I'm looking for the sheet music for a 1930 tune called "Joe Jazz," written by Richard Whiting. It was used in the 1930 Pre-Code movie musical "Let's Go Native" with Jeannette MacDonald, and was sung by Jack Oakie. You can see/hear the number on YouTube:
It's a highly syncopated tune, with a very interesting orchestration.
All my usual sources (eBay, university sheet music collections, Google, Amazon, etc.) have turned up dry. Apparently a good number of the songs from this film musical were issued individually as sheet music by Famous Music, Inc., the music publishing arm of Paramount Pictures. And there may also have been a folio that included most of the tunes, including "Joe Jazz," but that hasn't turned up yet either.
If anyone has the sheet music for this tune, or knows of any other possible avenues to explore, I'd appreciate it. SETH
Sheet music for "Joe Jazz" (1930)
Sheet music for "Joe Jazz" (1930)
Last edited by silentfilm on Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Embedded Youtube link
Reason: Embedded Youtube link
Please don't call the occasional theatrical release of an old movie a "reissue." We do not say "The next time you go to the Louvre, you will see a re-issue of the Mona Lisa.” -- Cecil B. DeMille
Re: Sheet music for "Joe Jazz" (1930)
Looking at Google Images, there appears to be sheet music for nearly every song from Let's Go Native *except* Joe Jazz, although it is listed on the front page with the rest of the song titles, which would seem to indicate that it was available like the rest of them.
There are a number of pre-code film groups on Facebook, have you tried inquiring there? There must be a Jeanette MacDonald fan out there somewhere with a copy.
There are a number of pre-code film groups on Facebook, have you tried inquiring there? There must be a Jeanette MacDonald fan out there somewhere with a copy.
Twinkletoes wrote:Oh, ya big blister!
Re: Sheet music for "Joe Jazz" (1930)
Yep, there was one image of a front cover that did not have the name of an individual song across the top, but did have all of the songs listed along the lower left edge. That led me to believe that it was a folio, with ALL of the listed tunes included, including "Joe Jazz." However, nothing like that has turned up as of yet.
And apparently "Joe Jazz" was copyrighted by Famous Music along with the rest of the movie's score, so presumably one or two copies are buried somewhere in the Library of Congress. But even if they are there, they wouldn't be available to review or copy for about another 4-5 years under current copyright law. So I'll keep digging; somebody must have bought a copy of the darn thing when it was first issued! Thanks for the suggestion; the search continues! SETH
And apparently "Joe Jazz" was copyrighted by Famous Music along with the rest of the movie's score, so presumably one or two copies are buried somewhere in the Library of Congress. But even if they are there, they wouldn't be available to review or copy for about another 4-5 years under current copyright law. So I'll keep digging; somebody must have bought a copy of the darn thing when it was first issued! Thanks for the suggestion; the search continues! SETH
Please don't call the occasional theatrical release of an old movie a "reissue." We do not say "The next time you go to the Louvre, you will see a re-issue of the Mona Lisa.” -- Cecil B. DeMille