Monday Videos - Just a Gigolo versions

Well, we are into September and it’s starting to really cool down - well, at least according to Vegas standards that is
only due to hit 93f today, and we have all the doors and windows open to take advantage of the beautiful cool, breezy day. I was on YouTube last week listening to some old Van Halen music and was directed to David Lee Roth doing California Girls.


Which linked to Just A Gigolo, which uses California Girls as it’s intro, to another of his that I remember from early MTV days. (with most of the same girls)


Wow, talk about big hair (no, never teased mine up like that); on Dave as well as those ladies. Somewhere I read that this was a remake of an older version of this song,also paired with I Ain’t Got Nobody, which naturally lead a search for earlier versions. One of the biggest sellers back in 1956 was Louis Prima


With his wife Keely Smith helping out. I remember seeing some old tv shows with the two of them, and they seemed a really unique couple. Guess I should point out Louis and Keely should be given credit for making Vegas the entertainment capital of the world (depending on who gives out that definition), at least as it relates to shows and entertainment performances. Back in 1952 Louis Prima was unemployed and broke, and called a friend for a job. His friend was a manager at the Sahara Casino, and offered the couple two weeks in the bar. At that time Vegas was known for gambling and quick marriages, while Reno was home to quickie divorces and some gambling. Entertainment amounted to small groups playing in the background at bars. Evidently Louis Prima as so successful with his humor and dancing, with Keely providing the beauty and straight man role to the comedy side, that their two weeks ended up being eight years. The bar was quickly rearranged to move the small stage from behind the bar over to where it was the main focus, and soon was moved into the big showroom. The couple’s performance style of funny guy/straight girl was supposedly copied by Sonny & Cher.

But on to even earlier versions, 1932 Betty Boop introducing Irene Bordoni’s version


Oh, Wikipedia lists the song, written in 1929, so I don't think there is an earlier version posted than the one above. Wiki mentioned another version that didn’t first appear – in a really sad style was Marlene Dietrich’s version, from her last movie in 1978


I like the way she sings, have a CD of her songs from earlier, in a voice that no one has come close to.

So much for music comparisons today.