RAY
BOURBON (Hal Waddell)
(August 11, 1892 - July 19, 1971)
Major Engagements:
BBB’s Cellar, Los Angeles (early 1930s)
Jimmy’s Back Yard, Los Angeles (1932)
Tait’s Café, San Francisco (1932-33)
Auby’s Lagoon, Miami (c. 1934)
Rendezvous Club, Hollywood (1935)
Finocchio’s, San Francisco (early 1940s)
The Rendezvous, Los Angeles (early 1940s)
Blue Angel, N.Y.C. (early 1940s)
La Vie Parisienne, N.Y.C. (1944)
Little Casino, N.Y.C. (late 1940s)
Cinderella Club, N.Y.C. (1948)
La Commedia, N.Y.C. (1951)
Melody Room, West Hollywood (1956)
Talk Of The Town, Chicago (1961)
1929
78/Brunswick Test Pressing (Shopping With Ella) (performed by Scotch and (“Rae”) Bourbon)
78/Brunswick Test Pressing (Ella In Hollywood) (performed by Scotch and (“Rae”) Bourbon)
Note: The above recordings were recorded on October 29, 1929 in Los Angeles.
1931
78/Brunswick test pressing (I Want To Be Good) (as “Rae” Bourbon)
Note: Recorded on March 17, 1931 in Los Angeles.
1935
78/Western Bourbana (12”) WR-711 (Sisters Of Charity; Three Shop Girls) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/Western Bourbana WR-712 (My First Piece; I’m In The Mood) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 391 A; 78/Good-Humor 7-B; 78/Party Novelty’s 7-B]
78/Western Bourbana WR-713 (Last Piece; Low Brow Bourbon) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 381 (as “Her First Piece”); the latter was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 393A]
78/Western Bourbana WR-714 (Gigolo; Chiropractor’s Wife) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 382; the latter was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 363; and issued as “The Masseur” on 78/Novelty 103; 78/Partee unnumbered; 78/High Society 501; 78/Party Record unnumbered]
78/Western Bourbana WR-715 (Navy Day For Tessie; Spanish Passion) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as “I Think I’ll Join The Navy,” 78/Good-Humor 18-B; 78/Party Novelty’s 18-B; the latter was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots 380]
78/Western Bourbana WR-716 (Cocktail Time; Forbidden Broadcast) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as “Cocktail Ray,” 78/Hollywood Hot Shots unnumbered; 78/Good-Humor unnumbered side No. 277; 78/Good-Humor 5B; 78/Risque 2-B (as “Virgin-ia’s Downfall”); 78/Kicks 17-A (as “Virgin For Short”); 78/Stag 500 B (as “Virgin”); the latter was also issued as 78/Hollywood Hot Shots unnumbered; 78/Imperial 300A]
78/Western Bourbana WR-717 (Her First Swimming Lesson; Love Child) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The former was also issued as 78/Good-Humor 10-B; 78/Party Novelty’s 10-B; 78/Party Record 500A (as “Her First Lesson”)
Note: All of the above were recorded in Hollywood.
c. 1935
78/Imperial 100 (Susie; My Family Tree) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/Imperial 101 (Sarah From Saharah; Man’s Man) (with Bart Howard, piano) [The second track is labeled “Gentleman’s Gentleman” on some copies and may involve a substituted later recording.]
78/No label no number (Russian Refugee; Tennis Champ) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/No label no number (The Trial Of Carrie P. Potts Parts 1 and 2) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/Hollywood Hot Shots 338 (Strip Tease Queen) (with Bart Howard, piano) [also found on 78/Good-Humor 17A; 78/Party Novelty’s 17A0
78/No label no number (Shanghai Flo; Singapore Lilly) (with Bart Howard, piano)
Note: All of the above recordings were recorded in Hollywood.
December 18, 1935
78/American Record Corp. (My Harmony Man; My Swimming Lesson) (“Bourbanas” - Ray Bourbon with George Forrest and Robert Wright)
Note: Recorded in Los Angeles on December 18, 1935 and possibly unissued.
1936
78/Liberty Music Shop L-208 (Gigolo; Chiropractor’s Wife) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/Liberty Music Shop L-209 (Trombone Trixie; Her First Swimming Lesson) (with Bart Howard, piano)
Note: Recorded in N.Y.C.
1940
78/Liberty Music Shop L-318 (Bashful Cowboy; Millie) (with Jack Burke, piano)
78/Liberty Music Shop L-319 (Bedtime Story Parts 1 and 2) (with Jack Burke, piano)
78/Liberty Music Shop L-320 (Spanish Opera; Oriental Opera) (with Jack Burke, piano)
c. Early 1940s?
78/Imperial 5X (Dinnertime Parts 1 and 2)
78/Imperial 103 (My Ace In The Hole (with muted trumpet, piano, guitar, and bass); Three Guesses (with piano accompaniment))
78/Imperial 104 (Fountain Of Youth; Tessie) (with piano accompaniment)
78/Imperial 105 (Chief Peanut Stand (with piano accompaniment); Take A Lei (with muted trumpet, piano, guitar, and bass)) [the latter was reissued as “Take A Lay” on 78/Risque 5; 78/Laff Records L7B]
78/Imperial 106 (Sunday Ride Parts 1 and 2) (with Bart Howard, piano)
78/Imperial 107 (Gland Opera; To Hell With The Range) (with Joey Melborn, piano)
78/Imperial 108 (Hollywood Appendicitis; Hollywood Drive-In Storehouse) (with Joey Melborn, piano)
Note: All of the above Imperial records were recorded in Hollywood.
c. 1942
78/Party Record 515 (When Knighthood Was In Flower; Air Raid Wardens)
Note: Record in N.Y.C. “When Knighthood Was In Flower” also appears on 78/Hi-Lite 103 as “Days Of Yore.”
78/Imperial 109 (Mrs. Willouby Objects; Since Ivan Started Divin’) (with Joey Melborn, piano) [the latter also appears on 78/Party Record unnumbers as “Since Ivan Started Divan”)
78/Imperial 110 (My First Piece; My Last Piece) (with Joey Melborn, piano)
78/Imperial (12”) 110 (Country Ham; Forty-Five)
78/Imperial 112 (Orchids To Alice; Queen Of The Navy [Queen Of The May]) (with George Kent, piano)
78/Imperial 113 (The Piano Teacher Parts 1 and 2) (accompanied by George Forrest and Robert Wright)
78/Imperial 117 (The Gossips Parts 1 and 2) (with Jack Burke, piano) [Test pressings are denominated “The New Neighbor.”]
78/Imperial 118 (Nero; Constance) (with Jack Burke, piano)
Note: All of the above Imperial records were recorded in Hollywood.
78/New Bourbon Records 101 (Gentleman’s Gentleman; The Rehearsal) (with Jack Burke, piano)
Note: Recorded in Hollywood.
c. 1945
78/New Bourbon Records 100 (Mrs. Tom Maynard’s Dogs; Mrs. Tom Maynard’s Chickens) (Bill Barclay with Jack Burke, piano)
Note: Ray Bourbon makes an uncredited appearance as the second voice on this disc.
Hilarity From
Hollywood, 78/New Bourbon Records unnumbered album, containing:
78/New
Bourbon Records 101: Bourbon To The Cleaners (with Wayne Reeves
and His Main Streeters); Strong, Solid, Sensational (with Wayne
Reeves and His Russian Nofkies)
78/New
Bourbon Records 102: Vacation In Nevada (with Wayne Reeves and
His Main Streeters); Give, Sister, Give (with the Drag Ranch
Wranglers)
78/New
Bourbon Records 103: Mr. Wong (with harp accompaniment); Mrs.
Bevington Swope (with harp accompaniment)
Note:
On some releases, “The Bourbon Motif” (with harp accompaniment)
is substituted for “Bourbon To The Cleaners.” An alternate
release of 78/New Bourbon Records 102 exists containing
Irma’s Week End Part 1 and 2.
78/New Bourbon Records 201 (I Had A Piece; We’ve Got To Have A Union)
78/No label 516 (Armchair General; Ivan)
78/No label BD 1/2 (Three Guesses; Haggerty’s) (with piano accompaniment)
78/Imperial 500 A/B (Morning Parts 1 & 2) (with Brenda Ughakki, piano)
78/Imperial 500 C/D (Afternoon Parts 1 & 2) (with Brenda Ughakki, piano)
78/Imperial 500 E/F (Evening Parts 1 & 2) (with Brenda Ughakki, piano)
Late 1940s
Hilarity From
Hollywood (second issue), 78/New Bourbon Records unnumbered
album, containing:
78/New
Bourbon unnumbered (The Model; Sahara) (with Jerry Teuber &
Band)
78/New
Bourbon unnumbered (Professor Yussell; Family Tree) (with Jerry
Teuber & Band)
Note:
Recorded in Hollywood. This album also include 78/New
Bourbon Records 101 from the first album.
c. 1954
Yes, This Is Ray Bourbon, 10”/New
Bourbon Records
Note: Consists of two live shows and includes “Ugh!”, “Vacation In Nevada” (and/or Horse Opera), “New Neighbor,” and “Gigolo.”
c. 1950-1955
An Evening In Copenhagen, UTC 1
Tracks: The Wedding; Mr. Wong; Erma’s Weekend; The Raid; Mrs. Bevington Swope; A Gentleman’s Gentleman; Sisters Of Charity; Extended Play
You’re
Steeping On My Eyelashes, UTC 2
Tracks: Life Goes To A Party; Queen Of The YMCA; Back In Drag Again; Queen Of The Ballet; Tom Thumb; The Family Tree; Queen Of The Navy; I Must Have A Greek; The Party Line
Don’t Call Me Madam, UTC 3
Tracks: The Neighbor’s Party; Tennessee; The Family (A Trilogy); Sunday Drive; The Cafeteria; Bed-Time Story; Country Ham
A Girl Of The
Golden West, UTC 4
Tracks: To Hell With The Range; The Railroad’s Coming Thru; Horse Opera; Ugh!; Pocahontis; Where Does The Difference Come In
Bourbon
100-Proof, UTC 5
Tracks:
An Oriental Opera; Sailor Boy; Hamlet’s Soliloguy; The
Carpenter; The New Neighbor; Tennis; Spots
One On The Aisle (Claque-Claque), UTC 6
Tracks:
Toga Saga (A Greek Fantasy); Brunhilde’s Emulsion -
Orchids To Alice; Carmen
Note:
The 10” version of this album was called “Claque-Claque.”
c. 1956
Let Me Tell You About My Operation, UTC 7
Tracks: Let me Tell You About My Operation; Oh! Doctor; I’m In The Family Way; Mrs. Wiloughby Will Definitely Object; When I Said “No” To Joe; I Don’t Want To Be A Madam; Millie; The Piano Teacher; Telephone Girl At The Riz
Around The
World In 80 Ways, UTC 8
Tracks: Russian Refugee; Cleopatra And Her Asp; The Stipend Must Rally ‘Round Here; British Ways; Bourbon Goes Native; The Fortune Teller; Spanish ; Nero; Mr. Wong (aka “The Shanghai Gesture” or “Shanghai”); Ponce De Leon; One For The Road
Hollywood Expose, UTC 9
Tracks: Bourbon Has Been To The Cleaners; Percy; The Last Of The Bobby Soxers; When Yussel Gave Me Muscle In A Hustle; Dancers Of Nature; My Petty-Gree; Constance Isn’t Constant Anymore; She’s Only A Link In A Daisy Chain; When Knighthood Was In Flower; Tessie, The Messy Extra
Ladies Of
Burlesque, UTC 10
Tracks: Strip Queen; Parade Girl; Cocktail Time; Anne, Fanny, Tessie, Bessie & Flo; Old Mrs. Richbit; Three Girls At A Matinee; Forty-Five; The Awkward Age
1957
Miss Rae Bourbon: That New Woman, 45/Lasses album, containing
45/Lasses 1/2 (Madam; Native)
45/Lasses 3/4 (Dirty Fairy; Hollywood Drive-In)
45/Lasses 5/6 (Spanish; New Woman)
45/Lasses 7/8 (Barbary Coast; The Party)
Note: All of the above recordings were recorded in New Orleans.
Mid-1960s
A Trick Ain’t Always A Treat, Jewel Box 3001
Note: Recorded live at the Jewel Box, Kansas City, Missouri, 1964. This album consists of two of Bourbon’s shows at the Jewel Box and includes the routine “Three Girls At A Matinee” and an in-studio recording of “I Don’t Want To Be A Madam.”
Other:
Ray Bourbon is said to have recorded several shows at the Talk Of The Town in Chicago in late 1961 for Rosyln Records which remain unreleased.
Final Note:
“Her First
Piece,” “Swimming Lesson,” and “The Chiropractor’s Wife” were
reissued on Radio & Recording Rarities, Vol. 1,
CD/Lowlights. However, it is not known at this time
which specific recording of these songs appear on this compact
disc.