Muggsy led several traditional, "hot" jazz bands, most notably Muggsy Spanier and His Ragtime Band (which did not, in fact, play ragtime but, rather, "hot jazz" that would now be called Dixieland). This band set the style for all later attempts to play traditional jazz with a swing rhythm section. Its key members, apart from Muggsy, were: George Brunies - later Brunis - (trombone and vocals), Rodney Cless (clarinet), George Zack or Joe Bushkin (piano), Ray McKinstry, Nick Ciazza or Bernie Billings (tenor sax), and Bob Casey (bass). A number of competent but unmemorable drummers worked in the band.
The Ragtime Band's theme tune was "Relaxin' at the Touro", named for Touro Infirmary, the New Orleans hospital where Muggsy had been treated for a perforated ulcer early in 1938. He had been at the point of death when he was saved by one Dr. Alton Ochsner who drained the fluid and eased Muggsy's weakened breathing.
"Relaxin' At The Touro" is a fairly straightforward 12-bar blues, with a neat piano introduction and coda by Joe Bushkin. The pianist recalled, many years later: "When I finally joined Muggsy in Chicago (having left Bunny Berigan's failing big band) we met to talk it over at the Three Deuces, where Art Tatum was appearing. Muggsy was now playing opposite Fats Waller at the Sherman hotel and we worked out a kind of stage show for the two bands. Muggsy was a man of great integrity. We played a blues in C and I made up a little intro. After that I was listed as the co-composer of "Relaxin' at the Touro" (quoted by Richard B. Hadlock in the notes to the Bluebird CD 'Muggsy Spanier 1939 - The "Ragtime Band" Sessions', 07863 66550).
The (then) young pianist Joe Bushkin was in the Ragtime Band in 1939 and later said of Muggsy: "When he nailed something right, he stayed with it; he wouldn't fix it if it wasn't broke".
In his time, Muggsy made numerous Dixieland recordings that still serve as favorites today. Apart from the famous Ragtime Band, his other most important ventures were the quartet he co-led with Sidney Bechet (the 'Big Four') in 1940 and the traditional band he co-led with pianist Earl Hines at the Club Hangover in San Francisco in the 1950s. During the early 1920s he played with The Bucktown Five in Chicago.
Although Muggsy's real name was Francis Joseph Julian Spanier, he acquired the nickname "Muggsy" either because of his youthful enthusiasm for a baseball hero ("Muggsy" McGraw), or because of his obsession with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. He was known to have shadowed and "mugged" both of them, copying their styles and incorporating them into his own music. He was allowed, on at least one occasion, to sit in with King Oliver's band (with Louis Armstrong on second cornet) at the Lincoln Gardens, Chicago, in the early 1920s.
He ended his days in the 1960s, leading a traditional jazz band that included old friends like Joe Sullivan (piano), Pops Foster (bass) and Darnell Howard (clarinet). He was not a great technician or virtuoso, but he could lead a traditional ensemble with fire and guts.
The Lady's in Love With You
Muggsy Spanier Lyrics
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And when you smiled at me,
In my heart I felt a thrill you see,
That it was love at sight and
I was right to love you as I do.
Still I never dreamed that you could love me too.
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
You're telling ev'ry one I know
I'm on your mind each place we go
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
I have always placed you far above me.
I just can't imagine that you love me.
And after all is said and done,
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
Skies are gray. I'm blue each day
When you are not around.
Ev'ry thing goes wrong, my dear I've found
But when you're by my side I fill with pride
For I'm so proud of you
It all seems too good to me to all be true
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
I never knew what they could do.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
You're telling ev'ry one I know
I'm on your mind each place we go
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
I have always placed you far above me.
I just can't imagine that you love me.
And after all is said and done,
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
The song "The Lady's in Love With You" by Muggsy Spanier is about a man who had a chance encounter with a woman and fell in love with her at first sight. He can't believe his luck that not only he loves her, but she loves him back. The lyrics reveal the man's disbelief and feelings of unworthiness, thinking that the woman is too good for him. However, when she is around, the skies are no longer gray, and everything seems too good to be true.
The song speaks to the universal theme of love and how it can transform an individual's life. The man's world is brighter and more meaningful because of his love for the woman, and the fact that she reciprocates his feelings makes it even more magical. The lyrics are simple, yet powerful, and convey the emotions that come with falling in love unexpectedly. The singer's voice, combined with the upbeat tempo of the music, creates a feeling of joy and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday you came my way,
When I saw you yesterday, I was filled with joy.
And when you smiled at me,
Your smile made me feel alive.
In my heart I felt a thrill you see,
My heart raced, knowing that I am in love with you.
That it was love at sight and
I knew I was meant to be with you from the very first moment.
I was right to love you as I do.
I have no doubt that I am right to love you as much as I do.
Still I never dreamed that you could love me too.
Even though I love you so much, I never thought you would return the feeling.
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
Your beautiful blue eyes and tender kisses are more wonderful than I ever imagined.
I never knew what they could do.
Your eyes and kisses have the power to make me feel so alive and loved.
You're telling ev'ry one I know
You can't stop talking about me to everyone you meet.
I'm on your mind each place we go
I'm always on your mind, no matter where we are.
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
Everyone is amazed that you are in love with me.
I have always placed you far above me.
I have always thought you were better than me in every way.
I just can't imagine that you love me.
It's hard to believe that the person I admire and adore so much could love me in return.
And after all is said and done,
Even though we have been together for a while now, it's still hard to believe that we are in love.
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I feel incredibly lucky to have you in my life and to be in love with you.
Skies are gray. I'm blue each day
The world feels bleak and colorless when you're not around.
When you are not around.
I miss you terribly when you're not with me.
Ev'ry thing goes wrong, my dear I've found
When you're not here, everything seems to go wrong.
But when you're by my side I fill with pride
When you're with me, I feel proud to be your partner.
For I'm so proud of you
I am incredibly proud of everything you do.
It all seems too good to me to all be true
Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am to be in love with you.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
It still feels like a dream that you love me in return.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CLARENCE GASKILL, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind