This is one of the songs my father used to sing to us when we were little. He had quite a repertoire of songs, just right for those awkward moments when you were sure there was a ghost just outside your bedroom window. If you were really in a bad way, he’d sing “You Are My Sunshine.” Not so bad, you’d get “Sweet Violets.”
But I think he sang “The Jones Boy” because he really liked it. I was five years old when the Mills Brothers first sang it on the air; my brother Mark was two, and my sister Alice hadn’t been born yet. Later on in life I remember my father playing the spoons as he sung this.
Anyway, here it is from 1957 on glorious black-and-white TV: the Mills Brothers, and “The Whole Town’s Talking About the Jones Boy.” It was a big hit for them, but I’ll always remember the way my daddy sang it.
I remember this well. I hadn’t thought of it for many years, but now that you bring it up, I do. I always liked the Mills Bros. Never heard your Dad sing it, but he was probably good, too.
He was the best.
I can still play the tune in my head. I thought it came out earlier than 1957. SS
Yes, it came out in 1954. The TV clip was from 1957.
Speaking of B&W TVs, England has more of them in current operation more than anywhere else. And why is that? Because in England it costs you a yearly fee to have television in your house. Color is $195.80 and B&W is $90.80
Better living through socialism!
Wow, the Mills Brothers. What a great act. They sang well and managed to entertain without ever crossing the line into bad taste. There isn’t much music like that being made these days.
I wonder; what sort of music will we have when Christ rules? I think I’ll start a Big Band. 🙂
Somehow I don’t think there’ll be much rap or heavy metal.