“Patty Andrews, the lead singer of the Andrews sisters group was born in Mound, Minnesota on February 16, 1918 in a house that occupied the property where The Gillespie Center stands today.
During the 1920’s Laverne, Maxene and Patty Andrews spent their summers in Mound, living with their parents in a house across the street from the grocery store that was owned by Pete and Ed Sollie, bachelor uncles of the three girls. (Today, Green T Accounting occupies the Sollie grocery store building and The Gillespie Center is on the land where the Andrews Sisters’ house once stood.)” - From a commentary by Tom Rockvam that appeared in The Laker Newspaper during 2005.
They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters. After singing with various dance bands and touring on Vaudeville, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937. Their music entertained Allied troops worldwide during World War II, sold war bonds, appeared in several films (including a few Abbott and Costello features), and performed for soldiers serving overseas. Their first film with Abbott and Costello, the pre-war comedy Buck Privates, introduced their best-known recording, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which would win Best Song at the Academy Awards.
They also recorded many songs with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and other popular artists of the era. Their popularity was such that after the war they discovered that some of their records had actually been smuggled into Germany after the labels had been changed to read "Hitler's Marching Songs."
After a brief hiatus after the war, the sisters regrouped, performing in clubs throughout the United States and Europe. They broke up in 1953, with Patty's choice to go solo. Their last appearance together was in 1962 on The Dean Martin Show. Laverne, who had cancer, retired soon after; she died five years later, in 1967 at the age of 55.
After a long silence, the two surviving sisters had something of a comeback when Bette Midler recorded a cover of their song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Maxene and Patty appeared both together and separately throughout the 1970s, with Maxene releasing a solo album in 1986. Their most notable comeback; however, was in the Sherman Brothers' nostalgic World War II musical: "Over Here!" which premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1974. The musical featured the two then living sisters (Maxene and Patty) and was written with them in mind for the leads. It launched the careers of many, now notable theater and film icons (John Travolta, Marilu Henner, Ann Reinking, et al). Ironically it was the last major hurrah of the sisters and was cut short due to a frivolous lawsuit initiated by Patty's husband to the show's producers.
Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over 60 million records. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
The last of the three sisters Patty Andrews died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California on January 30, 2013, just 17 days before her 95th birthday. The sisters were interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, close to their parents.
The Old Piano Roll Blues
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Old Piano Roll Blues.
We're sittin' at an upright, my sweetie and me,
Pushin' on the pedals makin' sweet harmony.
When we hear rinkety-tink, and we hear Plinkety-plink
We cuddle closer it seems.
And while we kiss kiss, kiss, kiss, away all our cares,
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz.
The Old Piano Roll Blues.
But We, Played the Piano Roll Blues
We sat there and began to play
My sweetie and me
We sat there pushing on the pedals making sweet harmony
But we, cuddle closer it seems
It seems just like a dreamin'
While we kiss, kiss, kiss, our cares all away
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz.
But we, wanna hear it again
Those Piano Roll Blues
I wanna hear it again, I wanna hear it again,
The Old Piano Roll Blues.
The Old Piano Roll Blues.
We sat there and began to play
We're sittin' at an upright, my sweetie and me,
We sat there pushin' on the pedals makin' sweet harmony.
When we hear rinkety-tink, and we hear Plinkety-plink
We cuddle closer it seems.
Cuddle closer it seems
Its like a dreamin while we kiss kiss kiss away all our cares.
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz.
I wanna hear it again, just hear it again
The Old Piano Roll Blues
The Old Piano Roll blues
The Old Piano Roll blues
The Andrews Sisters' song "The Old Piano Roll Blues" is an upbeat and cheerful tune about a couple sitting at an upright piano and enjoying its lively music played on piano rolls. As they hear the rinkety-tink and plinkety-plink sounds, they cuddle closer, enjoying the romantic harmony created by the music. They kiss away all their worries while the player piano plays a razz-a-ma-tazz tune. The singer wants to hear the old piano roll blues again and suggests that it feels like a dreamlike state that brings them together.
The lyrics "The Old Piano Roll Blues" suggest nostalgia for the era of player pianos, which were popular in the early 20th century. The player piano had a mechanism of music rolls where the notes were punched in ahead of time, and the piano would play them back automatically. The piano rolls had special perforations that triggered the mechanisms of the player piano, producing a sound that mimicked the live playing of the piano. The singer suggests the simple pleasures of enjoying the player piano's music, cuddling close to someone, and being carried away by the rhythm.
In summary, "The Old Piano Roll Blues" is a playful and romantic tune that celebrates the joys of music and the magic of being close to someone special. It reminisces about a bygone era when player pianos were common, and people used to enjoy their music in a slower and more relaxed manner.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna hear it again, I wanna hear it again
Expressing the longing and desire to listen to the song once again.
The Old Piano Roll Blues.
Referring to the song which is a 1921 jazz classic by Cy Coben.
We're sittin' at an upright, my sweetie and me,
Both the singer and their partner are seated at an upright (a type of piano) together.
Pushin' on the pedals makin' sweet harmony.
Playing the piano by pressing down and releasing the pedals to create the harmonious sound.
When we hear rinkety-tink, and we hear Plinkety-plink
Describing the sound produced by the piano when the keys are played.
We cuddle closer it seems.
As the music plays, the couple draws closer to each other for comfort and intimacy.
And while we kiss kiss, kiss, kiss, away all our cares,
The music holds a special significance to the couple as they find solace in each other's company, away from all their worries.
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz.
A style of piano playing which involves lively, upbeat and syncopated rhythms.
But we, wanna hear it again
Expressing the desire to relive the moment when they played the song together and enjoyed each other's company.
Those Piano Roll Blues
Referring to the same classic jazz song which holds a special meaning for the couple.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CY COBEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wolfhoundersful
I wanna hear it again [2x]
The old piano roll blues
We're sittin' at an upright, my sweetie and me
Pushin' on the pedals makin' sweet harmony
When we hear rinkety-tink, and we hear Plinkety-plink
We cuddle closer it seems
And while we kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, away all our cares
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz
I wanna hear it again [2x]
The old piano roll blues
But we played the piano roll blues
We sat there and began to play
My sweetie and me
We sat there pushing on the pedals making sweet harmony
But we cuddle closer it seems
It seems just like a dreamin'
While we kiss, kiss, kiss, our cares all away
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz
But we wanna hear it again
Those piano roll blues
I wanna hear it again [2x]
The old piano roll blues [2x]
We sat there and began to play
We're sittin' at an upright, my sweetie and me
We sat there pushin' on the pedals makin' sweet harmony
When we hear rinkety-tink, and we hear plinkety-plink
We cuddle closer it seems
Cuddle closer it seems
Its like a dreamin
While we kiss kiss kiss away all our cares
The player piano's playing razz-a-ma-tazz
I wanna hear it again, just hear it again
The old piano roll blues [3x]
@rubyann179
They are not forgotten- March 15-2022. Still a treat to hear their voices.
@laurapollock778
Their voices blend so well together and their artistry is top notch. And it's a very catchy tune! :)
@shirl1pete2
I idolised Jolson and this tune was on the radio constantly during the post-war years. My Dad was a pub pianist and it was a favourite of his.
Brings back many memories of happy times and my much loved parents.
Thanks for posting it.
@josemariacagliolo5655
brillante e inolvidable Al Jolson.Lo he seguido desde la niñez,con su estilo único de canto.Bien merecido el mote de " Cantor del Jazz".He llegado a hacer la mímica de algunas canciones suyas : Swanee, Good Bye Tootsie,etc,pintado de Minstrel y filmado.Gracias por alegrar mi vida Al!
@hildabusciglio
que maravilla esta cancion de al jolson soy una admiradora desde que tenia 12 años , ahora tengo 81 pero sigo escuchandolo, me trae mucha nostalgia escucharlo
@jamesodonnell6399
Jolson way ahead of his time what a talent ,any likewise talent came from him for instance Bobby Darin what can you say this is brilliant
@maureen1938
I LOVE this superb share. A Jolson was a wonderful entertainer and the Andrew Sisters were GREAT....Thanks for posting this on here !
@geraldnedarc1488
Pure Heaven... My favorite Jolson song...Simple but great. We used to have an 'upright' in the study room in London, England, My Dad was a Jolson lover.
@janwilliams1270
Al's voice was unique and wonderful. One singer came close to al jolson in tone of voice and he was leon redbone who specialized in vintage, classic music. I loved jolson since I saw the jolson story as a kid.
@jamesodonnell6399
The most profound thing that occurred in my young life I realized that Jolson could sing anything ,I wish I could have lived in his era ,excitement plus I did live in his latter years so missed so much ,thanks too U Tube his history isn't lost