In the mid-1940s, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan, and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.
In 1953, Larry met Charles Albertine and recorded two of his experimental compositions, "Impressions of Outer Space" and "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas". Released on 10" vinyl, these recordings became collector's items for fans of avant-garde jazz, but they were not commercially successful at the time. Larry and Albertine put together a more traditional ensemble and began recording them using precise microphone placements, producing what came to be known as the "Elgart sound". This proved to be very commercially successful, and Larry enjoyed a run of successful albums and singles in the 1950s.
In 1954, the Elgarts left their permanent mark on music history in recording Albertine's "Bandstand Boogie," for the legendary television show originally hosted by Bob Horn, and two years later, Dick Clark. Clark took the show national, to ABC-TV, in 1956 and remained host for another 32 years. Variations to the original surfaced as the show's theme in later years. Les and Larry reunited in 1963, but it would not last long; soon after, Les retired from performing altogether, while Larry continued to perform and record regularly for decades.
Larry's biggest exposure came in 1982, with the smash success of a recording called "Hooked on Swing". The instrumental was a medley of swing jazz hits - "In the Mood", "Cherokee", "American Patrol", "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Don't Be That Way", "Little Brown Jug", "Opus #1", "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart", and "String of Pearls" - that became so popular it even cracked the US Billboard Pop Singles chart (at #31) and Adult Contemporary chart (#20). Billed as "Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra", the LP from which the tune was taken hit #24 on the US charts. The follow-up, Hooked on Swing 2, debuted at #89 on the album charts, and soon after Larry was back to the jazz touring circuit. He continued to tour internationally and record into the 2000s.
One Man On The Tubs
Les and Larry Elgart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avez-vous une demi-heure de lousse
À passer avec Xavier Tremblay
Il joue des tounes qu'il a composées
Mais comme personne veut l'accompagner
Y'a fait le Tremblay One-Man Band
The lyrics to Les and Larry Elgart's song "One Man On The Tubs" are in French and translate to English as follows:
"Hello everyone, hello all
Do you have half an hour to spare
To spend with Xavier Tremblay
He plays tunes that he has composed
But since nobody wants to accompany him
He became the Tremblay One-Man Band"
The lyrics describe a musician named Xavier Tremblay who has had to become a one-man band because nobody wants to play music with him. He still manages to play his own compositions and invites listeners to spend time with him and listen to his music. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the importance of perseverance and pursuing one's passions despite setbacks and challenges.
Overall, "One Man On The Tubs" is a fun and lighthearted tune that showcases the skills of Les and Larry Elgart as big band leaders. It was released in 1966 and is relatively obscure compared to other songs of the era, but remains a charming reflection of the music of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Bonjour à toutes, Bonjour à tous
Greetings and salutations to all, regardless of gender or number
Avez-vous une demi-heure de lousse
Do you have half an hour of free time
À passer avec Xavier Tremblay
To spend with Xavier Tremblay
Il joue des tounes qu'il a composées
He plays tunes that he composed
Mais comme personne veut l'accompagner
But since nobody wants to accompany him
Y'a fait le Tremblay One-Man Band
He created the Tremblay One-Man Band
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Xavier Tremblay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind