The show was the first stage musical that Berlin wrote. It ran for 175 performances at theNew Amsterdam Theater inNew York City. The one song from the show that is well-remembered today is "Play a Simple Melody," one of the few true examples ofcounterpoint in American popular music — a melody running against a second melody, each with independent lyrics. In the printed music, first the "simple melody" plays alone. Then comes the contrasting melody. Finally, the two play together.[1]The lyrics of "Play a Simple Melody" also track the counterpoint duet in that one singer yearns for the music which mother sang (the style of a bygone generation), but the other singer disdains such classic fare as lacking interest and rhythm. When "Play a Simple Melody" was published,ragtime was in its heyday, led by its most consummate composer,Scott Joplin. In a famous 1916 recording of the song,[2] whileElsie Baker (using her stage name "Edna Brown") wants what she considers simplicity,Billy Murray explicitly asks for "rag". The song was also recorded by Walter Van Brunt and Mary Carson in 1915.[3]
A duet byBing andGary Crosby withMatty Matlock's All Stars (listed on the label as "Gary Crosby and Friend with Matty Matlock's All Stars") was recorded on June 23, 1950,[4] and became a hit recording in1950 reaching the No. 2 position in theBillboard charts.[5] It was released byDecca Records as catalog number 27112 with the flip side "Sam's Song."[6] Other charted versions in 1950 were byJo Stafford (#18),Georgia Gibbs withBob Crosby (#25) andPhil Harris (#30).[5]
