Artist: Edward Furman & William Nash
Author: Frank Silver/Irving Cohn
Label: Columbia
Year: 1923
Title inspired by the yell of a Long Island fruit salesman from Greece. Introduced by both authors (as Frank Silver's Music Masters) in a Long Island roadhouse, later in Murray's Restaurant in New York. Popularized by Eddie Cantor in revue Make It Snappy, though never recorded by him.
Covers:
Billy Jones [n°1 US]
Ben Selvin [n°1 US]
Eddie Cantor [sequel as I've Got The Yes We Have No Bananas Blues]
Wilfried Krüger und sein Orchester [as Ausgerechnet Bananen; vocal: Willi Rose]
Willy Derby [as Vandaag Geen Bananen]
Joao De Barro [proud Brazilian answer song as Yes, Noi Tennos Bananas]
Pied Pipers [in film Luxury Liner]
Caetano Veloso [as Yes, Noi Tennos Bananas]
Boswachters [as Het Bananenlied]
In his A History Of Popular Music In America, Sigmund Spaeth notified a striking similarity between the melodies of Händel's Hallelujah Chorus and My Bonnie Is Over The Ocean. Try for yourself: Hallelujah bananas, oh bring back my Bonnie to me. No wonder Spike Jones cut a version. Kevin Ayers bantered it in his '76 LP title Yes We Have No Mañanas, So Get Your Mañanas Today. Bananas keep popping up like a constant fixation throughout Kevin's work: in Puis-je? ("Vive la banane"), his Bananamour LP (with banana chess foto on the inner sleeve), Guru Banana on his Sweet Deceiver album, the banana refrain in Mr. Cool and his own production company Banana Productions.
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)