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This cheery nonsensical tune, based on Eugenio's "Maxixe" (a French song from 1905), was given American lyrics by Joe Goodwin and E. Ray Goetz in 1914. Arthur Collins recorded it a number of times with Byron Harlan, but on
this recording he sings it with the Peerless Quartet (he was the baritone in that group). This was issued on one of the first "Little Wonder" records in late 1914: five and a half inches in diameter, pressed on one side only,
played for a minute and a half, they were typically sold at dime stores and through the Sears catalog. "Little Wonders" also typically listed the artist anonymously, as this one does, but there's no mistaking the voice and
manner of Arthur Collins (Albert Campbell can also be recognized as the high tenor). The sample you'll hear is actually my second copy - the first one got played a lot, so there was needle wear, but the second one was
almost mint so much less processing was used. What comes through here is a remarkable amount of bass frequencies for an acoustic disc. It's a great treat for the ears. (A history of the "Little Wonder" record company can be found at the
Little Wonder web site, more Little Wonder sides can be heard over at the
Menlo Park Museum site, and more recordings of the Peerless Quartet can be heard at the
UCSB Special Collection.)
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