Trav'lin - Music

Each song in TRAV^♥LIN,
like each character, has a story of its own

Song Title	Recording
Basin Street Lover more info... Basin Street Lover Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson A popular song in England from the cast album of JAZZ TRAIN, J.C.'s 1950 hit show in New York and the West End, where it gave two Royal command performances.
Dancin' With My Love more info... Dancin' With My Love Music by J. C. Johnson (from DANCIN' WAY YOUR SINS), Lyrics by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro Originally written for the Broadway musical BROWN BUDDIES and performed by Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.	Demo PlayStop
Empty Bed Blues more info... Empty Bed Blues Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson A classic blues number first recorded by Bessie Smith. The song has been covered by over one hundred singers including Della Reese, Bette Midler, and Maria Muldaur. It was also included in the Broadway show, ME AND BESSIE, starring Linda Hopkins.	Bessie Smith PlayStop	Della Reese PlayStop
Get Up and Follow Your Feet more info... Get Up and Follow Your Feet Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson One of four J.C. trunk songs from the 1930's, written for Texas Guinan and other revues and for solo performances.	Demo PlayStop
Hold My Hand more info... Hold My Hand Music by Thomas "Fats" Waller, Lyrics by J. C. Johnson One of two TRAV'LIN songs composed by Fats Waller, recorded by him along with many other singers and bands of the 30s.	Fats Waller PlayStop
How Many Friends... more info... How Many Friends... Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson One of two TRAV'LIN songs from the 1950s Harlem production THE YEAR ROUND. Produced by the then young press agent and future Beatles promoter Sid Bernstein. This production featured Brock Peters, who was still going by the name of George Fisher, and was performed in a renovated supermarket on 125th Street. Among the other contributors to the show was Langston Hughes.
Let's Do, Let's Do, Let's Do more info... Let's Do, Let's Do, Let's Do Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson One of four J.C. trunk songs from the 1930's, written for Texas Guinan and other revues and for solo performances.
Louisiana more info... Louisiana Music by J. C. Johnson, Lyrics by Andy Razaf with Bob Schaefer A very popular popular big band number with recordings by Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Count Basie, Bix Biedebecke, Duke Ellington and dozens of others.	Demo PlayStop	Count Basie PlayStop
Pity Little People more info... Pity Little People Music and Lyrics by J. C. Johnson, Additional lyrics by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro A gift to J.C.'s wife Julie, being publicly performed for the first time in TRAV'LIN.	Demo PlayStop
Somebody Loses, Somebody Wins more info... Somebody Loses, Somebody Wins Music by J. C. Johnson, Lyrics by George Whiting and Nat Schwartz Introduced by Connie Boswell, with a popular version done by The Three Keys.	Demo PlayStop
Spinnin' the Web more info... Spinnin' the Web Music by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald, Lyrics by J. C. Johnson Co-composed by Ella Fitzgerald to fit her vocal style. Popular through the 1930s and 1940s and recorded by many big band leaders, most notably Chick Webb. Another popular radio rendition was done by the Freddie Rich orchestra.	Chick Webb PlayStop
The Monster more info... The Monster Music by J. C. Johnson, Lyrics by George Whiting and Nat Schwartz Mostly performed as an instrumental/big band piece in the 1930s. It was widely popular with live big band renditions on the radio.
Trav'lin more info... Trav'lin Music and Original Lyrics by J. C. Johnson (from TRAV'LIN ALL ALONE), Additional Lyrics by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro Original written in 1928 and first recorded by Ethel Waters. Dozens of versions are in the catalogue, including a classic performance by Billy Eckstine with the Count Basie Orchestra. According to legend, this was Billie Holiday's this as her audition number at Pod and Jerry's when she landed her first singing gig, and she recorded it later in her career.	Billy Eckstine PlayStop	Billie Holiday PlayStop
Vampin' a Coed more info... Vampin' a Coed Music by Claude Hopkins, Lyrics by J. C. Johnson A big band favorite in the late 30s/early 40s, most notably performed by the Freddie Rich orchestra
What's Your Name more info... What's Your Name Music by Thomas "Fats" Waller, Lyrics by J. C. Johnson One of two TRAV'LIN songs composed by Fats Waller, recorded by him along with many other singers and bands of the 30s.	Fats Waller PlayStop
What's Your Story, What's Your Jive more info... What's Your Story, What's Your Jive Music by Fletcher Henderson, Lyrics by J. C. Johnson (Additional Lyrics by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro) A hit for Fletcher Henderson's band.	Demo PlayStop
When You Fall in Love more info... When You Fall in Love Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson One of four J.C. trunk songs from the 1930's, written for Texas Guinan and other revues and for solo performances.
You Better Finish What You Start With Me more info... You Better Finish What You Start With Me Music by J. C. Johnson, Lyrics by George Whiting and Nat Schwartz One of two TRAV'LIN songs from the 1950s Harlem show THE YEAR ROUND, produced by the then young press agent and future Beatles promoter Sid Bernstein.. This production featured Brock Peters, who was still going by the name of George Fisher, and was performed in a renovated supermarket on 125th Street. Among the other contributors to the show was Langston Hughes.	Demo PlayStop
You Stayed Away Too Long more info... You Stayed Away Too Long Music and Lyrics by J.C. Johnson Claude Hopkins and Fats Waller both did popular versions.	Demo PlayStop
You'll Come Back to Me more info... You'll Come Back to Me Music by J. C. Johnson, Lyrics by Andy Razaf One of four J.C. trunk songs from the 1930's, written for Texas Guinan and other revues and for solo performances.	Demo PlayStop