Down Texas Way

Listen to a recording by Frank Oldfield on a 1921 Canadian release

Fred Godfrey, A.J. Mills & Bennett Scott — London: Star Music; Bert Feldman, 1917; Melbourne: Dinsdales’, 1917; Toronto; New York: Leo Feist, 1921.

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Images courtesy of Gart T. Westerhout, http://osugimusicaltheatre.com

This Australian sheet offers insight into how songs were sold to artists. Underneath the photograph of Ada Reeve, it says, “Miss Reeve writes: ‘...I have gone through your songs but am particularly struck with Down Texas Way and will use it. This song should equal or exceed your Back Home In Tennessee in popularity...’.” Presumably, she is referring to the publisher’s catalogue, rather than to material by a particular writer, since the latter song was a 1915 hit by William Jerome and Walter Donaldson.

In a letter published in the Daily Mirror on 2 April 1941, Fred Godfrey relates that Down Texas Way was first sung by comedian Archie Glen at a concert for servicemen in Dunkirk in 1917, presumably when both he and Godfrey were with the Royal Naval Air Service, and that the song went on to sell half a million copies of sheet music. Certainly, the different versions of the sheet music, the many recordings, and souvenirs such as the song postcards above attest to the song’s popularity.

Recordings

Harry Cove & Will Thompson (Coliseum 1069)

Hays & Croft (Coliseum 1066; Scala 1067)

Robins & White (Scala 1007, 1917)

Savoy Quartet (HMV B-896, 1917)

Slade & Romer (Neptune 222)

The Two Filberts (Jumbo 1540, 1917?)

Courtland & Jeffries (HMV B-870, 1918)

Stanley Kirkby & ? Hudson (The Winner 3188, 1918)

Ernest Pike as “Herbert Payne” (Zonophone 1827, 1918)

Two Stars (Lyceum 02002)

The Two Bostons [Harry Cove & Will Thompson?] (Clarion 192, 1918)

The Unity Quartette (Columbia 2821, 1918)

Jacob’s Trocaderians (Columbia 2849, 1918)

De Busse (Organ-Accordeon Solo) (The Winner 3213, 1918)

Black Diamonds Band, in “Victoryland Selection No. 2” (Zonophone Twin 1835, 1918)

Frank Oldfield (Can. HMV 216268, 1921)

Trevor & Thompson (Regal G-7740, 1922)

Stage Interpolations

By Miss Lily Vine, in Francis Laidler’s pantomime Robin Hood And Babes In The Wood, Prince’s Theatre, Bradford, Yorkshire, 1917-18

By Albert Plunkett, of The Dumbells, in Biff! Bing! Bang! Opened 9 May 1921, Ambassador Theatre, New York; 73 performances.