Just a Gigolo (song)
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"Just a Gigolo" is a popular song, adapted by Irving Caesar in 1929 from the Austrian song "Schöner Gigolo", written in 1928 by Leonello Casucci (music) and Julius Brammer (lyrics).
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[edit] History
The original version is a poetic vision of the social collapse lived in Austria after World War I, represented by the figure of a former hussar who remembers himself parading in his uniform, while now he has to get by as a lonely, hired dancer. The music features a simple melodic sequence, but nonetheless has a clever harmonic construction that highlights the mixed emotions in the lyrics, adding a nostalgic, bittersweet effect.
The success of the song prompted a Tin Pan Alley publisher to buy the rights and order an English version to Irving Caesar, a very popular lyricist of the time. Caesar eliminated the specific Austrian references and, in the often-omitted verse, set the action in a Paris cafe, where a local character tells his sad story. Thus, the lyrics retained their sentimental side but lost their historic value.
"Just a Gigolo" appeared in a 1931 film, a 1932 Betty Boop cartoon and a 1993 TV-series, all titled after the song. The film Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo, directed by David Hemmings in 1979, was titled after the first verse of the original lyrics, but the "Just a Gigolo" title was used for US distribution. In this film, the song was performed by Marlene Dietrich, in her last film appearance.
[edit] Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
"Just a Gigolo" is best known for the 1956 Louis Prima version, where it is paired in a medley with another old standard, "I Ain't Got Nobody" (words by Roger Graham and music by Spencer Williams, 1915). Although these two songs have nothing else in common, due to the popularity of Prima's combination they are sometimes mistaken as parts of the same song.
During his Las Vegas tenure, Louis Prima used to revisit his old hits in his new, jive-and-jumping style, often presenting them in medleys. The success of his act gained him a recording deal with Capitol, which aimed to capture on record the atmospfere of his shows. The first album, titled "The Wildest" and released in January 1957, opened with "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody", which then became his signature number and helped relaunching his career.
[edit] Recording
The recording session took place in April 1956 at Capitol Tower Studios, Los Angeles, and was produced by Voyle Gilmore. Prima was backed by his Las Vegas group, Sam Butera & the Witnesses, in its original line-up: Sam Butera (tenor sax), James "Red" Blount (trombone), William "Willie" McCumber (piano), Jack Marshall (guitar), Amado Rodriques (bass) and Robert "Bobby" Morris (drums). Keely Smith, who was Prima's wife and an important part of his act, joined the Witnesses for the characteristic backing vocals. Prima sang the lead but didn't play the trumpet on this track.
[edit] Other versions
In 1978, the Village People recorded a cover of Prima's version, and it was made even more popular when US rock star David Lee Roth recorded a remake in 1985.
Prima's version was also covered by Alex Harvey in 1979 on his "The Mafia Stole my Guitar" album.
The University of Illinois Marching Illini are also well-known for performing the song as part of their post-game show.
[edit] Releases
The following artists have released versions of the song[1]:
- Ted Lewis and His Band (1931)
- Ben Bernie And His Orchestra (1931)
- Bing Crosby (1931)
- Leo Reisman And His Orchestra (1931)
- Jaye P. Morgan (1953)
- Louis Prima (1956)
- Village People (1978)[2]
- Marlene Dietrich title song of film "Just a Gigolo" (1979)
- Dave Lee Roth (1985) (reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100)
- Thelonious Monk
- Tony Martin (1985)
- Leningrad Cowboys (1993)[3]
- Lou Bega (2001)
- Tyler Lewis (2006)
[edit] References
- ^ Just a Gigolo. Song Search. Warner Chappell Music.
- ^ Macho Man.
- ^ Total Balalaika Show.
