Bennett Scott (1875–1930)

London-born Bennett Scott, of Jewish origin like so many of the creators of popular music in America, is another of the now sadly forgotten songwriting genuises of the Music Hall. With A.J. Mills and frequently with Fred Godfrey as well, he was a member of one of the most prolific and successful Music Hall songwriting teams. Among his hits were Tom Costello’s I’ve Made Up My Mind To Sail Away (1903); Happy Fanny Fields’ By The Side Of the Zuider Zee (with A.J. Mills, 1906); Whit Cunliffe’s Fall In And Follow Me (with A.J. Mills, 1910); Mark Sheridan’s One Of The B’hoys (1910); and Marie Lloyd’s When I Take My Morning Promenade (with A.J. Mills, 1912). In 1906, he and Mills founded the music publishing firm of Star Music (later absorbed by B. Feldman & Co.). His younger brother Maurice Scott also became a songwriter and collaborated with Godfrey on a number of compositions. Both Scott brothers died young, in their fifties; Bennett is buried in Plashet Jewish Cemetery, East Ham, London.

For the many songs Bennett Scott wrote with Mills and Godfrey, mostly during the period 1914–19, see the entry under A.J. Mills. Listed here are other songs he and Godfrey wrote without Mills, mostly after Mills’s death in 1919:

1914:
You’ve Got Me And I’ve Got You

1915:
You Were The First One To Teach Me To Love (with Ronald F. Wakley)

1920:
I’d Like To Be On The Farm (If The Darn Thing Were Only Somewhere In Town); It Seems To Me; The Last Man; G.H. Elliott’s Mammy’s Mississippi Home; Mendelssohn Mad; My Little Girl And Me; Open Your Heart And Let The Sunshine In, which Peter Dawson (under the name “Will Strong”), among others, recorded; Poor Old Father; The Rose Of Alabam; Stop It, John; There Are Smiles Behind The Tears; There’s A Big Tear On My Heart; ’ Twas An Old Fashioned Love Song; You Can’t Fool Around With The Women; You Would, You Know You Would; Your Wonderful Eyes; You’ve Got To Show Me

1922:
Charles (Cha-Cha-Cha-Charles)

1926:
I Can’t Come Tomorrow Night; I’m Gonna Be Married Sunday; Meet Me Again — Just Down The Lane

1928:
What A Wonderful Wedding It [That?] Will Be