I was impressed how quickly other users helped me identify a tune before, so here's something more challenging...
I am sure most of the oldies would know this tune, so lets see what you can make of it...

http://upload2.net/page/download/VfzRJdbehTPMyuc/SONG_003.MID.html

WHAT!?!?
no takers?!?

well...I guess 3 notes WERE too challenging for you lot..

I tried the link and nothing.....
The file acted strange to be honest.
Maybe others found the same thing???

well...it's a midi file, played and recorded on a digital piano. Media Player should be able to handle it just fine (I tried this myself just now), so I don't see what the problem is.

My new machine went to the link and for whatever
reason nothing happened except a little wheel kept spinning saying something was happening.

Or maybe my firewall, pop up blocker or my virus scanner was blocking something at the same time. Or maybe the webhost page is the problem. It was the first file I haven't been able to hear. I dunno what to tell you.

Whats odd is... usually midi files on this thing down load in just a second or two. Maybe you could go through that box file most folks have been using and I will see if I can open it then.
Or youtube it.

Hi, Eli--

It sounds like"The Twelfth Street Rag" composed by Euday Bowman in 1914 -- a very well-known tune. I found it in one of my fake books, and I've attempted to play it but find it too intimidating -- too many "dotted eighths!"

This is my first post on this site and I'm glad to offer my help with this question.

By way of introduction -- I've been playing the piano about 25 years now. I'm self-taught and my repertoire is mostly from "The Great American Songbook" -- as well as some "light classics."

I mainly use fake books because I like to fool around with my own arrangements, but I can sight-read fairly well.

This site is great -- I especially like to read the posts here in the Non-Classical Corner as well as in the Adult Beginners' Forum.

My congratulations go out to all those who have put their recordings here. They're all great! I certainly hope to join you there someday!

Tom

I have always wondered why this board isn't "busier" than it is ; with all the great non-classical music out there to explore. Especially with their being so many songs of the American Songbook out there to play and discuss... it is high time this board gets every bit as busy as the other boards. And remains busy on a daily basis.

Hi, wolfindmist --

I wholeheartedly agree with you! It seems to me that those "Great American Songs" have almost been completely forgotten. You can't compare the melodic and harmonic content of the stuff you hear today with that composed by the GREATS -- Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein/Hart, Berlin, Porter, et al.

I can recall most of their tunes -- if not all. I was "brought up" on listening to Sinatra, Bennett, Como, Ella Fitzgerald and all the rest.
There will never be the likes of them again. How can anyone listen to the stuff they put out today?

Just my two cents!!!

Tom

Sweet list there Tom.

Climbing up a huge stump. I am sure I am not the only one to be thinking about this issue...

So here goes;
I think today's music Industry shoots itself in the foot every time it backs performers who couldn't sing their way out of a bucket if they had to perform live with nothing to back them up. And the record companies are backing songs that really have nothing to it (like that dumb Fergie song "London Bridge"; if you really could call it a song). I just don't get it.

*eg. Witness how many countless times there have been recording artists singing the National Anthem for sporting events and not even being able to stay on pitch or have a great vocal range to begin with.

At least now the directors are able to feed the melodies and harmonies into the ear plug monitors to fool the audience into thinking some of these "look good but really cannot sing artists" actually sang the national anthem and stayed in the same key and nailed the pitches; all without botching the lyrics.

The music industry executives imo seems to spend most of its resources producing & promoting "music" for the kid and yuppie dollars; and they give us what they think the kids willl want to blow their money on.

Occassionally you will find a rare gem ( eg. Norah Jones, Michael Buble, Josh Groban )on todays popular music scene. Thank God for Jazz and Blues radio.

And some of the "popular" artists like Rod Stewert doing material from the American Songbook are helping to introduce the younger ears to great songs.Years ago; I never would have dreamed Rod Stewert would play a role in introducing songs from the American Songbook to the younger folks.

Those of us who love this music really should try to support our local high school music programs --- the kids that are being introduced to the swingy tunes of yesterday in our school jazz music programs may well be the key to getting more great music played more often.

Unfortunately; I think the few record company executives out there making the decisions as to what will be put on the market have to come around.

But who knows, maybe now that artists can be independent & produce their CDs much easier and sell them at their gigs , maybe more independent artists will find the treasured songs of the artists you listed above.

We who love this music have to do our parts to keep these songs around. Buy the music of todays artists that do these songs well like Buble & Krall. Go to their concerts (if you can afford to). See the legends who are still living... eg. Tony Bennett (remember the MTV show he did).
Support the school music programs. And if you do the songs well and play for folks; play those songs. Discussion of the songs publically on forums like this even will help such a noble cause.

I think there is a need for a American Songbook movement... as there was the folksong movement in the 60's. In some ways such a movement may be already getting started; but it is sure taking its time.

Time to get off the stump;

jmo
btw I think if Billy Joel had been writing songs back in the 30-40's he could have done some clever things also. He has a knack for clever lyrics, and of course serious music chops. (What was the name of that hit Broadway show of Billy Joel's?) Maybe one of the reasons he isn't doing music is because todays pop music scene doesn't keep him motivated in some way...

If the post is long, well I can only say that I feel strongly about keeping what is probably some of the best American Music in the public ear. We as musicians can all help to do that in our own ways.

I gotta get going now; I have a rehearsal tonight for an upcoming performance myself. Time to finally tear myself away from Piano World and youtube... and make some music myself.

You hit the proverbial "nail on the head" in your response, wolfindmist!

Every time I hear a new "artist" sing(?) the national anthem, I cringe! Not only because they sometimes don't know the words, but their attempts at "embellishing" the tune mostly are grossly exaggerated.

The genre may be saved by the likes of Michael Buble, Diana Krall and Josh Groban -- they are all favorites of mine. I'll reserve comment on Rod Stewart, however -- he's still a "rocker" in my opinion.

Did you catch Tony Bennett on NBC a few weeks ago? He was absolutely marvelous -- sang all his great hits. Then I switched over to the American Music Awards -- what C--P!!!

Billy Joel is, of course, one of my heroes -- that goes without saying! By the way, his Broadway show is called "Movin' Out" -- you certainly can tell why!!!

Good luck with your upcoming performance. I should go and play until dinner time, too!

Tom

Rod is a rocker... but the point is that he got some kids into this music.

Oh yeah; I have the Bennett DVRd. Along with a couple of Elton John Concerts (I got that Red Piano Concert Saved & the Actors Studio EJ show.)
Elton is another genius of more recent times wiht his gift of creating melodies to clever lyrics. Taupin & Elton really have turned out so many hits. Honky Cat is so bluesy I just wanna run to the nearest piano and sit down and play along with it.

Now if only "In The Actors Studio" would rebroadcast the Joel Interview. Joel was almost manic on it and was wonderful answering questions and taking requests. He had maybe 4 or 5 huge binders full of his songs just in case somebody asked him to do something he hadn't done in years. LOL

Not all the newer music artists are bad... there are still talented people out there to find. But I doubt there will be another one like Ella. Eva Cassidy has some Ella like qualities. RIP.

BEHOLD!

http://upload2.net/page/download/ZR7LvZfoiGwAuXt/12StRag.mid.html

Eli;
I finally got the thingy (12th street rag) to work) .

Who is doing this?

I love it!

"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" gets the first 7 notes -- but ragtime always wins repetitive three note combinations.

I like this forum too, and while the AB has lots of action (and better players than me) after 50 years "beginner" doesn't fit. It's wonderful, tho, to see.

Cheers.

I am going to have to play around with that three chord repetition stuff...

it does had a little flair to a tune like that