Billy Murray - I Want to Go Back to Michigan (1914)

[@mylesspear]

Almost 105 years old and this is my new favorite song.

[@davoid96]

Holy cow you’re old!

[@thebeatlesandqueen8817]

@@Billy219 nice

[@ferretfacesomething9393]

U still up mate

[@cool-potato432]

115 now

[@PAK102856]

When I was a boy in the 1960's one of my favorite things to do was to go to my grandparents and play records on their Edison cylinder phonograph. One of the songs I was particularly fond of was this recording. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@mr.coffee5220]

I used to play hide and seek, tag, you name it with my younger siblings, when I was a boy in the 1,000’s.

[@SeanP7195]

First time I heard this was Tiny Tim who was being interviewed on a Detroit Radio station and he knew every word and who wrote it, sang it, etc. Apparently he was an encyclopedia of music.

[@vrobbie53]

Great post, being from Michigan which has always been home, I think this should have been our state song. My grandparents once owned a farm right down the street where Mom was born in 1923. I have the sheet music,diamond disc & blue amberol of this classic. Thanks again!

[@jhopessprite4642]

That makes sense to me. Yes, that song should be my state song because Michigan is the state in America where I was born.

[@sofia-charlotta]

I was born in Michigan and I wish and wish again That I was back in the town where I was born There's a farm in Michigan and I'd like to fish again In the river that flows beside the fields of waving corn…

[@jaxn13]

My dad used to sing this to me and my brothers. Glad I was able to find it.

[@ColtDee]

fantastic over 100 years and still appreciated and loved, "We ain't heard nothing yet!"

[@MikeBlitzMag]

Actually Billy Murray lived much of his later years in New York. But he was THE absolute master of character improvisation in song. Really hoping that more of his work gets chronicled. If ever a CD box set came out containing his entire catalog, it could easily be a one hundred disc set. That's how prolific he was. Genius of the highest order.

[@unclejosh4935]

There are a couple of Billy Murray compilation cds out - - I have 'dem. Murray was born in Denver. Seems like almost every great song recorded between 1903-1929 was made famous by Murray. I'll never understand why Murray never recorded "Take me out to the ball game [he loved baseball [even played at the Polo Grounds with professional in "pick-up games" in addition to being the greatest popular singer of that period.] Harvey Hindermeyer tenor on Columbia and Harry Macdonough with the Haydn Quartet (Victor) - just are lacking [I own both discs].

[@timothyodell5133]

Billy was born in Philadelphia in 1877 and his family moved to Denver when Billy was about five.

[@MikeBlitzMag]

@@unclejosh4935 Billy Murray was also an aspiring Major League Baseball player, who appeared in a couple of exhibition games with the Yankees when they were the Highlanders. According to his biography (as essential of a book as you'll find on the subject), when the time came to record Take Me Out To The Ball Game, he was at the ball park, playing hookey from the studio! Y'know, if I ever had a chance to meet any artist who is no longer with us, Billy Murray would definitely be in my top five. A hero and inspiration in every sense of the terms.

[@MikeBlitzMag]

@@timothyodell5133 Which makes one wonder why he was ever saddled with that nickname, The Denver Nightingale, as Denver itself only played a marginal role in his life.

[@jhopessprite4642]

That's where I was born in. And I really want to go back to Michigan.

[@berlinsaintclair9100]

I played this for one of the stray semi-feral mama kitties I feed. And she sat down and closed her eyes.

[@cumulo25]

A 100 year old recording. Amazing!

[@RWBHere]

And you can hear every word which he sang. That's a lesson to be taken notice of by many modern singers who are often almost unintelligible and off-tune. Even with our vastly superior technology, compared to these old acoustic recordings, which were made without electricity, amplification or frequency correction, some of today's singers don't even begin to measure up to the skills of those old performers.

[@benjaminfitzgerald7011]

​@@RWBHere this was 1914, so it may have been made with electricity. Hard to say though, it wasn't wide spread yet.

[@protte225]

@@benjaminfitzgerald7011 I have read that electrical recording did not happen until about 1926.

[@PhonographMan]

No one introduced me to the pioneers of recording. I found each by collecting Edison phonographs and listening to the Edison recordings. Billy Murray and Ada Jones are favorites. This is Billy Murray at his best.

[@PhonographMan]

Glad to help you!

[@unclejosh4935]

I recommend that you read Jim Walsh's monthly articles on Pioneer recording artists that appeared in Hobbies Magazine, 1941-1985 [he never missed a month]. He was friends with Billy Murray until Murray's passing in 1954. The magazine can be found at major libraries bound by year. I am a retired sound recordings archivist, Library of Congress - - I used to correspond with Jim Walsh in the 1970s - - he was known as the Dean of authorities on pioneer recording artists.

[@bobbyroy84]

I Just Bought the EDISON Blue Amberol version of this! EDISON #2507! This is ADORABLE! I LOVE These Songs around 1909 to 1914 that Lower the Volume of their singing then get loud again! I wish I knew what this treatment was called! Records like "Sweetheart Let`s Go A - Walking" By Billy Murray, "Let`s Make Love Among The Roses" Arthur Clough, "Kiss Me My Honey, Kiss Me" by Ada Jones and Billy Murray! LOVE These AWESOME Records!

[@bobbyroy84]

This was Recorded before EDISON Dubbed from their Diamond Disc! As it Sounds Incredible!! I LOVE These Little Records! Billy Murray is just AWESOME!

[@unclejosh4935]

Actually, Edison Blue Amberol 2507 was one of the very first dubbed Blue Amberols recorded Oct. 19, 1914; released for sale Jan. 1915. It was dubbed from Edison Diamond Disc master matrix 3365 (one side of issued Edison disc 50198). A slightly earlier Blue Amberol (2471) recorded a few days earlier and released for sale in Dec. 1914 - - - is a direct recording. This rendition is by the National Promenade Band (no vocals). [Gee! how I do wish Edison had waited two more months before switching all recording production to dubs from disc masters [This Berlin song has always been one of my all time favorites (I've collected cylinders since 1958).] The Edison factory fire of Dec. 1914 seems to have been the final blow for directly recorded Blue Amberols; thereafter, the Blue Amberol catalog basically mirrored the Edison disc catalog allowing for some variety in perceived different groups of customers for disc [urban/suburban] and cylinder (rural customers).

[@Kblog777]

Did'nt realize Irving Berlin wrote this tune he must have written thousands of songs. He must have single-handedly controlled the music industry in his day. Guess he was like the Simon Cowell of the early 20th century lol.

[@blakemcnamara9105]

He literally wrote thousands of songs.

[@Bunnyinthebasement]

Judy Garland performed this song in Easter Parade. It’s interesting how many movies were jukebox musicals or used popular songs

[@bobbyroy84]

I LOVE This AWESOME Little Record! I Have it, # 2507!

[@steelneedles]

Apparently this song was featured in the British revue of 1915 " 5064 GERRARD " at the Alhambra theatre , London and sung by Beatrice lillie.

[@johnhenryeden4806]

Old songs are often great^^.

[@unclejosh4935]

Sometimes I think that Irving Berlin never wrote a bad tune.

[@hellinterface6721]

Born in Windsor but I love this.

[@ianfrancis777]

Just dug out the old sheet music from a large manila envelope; thank goodness I dug it out of my storage unit w/ all my old early 20th Century sheet music, on my last ditch trip to the storage unit! "I Want To Go Back to Michigan" looks just like the one in your cover pic, though mine is slightly damaged around the edges. I have to wonder if this old sheet music is valuable... Boy the singing style was different back then. Also, I noted that Murray changed up the original melody a little, as written by Irving Berlin.

[@Deutschland1093]

great voice & great Chorus, i think the American Quartet. I love michigansongs.

[@unclejosh4935]

Nope - but some of the singers WERE members of the American Quartet [known on Edison as the Premier Quartet]. This Edison pick-up group consisted of the great Billy Murray, tenor soloist with a group of Edison artists: John Young, Royal Fish, Steve Porter, baritone, and William F. Hooley - legendary pioneer bass.

[@Tboneator64]

It was indeed, PARDON US, in which The Avalon Boys performed this song. they also performed in Laurel & Hardy's WAY OUT WEST several years later!

[@CatsPjamas1]

@nipsterstang It is a great song Jim, and I'm really glad it means so much to you. Thanks so much for sharing your comments?

[@alexanderduerrwilliams143]

MI born. I'll go back... when winter's over...

[@SonSett]

i have to admit. i've always been listening to music my whole life, and still never heard anyone in a song say: nevertheless.

[@lukeorlando4003]

Me and my papa used to sing this together

[@unclejosh4935]

Murray's family moved to Denver when he was a baby, not 5 yrs. Source: biographical article by Jim Walsh on Murray under the heading "The Coney Island Crowd", April 1942, page 15. This biographical articles consisted of three consecutive monthly installments that appeared in the April-June, 1942 Hobbies Magazine. Walsh knew Murray for over 14 years, were close friends.

[@ianfrancis777]

Lately, I'm feeling just the opposite living in the snowbelt of the Midwest in Gogebic County Michigan.

[@CaptLance]

I love it !

[@davidnoble8020]

This song was in Laurel and Hardy feature length pardon me.

[@timothycrawford3476]

I’ve got know, I’m this old quote. I’m just a guy from Michigan that misses my home state.

[@CatsPjamas1]

I didn't realize that those were the same guys in "Way Out West"!

[@unclejosh4935]

The group on this recording was different than that seen and heard on Hal Roach's "Pardon Us" and years later on "Way out west. This Edison pick-up group consisted of the great Billy Murray, tenor soloist with a group of Edison artists: John Young, Royal Fish, Steve Porter, baritone, and William F. Hooley - legendary pioneer bass. Oh - one of the prisoners in "Pardon us" was not really a singer - - he was - in real life - Hal Roach's chauffeur 9he appears in several Roach films..

[@CatsPjamas1]

@vrobbie53 You're welcome, thanks for commenting!

[@brucer9572]

Wax cylinders. Before wax platters. My goodness gracious!

[@Jasmine.creatiive]

almost 100 years old!

[@RWBHere]

Congratulations! 😉

[@barbaracovell]

fabolous xxmany hugs

[@CatsPjamas1]

@CatsPjamas1 Sorry, I didn't mean to put a question mark after comments, haha!

[@anonimousehistoria]

Heard in Bowling for Columbine

[@polle9859]

got it first from the prison scene in stan laurel and oliver hardy but also recognized in bowling for columbine recently. Best movie, so true!

[@rybenuchiha5692]

Same

[@elmeromero3184]

Same asF viva 🇲🇽

[@lucepulp]

that’s what sent me here

[@TheSilentPawn]

" You're a tofu farmer ".

[@CatsPjamas1]

@robholt77 That's right, was it "Pardon Us"?

[@noname-by3qz]

Too cute

[@leemclaury6251]

Michigan rocks

[@robholt77]

A different version of this was on a Laurel and Hardy film

[@borgward9569]

"Pardon Us" 1931

[@shubhamshegokar768]

Anyone here after watching Laurel and hardy (paradon us).....

[@RWBHere]

Does anyone know who was singing with Billy Murray on this record, please?

[@Voucher765]

This song was featured in the Michael Moore documentary Bowling For Columbine where he was interviewing members of the Michigan militia a paramilitary group which had members carry out terrorist acts like the Oklahoma city bombing

[@SeanP7195]

They've never committed a single terrorist act or crime for that matter. But thats why you're probably watching Michael Moore movies.

[@jgunn03]

I'm currently looking at the sheet music as shown in the photo (I got this from a IRL Auction lot). Is that blackface on the frontpiece?

[@davidbaker1363]

Needs more cowbell! (about 1:25)

[@thequadzillaking]

Drew & Mike.

[@Anonymous-iv7zk]

Algonac Michigan!

[@katelynbaskin9229]

Is this recording in the public domain?

[@fizpop01]

It is!

[@RWBHere]

It dates from pre-1926, so yes, it is.

[@elmeromero3184]

Michael Moore brought me here

[@lovethyself744]

Bowling for Columbine

[@bedrosnersesyan6975]

Michigan sux but this is cute...

[@alexandrakaidan1931]

fake.