The Sound of Vaudeville, Vol. 1
Eddie Morton

Eddie Morton: The Sound of Vaudeville, Vol. 1

28 songs from 1907-1910, recorded in Camden and New York, with a lavish 28-page booklet containing newly discovered biographical data and rare graphics. Includes all the early rare Victors and Columbias, as well as the Edison 4-minute cylinder of "A Singer Sang a Song," and the Indestructible cylinder of "In the Right Church, but in the Wrong Pew." The former "Singing Cop" from Philadelphia, Eddie Morton was a top stage performer for more than 20 years. List price: $16.49

OVERVIEW

  • Catalogue number: ARCH 5006
  • UPC: 777215104648
  • Original release date: October 4, 2003
  • Running length: 78:57 / 28 tracks
  • Notes & packaging: Includes a 28-page booklet
  • Tracks recorded: 1907-1910
  • Contains racially derogatory language
  • In Archeophone’s Pioneers series
Tracks and Sound SamplesProduct DescriptionPackage DealsMore by this Artist
 Sample all tracks 
Tracklist
1. That’s Gratitude Eddie Morton 1907
2. Just a Friend of the Family Eddie Morton 1907
3. Mariuch Dance da Hootch-a-Ma-Kootch Eddie Morton 1907
4. The Peach that Tastes the Sweetest Hangs the Highest on the Tree Eddie Morton 1908
5. The Right Church but the Wrong Pew Eddie Morton 1908
6. The Party that Wrote “Home, Sweet Home” Never Was a Married Man Eddie Morton 1908
7. Don’t Take Me Home Eddie Morton 1908
8. Somebody Lied Eddie Morton 1908
9. Music Makes Me Sentimental Eddie Morton 1908
10. In the Right Church but in the Wrong Pew Eddie Morton 1908
11. A Singer Sang a Song Eddie Morton 1908
12. I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew Eddie Morton 1909
13. In Ireland Eddie Morton 1909
14. I’d Rather Be a Minstrel Man than a Multimillionaire Eddie Morton 1909
15. That’s the Doctor, Bill Eddie Morton 1909
16. Please Don’t Tell My Wife Eddie Morton 1909
17. Wild Cherry Rag Eddie Morton 1909
18. Then We’ll All Go Home Eddie Morton 1909
19. Don’t Take Me Home Eddie Morton 1909
20. You Ain’t Talking to Me Eddie Morton 1909
21. If He Comes In, I’m Going Out Eddie Morton 1910
22. I Won’t Be Back Till August Eddie Morton 1910
23. Wild Cherries Rag Eddie Morton 1910
24. Let George Do It Eddie Morton 1910
25. Oh, You Dream Eddie Morton 1910
26. That’s the Fellow I Want to Get Eddie Morton 1910
27. Don’t Make Me Laugh, Bill Eddie Morton 1910
28. If I Could See as Far Ahead as I Can See Behind Eddie Morton 1910

One of the most extraordinary performers of the early recording industry, Eddie Morton was a top vaudeville draw for 20 years. Morton could really deliver a song, make it his own, and give it over to an audience. He had good humor, a real warmth, impeccable timing, and he could “put over” a song on the money notes, always ending with a very strong finish. Eddie is so personable in his delivery, you may feel like you know him. If you want to know what vaudeville sounded like, Eddie Morton is the real deal!

“The Singing Cop”

From about 1898 until about 1905 or 1906, Eddie Morton worked for the Philadelphia Police Department, where he gained a reputation as a singer. He took a chance on variety and made his mark on the Madison Square Garden rooftop in the summer of 1907 as a cast member of The Maid and the Millionaire. He immediately got a recording contract. Unlike many of his contemporaries who made only a handful of records or none at all, Eddie graced the world with more than 50 recordings, and here is the first of an eventual two-volume set covering his career. His first stage hits, “That’s Gratitude” and “Just a Friend of the Family” (the latter a hit for Williams and Walker), are both here. So too is a very funny number that incorporates some stage talk into the verses, “The Party that Wrote ‘Home, Sweet Home’ Never Was a Married Man.” We’ve put the entire song for you to hear, and we’re sure you’ll want to hear more!

Imitator of Bert Williams

Morton’s early specialty was “coon” songs. He sang songs popularized by Bert Williams, many of which were recorded by Arthur Collins, such as “Somebody Lied” and “The Right Church but the Wrong Pew.” Like Williams and Collins, Morton was a baritone, and lucky for us today, recording company brass at the time didn’t want overlap between Morton and the other two, so he didn’t record his stage hits such as “Moving Day” and “The Preacher and the Bear”—those were left to Collins. Eddie instead recorded the big-show-finisher “I’d Rather Be a Minstrel Man than a Multi-Millionaire” and “Music Makes Me Sentimental.” If you like Bert Williams, you will definitely enjoy this CD, but where Bert talks his way into your heart, Eddie sings his way there.

Comical Songs

Often the humor of 100 years ago doesn’t seem so funny nowadays. Not so with this collection. “That’s the Fellow I Want to Get,” “A Singer Sang a Song,” “Let George Do It” (based on the comic strip by George McManus), and “I Won’t Be Back Till August” will genuinely have you laughing. And, if a little ethnic humor is your thing, “In Ireland” and “Mariuch” will fill the bill. Drinking songs? “Then We’ll All Go Home” will do the trick. There’s a little of everything here. One of the most pleasing songs of all is “Oh, You Dream,” the Jerome and Schwartz composition that tenderly and favorably compares the singer’s beloved to all the top stars of the variety stage. It’s a poignant “who’s who” of a love song.

Like an Afternoon at the Show

Terrific singing, funny songs, a clear delivery, and a personal, accessible style make Eddie Morton the true “sound of vaudeville.” It’s like taking an afternoon to go to the matinee. This CD packs in 28 songs, nearly 79 minutes in all, and a 28-page booklet full of rare sheet music, pictures, advertisements, and previously unpublished, newly discovered facts about Eddie’s early life. And the sound of the records is unparalleled in our catalogue. All the tracks are from 1907-1910, and they never sounded better!

This release is included in the following packages.

All Things Archeophone

Save 20% on our entire catalogue

Share via
Send this to a friend