AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

Created on 04/05/2007
Latest update on 23/02/2024

Artist: Paul Bass & Margaret Simms
Author: Andy Razaf/Thomas Waller/Harry Brooks
Year: 1929

In all-black revue Connie's Hot Chocolates, first staged at George & Connie Immerman's Connie's Club. The production soon moved to the bigger Windsor Theatre in the Bronx (where Paul was replaced by Cab Calloway), later to Broadway's Hudson Theatre, where Louis Armstrong was added to the pit orchestra. Soon Armstrong played and sang Ain't Misbehavin' mid-stage in a white tuxedo.

Covers:

1929:

Charleston Chasers [vocal by Eva Taylor, oldest recording (Columbia), only a week after the opening]

1929:

Abe Lyman & His Californians [for Brunswick; on the same day as the Charleston Chasers]

1929:

Louis Armstrong [in '44 also in film Atlantic City; see note]

1929:

Fats Waller [author as instrumental; sold his publishing in need for quick alimony cash; in '43 also in film Stormy Weather]

1929:

Bill Robinson [alias Bojangles, the biggest tapdancer ever]

1929:

Leo Reisman

1929:

Ruth Etting

1929:

Gene Austin

1936:

Nat Gonella

1937:

Django Reinhardt

1937:

Woody Herman

1937:

Teddy Wilson

1939:

Mills Brothers

1940:

Sidney Bechet

1941:

Cootie Williams

1945:

Anita O'Day [with Nat King Cole's Trio]

1948:

Dinah Washington [hit R&B]

1950:

Sarah Vaughan [with Miles Davis]

1955:

Billie Holiday

1956:

Johnnie Ray

1956:

Ray Charles

1957:

Nat King Cole

1957:

Bill Haley & The Comets

1958:

Sam Cooke

1964:

Bobby Charles

1968:

Connie Francis

1974:

Burt Reynolds [in film Lucky Lady]

1975:

Leon Redbone [with Joe Venuti]

1982:

Carmen McRae

1984:

Elkie Brooks

1986:

Hank Williams Jr. [n°1 C&W]

1991:

Pasadena Roof Orch.

2009:

Willie Nelson

2020:

Loudon Wainwright III

2024:

Rod Stewart with Jools Holland

Andy Razaf also cowrote Honeysuckle Rose with Fats Waller (for revue Land Of Coal, Connie's Hot Chocolates' follow-up). He also wrote the lyrics for In The Mood and Stompin' At The Savoy.

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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