"Where's that Tiger? Here's that Tiger."
August 11, 2013 10:37 AM Subscribe
I could tell you all about Piqua, Ohio's own very favorite sons, the Mills Brothers. I could mention how they made more than 2,000 recordings in their nearly 40 year career and sold more than 50 million copies. I could emphasize how they were the first African American performing group to attract a wide white audience. Most of all, I could explain how downright fun the Mills Brothers were, but I'd rather just show you.
That performance of their first hit, "Tiger Rag", was from the film "The Big Broadcast of 1932", which was their first film and the first time many people across the country had ever seen them (but it would not be the last).
From "Twenty Million Sweethearts" (1934): "I Heard" and "How'm I Doin', Hey, Hey"
From "Strictly Dynamite" (1934): "Swing It, Sister"
From "Reveille with Beverly" (1943): "Cielito Lindo" and "Sweet Lucy Brown"
And finally, still going strong in 1966, a live television performance of "Glow Worm".
That performance of their first hit, "Tiger Rag", was from the film "The Big Broadcast of 1932", which was their first film and the first time many people across the country had ever seen them (but it would not be the last).
From "Twenty Million Sweethearts" (1934): "I Heard" and "How'm I Doin', Hey, Hey"
From "Strictly Dynamite" (1934): "Swing It, Sister"
From "Reveille with Beverly" (1943): "Cielito Lindo" and "Sweet Lucy Brown"
And finally, still going strong in 1966, a live television performance of "Glow Worm".
One of my lasting memories of my late father is his love for Cab Driver. He wore out his 45 of it.
posted by Danf at 10:50 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by Danf at 10:50 AM on August 11, 2013
There's a story about Dean Martin booking the Mills Brothers on his show. When they went out to perform, Martin leaned in to speak to his producer, and I'm paraphrasing here, but he said something like "Everybody thinks I got my influence from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. But there's my real influence." And then he pointed to Harry Mills.
Here's Martin performing "Paper Doll" with the brothers on his show, and the influence is obvious.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:50 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here's Martin performing "Paper Doll" with the brothers on his show, and the influence is obvious.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:50 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
We had a 45 of "Hold That Tiger" when we were kids. Playing it at 72 was like kiddie crack. Surprised our heads and the player didn't explode.
Speaking of Dino, I also loved their collaboration on "Up a Lazy River."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:59 AM on August 11, 2013
Speaking of Dino, I also loved their collaboration on "Up a Lazy River."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:59 AM on August 11, 2013
(Meant to add, I also though at that age that they owned General Mills Cereal. Maybe because of Tony the Tiger.)
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:00 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:00 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I first found out about the the Mills brothers a few years ago, when I saw them in Cowboy Canteen, and now I listen to them at least a few times a week. So great!
posted by sluggo at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by sluggo at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2013
The weird thing in the 30's is how placid they were - not moving even a little bit with the music. Was that a contemporary thing?
posted by Michael Roberts at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by Michael Roberts at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2013
The weird thing in the 30's is how placid they were - not moving even a little bit with the music. Was that a contemporary thing?
The microphones back then required those speaking and singing to remain relatively still in order to get a clear recording (See "Singin' in the Rain").
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:52 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
The microphones back then required those speaking and singing to remain relatively still in order to get a clear recording (See "Singin' in the Rain").
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:52 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Going east into Piqua on Route 36, there's a sign that proudly proclaims the town the home of the Mills Brothers. They're very proud of these guys.
(I will be in Piqua later today! To see a movie! Because it's the closest town with a multiplex, that's why.)
posted by jscalzi at 11:52 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
(I will be in Piqua later today! To see a movie! Because it's the closest town with a multiplex, that's why.)
posted by jscalzi at 11:52 AM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
My grandmother was a *HUGE* Mills Brothers fan. She had a ton of their records. Listened to them constantly, alternating with Dean Martin.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:54 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by Thorzdad at 11:54 AM on August 11, 2013
Thank you for this wonderful post!
posted by stonepharisee at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2013
posted by stonepharisee at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2013
I came in here to post about that sign you see heading East in Piqua on Route 36. And to say thanks to AlonsoMosleyFBI for giving me the education that 18 years of reading that sign didn't. But JScalzi beat me to it.
(Related, my head just exploded that JOHN SCALZI lives 10 minutes from my childhood home. Moving home to Darke County just got less wildly unlikely for me.)
posted by minervous at 5:19 PM on August 11, 2013
(Related, my head just exploded that JOHN SCALZI lives 10 minutes from my childhood home. Moving home to Darke County just got less wildly unlikely for me.)
posted by minervous at 5:19 PM on August 11, 2013
Oh I love the Mills Brothers. I discovered them a few years ago when someone put Across the Alley from the Alamo into a music mod for Fallout New Vegas. It was one of those songs that you know the moment you hear it that it will be a favorite for the rest of your life. I've had so much fun discovering the rest of their catalog. A great band, and they deserve to be wider known today.
posted by seasparrow at 5:47 PM on August 11, 2013
posted by seasparrow at 5:47 PM on August 11, 2013
Watch your cigarettes with this guy, Jack.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:00 PM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:00 PM on August 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not Mills Brothers related but for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s Piqua held an outdoor underwear festival to celebrate the city's being a leader in underwear production. It was quite a sight seeing hundreds of people downtown in their red union suits.
If you're ever in Piqua head to the public library, which is in the old hotel downtown. There, lovingly displayed under glass, is a hair ball from a cow's stomach.
posted by plastic_animals at 8:03 PM on August 11, 2013
If you're ever in Piqua head to the public library, which is in the old hotel downtown. There, lovingly displayed under glass, is a hair ball from a cow's stomach.
posted by plastic_animals at 8:03 PM on August 11, 2013
Not Mills Brothers related but for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s Piqua held an outdoor underwear festival to celebrate the city's being a leader in underwear production. It was quite a sight seeing hundreds of people downtown in their red union suits.
OK, this is a tradition begging to be revived. We can do it for the heart foundation or something.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:58 PM on August 11, 2013
OK, this is a tradition begging to be revived. We can do it for the heart foundation or something.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:58 PM on August 11, 2013
So fun! Thanks for the post.
posted by abecedarium radiolarium at 4:25 AM on August 12, 2013
posted by abecedarium radiolarium at 4:25 AM on August 12, 2013
I didn't know the Mills Brothers were from Piqua. You are making me question my assumptions about those no-county-seat-getting pack of losers. Something good might have actually come from there.
Troy, OH represent.
posted by charred husk at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2013
Troy, OH represent.
posted by charred husk at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2013
Lest anyone (besides me, that is) overlook this important fact, part of their schtick is that the guitar is the only instrument in a lot of the recordings.
The rest of the tune comes from them imitating various instruments, which is just crazy considering how good they are both at singing and at the imitations.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on August 12, 2013
The rest of the tune comes from them imitating various instruments, which is just crazy considering how good they are both at singing and at the imitations.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on August 12, 2013
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posted by spiderskull at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2013