Collected Letters of the Widow Flannigan

I feel

too bad

I’m feelin’ mighty sick and sore

Lee Morse - Moanin’ Low(1929)

Ruth Etting - “Just a Little Closer”(1930)

Vanita Smythe - Back Door Man
(1946)

Dayumn, gurl.

Masculine Women, Feminine Men - The Savoy Havana Band (1926)

The Ingenues— an all-girl Jazz orchestra from the 1920s.

I love their style, their swag, their accordion/banjo proficiency, and the one bomb ass tuba player. Oompa-pa, gurl.

Fats Waller, “You’re Not the Only Oyster in the Stew”(1934)

You’re not the only oyster in the stew

Not the only tea leaf in the tea

However, I’m convinced

Completely, fully, firmly convinced

You’re the only one for me

You’re not the only wrinkle in the prune

You’re not the only apple on the tree

Still in all the facts

Perfectly logical, positive facts

You’re the only one for me

So well supplied

The very things I see (Oh mercy, baby)

Your smile is refreshing

Kisses so unique

When I’m ‘round I’m susceptible and weak

I loves ya, I loves ya - so to speak

There’s 7 million people in New York

50 million Frenchmen in Par-ee

Not to mention such

as English, Irish, Italians and Dutch

But you’re the only one for me…

Red Nichols and his Orchestra - “Everybody Loves My Baby” (1935)

Abbey Lincoln

Jazz Singer Abbey Lincoln

Sarah Vaughan - I Cried For You (live, 1950)

I found two eyes a little bit bluer

I found two arms a little bit truer