From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1942 song
"Strip Polka" is a 1942
novelty song with music and lyrics by
Johnny Mercer .
[1] The music incorporates a
polka beat; the lyrics are about Queenie, a
burlesque performer who longs to quit her job and retire to life on a farm.
[2]
[3]
Its use in the film
Navy Blues (1941) was prevented as a result of
Joseph Breen 's memo to
Jack Warner regarding the low moral tone of the lyrics.
[4]
[5]
[6]
The first recording of "Strip Polka", which featured the vocals of Mercer,
Phil Silvers , and
Margaret Whiting , with piano by
Jimmy Van Heusen , and an arrangement by
Paul Weston , was a significant early hit (charting at #7) for
Capitol Records , selling more than a million copies.
[7]
[8]
[9]
[4]
The recording by
The Andrews Sisters came in at #2 on
Variety 's list of bestselling songs despite censors only allowing the song to play on the radio for nine or ten weeks.
[3] A version by
Alvino Rey was popular.
[10]
The song was popular with U.S. troops during
World War II .
[11]
Recordings
In other media
References
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1971).
Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series .
^ Furia, Philip; Patterson, Laurie J. (2022).
The Poets of Tin Pan Alley . Oxford University Press.
ISBN
978-0-19-090646-7 .
^
a
b Shteir, Rachel (2004).
Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show . Oxford University Press.
ISBN
978-0-19-530076-5 .
^
a
b
c Eskew, Glenn T. (2013-11-15).
Johnny Mercer: Southern Songwriter for the World . University of Georgia Press.
ISBN
978-0-8203-3330-4 .
^ Zimmers, Tighe E. (2021-05-07).
That's Entertainment: A Biography of Broadway Composer Arthur Schwartz . McFarland.
ISBN
978-1-4766-7881-8 .
^
a
b
c
d Mercer, Johnny; Kimball, Robert; Day, Barry; Kreuger, Miles; Davis, Eric (2009-10-20).
The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
ISBN
978-0-307-26519-7 .
^ Lees, Gene (2009-08-19).
Portrait of Johnny: The Life of John Herndon Mercer . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
ISBN
978-0-307-48969-2 .
^ Weston, Paul; Stafford, Jo.
Song of the Open Road: An Autobiography and Other Writings . BearManor Media.
^ Gavin, James (2015-10-06).
Is That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee . Simon and Schuster.
ISBN
978-1-4516-4179-0 .
^ Johnson, Vincent (1942-10-28).
"Peel Wheel Not for Turntable in Case of Airing Strip Polka" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 28. Retrieved 2023-01-31 .
^
"Survey Shows Troops Aren't Singing Much" . The Daily Tribune . 1943-12-28. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-01-31 .
^ Furia, Philip (2004-12-09).
Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer . St. Martin's Publishing Group.
ISBN
978-1-4668-1923-8 .
^ Orodenker, M.H. (5 September 1942).
"On the Records" .
The Billboard . p. 20. Retrieved 30 January 2023 .
^ Nimmo, H. Arlo (2007-04-17).
The Andrews Sisters: A Biography and Career Record . McFarland.
ISBN
978-0-7864-3260-8 .
^
"National and Regional Best Selling Retail Records" .
The Billboard . 26 September 1942.
^
"David Janssen Dean's Guest" . The Shreveport Journal . 1969-09-19. p. 38. Retrieved 2023-01-31 .
^ Cassavetes, John (1970).
Faces . New American Library.
Singles Albums Related topics
LaVerne Andrews
Maxene Andrews
Patty Andrews
Singles
"
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön "
"
Nice Work If You Can Get It "
"
Shortenin' Bread "
"
Oh! Ma-Ma! "
"
Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel) "
"
Ciribiribin (They're So In Love) "
"
Say Si Si (Para Vigo Me Voy) "
"
The Woodpecker Song "
"
Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar "
"
Scrub Me, Mama, With a Boogie Beat "
"
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy "
"
I Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much) "
"
(I'll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time "
"
Sonny Boy "
"
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree "
"
Strip Polka "
"
Mister Five By Five "
"
Pistol Packin' Mama "
"
Jingle Bells "
"
Shoo-Shoo Baby "
"
Down In the Valley "
"
Straighten Up and Fly Right "
"
Tico Tico "
"
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby "
"
A Hot Time In the Town of Berlin "
"
Don't Fence Me In "
"
Rum and Coca-Cola "
"
Accentuate the Positive "
"
The Three Caballeros "
"
Along the Navajo Trail "
"
(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 "
"
I Don't Know Why "
"
House of Blue Lights "
"
Rumors Are Flying "
"
Winter Wonderland "
"
There's No Business Like Show Business "
"
Near You "
"
Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) "
"
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town "
"
Sabre Dance "
"
Underneath the Arches "
"
You Call Everybody Darling "
"
Don't Rob Another Man's Castle "
"
I Can Dream, Can't I? "
"
Charley, My Boy "
"
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You "
"
The Wedding Samba "
"
I Wanna Be Loved "
"
A Bushel and a Peck "
"
Mele Kalikimaka "
"
Sparrow in the Tree Top "
"
I Love You Much Too Much "