"You're a Grand Old Rag"

Discussions on Records, Recording, & Artists
Post Reply
User avatar
TinfoilPhono
Victor IV
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:48 pm
Location: SF Bay Area, Calif.

"You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by TinfoilPhono »

I posted this today on Youtube -- Billy Murray singing the George M. Cohan tune "Grand Old Rag," the original title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9E8vmoXCTs

User avatar
Wolfe
Victor V
Posts: 2755
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:52 pm

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by Wolfe »

Supposedly, Murray's record of this for Victor was the best selling record Victor had in their first decade.

melvind
Victor IV
Posts: 1313
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:23 am

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by melvind »

Great video and what sound from an obviously very clean record and terrific machine. Thanks for posting!

EdiBrunsVic
Victor IV
Posts: 1060
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:12 pm
Location: Cranberry Township, PA

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by EdiBrunsVic »

Interesting! Thank you for sharing it.

Phototone
Victor III
Posts: 548
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:56 pm

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by Phototone »

Isn't the Cohen song "You're A Grand Old Flag", not "Rag"?

52089
Victor VI
Posts: 3745
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:54 pm

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by 52089 »

Phototone wrote:Isn't the Cohen song "You're A Grand Old Flag", not "Rag"?
No, "Rag" was the original title. It was considered controversial to refer to the flag as a rag, even affectionately, so Cohan changed it, even though that meant rhyming "flag" with "flag".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_a_Grand_Old_Flag

edisonplayer
Victor IV
Posts: 1559
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:33 pm

Re: "You're a Grand Old Rag"

Post by edisonplayer »

I read or heard that the DAR objected to Cohan calling the American Flag a "rag",so that's why it was changed to "flag".edisonplayer

Post Reply