Somebody Stole My Gal

"Somebody Stole My Gal" is a popular song from 1918, written by Leo Wood. In 1924, Ted Weems & his Orchestra had a five-week run at number one with his million-selling version.^[1] Its Pee Wee Hunt and his orchestra version is also known in Japan, particularly in Osaka and surrounding area as the theme song used by Yoshimoto Kogyo for their theatre comedies at Namba Grand Kagetsu and other venues.

The song has been featured in several Hollywood films^[2] including:

The Tip-Off (1931)
Somebody Stole My Gal (1931)
Little Jack Little & Orchestra (1936)
When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)
My Favorite Year (1982)
The Grass Harp (1995)
Melinda and Melinda (2004)
The Aviator (2004)

Other recordings

Florence Millett – 1918
Ted Weems & His Orch. (Instr.) – 1924
Fletcher Henderson & His Orch. – 1924
Bix Beiderbecke – 1928
Fred Elizalde & His Anglo American Band – 1928
Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orch. – 1930
Ted Lewis & His Band (vocal: Ted Lewis) – 1931
Cab Calloway & His Orch. – 1931
Billy Cotton & His Band – 1931 (Cotton used the song as his signature tune).
Fats Waller & His Rhythm – 1935
Virgil Childers – 1938 in Charlotte, North Carolina^[3]
Count Basie & His Orch. – 1940
Benny Goodman & His Orch. (Columbia-35916) – 1940
Johnnie Ray – 1952 (a number 6 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1953)^[4]
John Serry Sr. and his ensemble for "RCA Thesaurus" – 1954^[5]
Pee Wee Hunt and his orchestra – 1954 (Album "Swingin' Around")
Hot Club Melomani – 1957
Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band – 1965 Greatest Hits
Jimmy Roselli – 1967
Mel Blanc – N/k
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester – 1996

References

^ CD liner notes: Chart-Toppers of the Twenties, 1998 ASV Ltd.
^ "Leo Wood (1882–1929)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
^ Steven Abrams. "Bluebird Records 78rpm Discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 451. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester