-seller in 1950
1950 in music
-Events:*January 3 – Sam Phillips launches Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.*August – Herbert Howells' Hymnus Paradisi is premiered at the Three Choirs Festival.*Malcolm Sargent becomes chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra....
. However, it has been rumored that some radio stations refused to play the record because of the thought that the lyric "I'd do anything for you/Anything you'd want me to" might be construed as indecent. It became Brewer's signature song and earned her the nickname Miss Music.
A version recorded by British singer Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
was popular in Australia the same year.
Joe Loss and His Orchestra
Joe Loss
Joshua Alexander "Joe" Loss LVO OBE was a British musician and founder of the Joe Loss Orchestra.-Life:Loss was born in Spitalfields, London, the youngest of four children. His parents, Israel and Ada Loss, were Russian Jews and first cousins. His father was a cabinet-maker who had an office...
recorded a version in London on March 6, 1950. It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on the His Master's Voice label as catalogue numbers BD 6065, IM 1476 and HE 2793.
An instrumental version was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
in 1959 and released as a single in 1960; it was the band's final release for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and was only a minor hit. The R&B group The Sensations
The Sensations
The Sensations were an American doo wop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The group formed in 1954 under the name the Cavaliers, soon after changing to the Sensations. The group scored two hits on the US R&B chart in 1956 with the Atco Records singles "Yes Sir That's My Baby" and "Please Mr....
released an updated rendition in 1961. The song was also covered by The Happenings
The Happenings
The Happenings were a pop music group that originated in the 1960s. The group's major hits were "See You In September" , which was originally recorded by the Tempos in 1959; a cover version of the George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin song, "I Got Rhythm" , updated for the nascent pop/rock era; and "Hare...
in the late 60's. Melanie
Melanie Safka
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...
covered the song on her 1976 album Photograph. Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
also released a version that can be found on several of his greatest hits albums.
Teresa Brewer recorded several renditions of the song during her career. In addition to the London verion, the Coral label made a recording for their catalog, which had a larger orchestral arrangement and stronger beat. When she moved to the Philips label in 1962, Brewer made a new recording in Nashville. In 1973, she recorded a rendition with a strong rock and roll beat on the Amsterdam label. When Brewer was with the RCA label in 1974-75, she recorded yet another new version. Finally, in 1976 on the Signature label, she recorded a disco version. Only the original London release was a chart hit, although, the 1973 version was a regional hit in some markets, including Milwaukee (it charted on Top 40 station WOKY
WOKY
WOKY is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, radio station. They broadcast a classic country radio format emphasizing country from the 50s-80s...
's survey).
In 1977, she performed the song on The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
.