Chopsticks Boogie

[LeeDempsey]

There are several threads on here (and even discographies) that reference an unreleased Brian Wilson / Jan Berry collaboration, "Chopsticks Boogie."  There is even a Youtube video purporting to be that recording.

That video actually just contains a sped-up version of the Gary Usher produced song "Like Chop," released on 45 as Damark 2400 under the group name The Tri-Five.  I believe the incorrect title "Chopsticks Boogie" and the rumored involvement of Jan Berry and Brian Wilson can be attributed to speculation from the late Bob Hanes, who mislabeled his cassette tape of the song.  Before the Damark 45 was documented I got a copy of the song on a cassette from Bob labeled "Chopsticks Boogie (Brian and Jan?)."  That tape from Bob also contained the flip side of the Tri-Five 45, "Come and Get It."  That song was mislabeled "The Rocking Surfer (early version)."  [The latter is understandable because, as has been pointed out before, both "Come and Get It" and "The Rocking Surfer" are based on the melody played by Good Humor ice cream trucks, which is a traditional Czech folk song called "Stodola Pumpa."]

Why is the song on Bob's tape (and on Youtube) in a different key from the Damark 45?  For a while Bob's cassette recorder was out of calibration and recorded slow, so when his tapes were played back on another deck at normal speed they sounded sped up.

So unless someone (Mark A. Moore?) has definitive proof of a different song called "Chopsticks Boogie," I think this one can be put to bed.

Lee

[Mark A. Moore]

There's no record of it in Jan's documentation. Nothing on the surviving studio invoices or on the tape boxes. And nothing among his original music charts and scores. I think it's a mistake.

[LeeDempsey]

Thanks Mark -- that's what I thought!

Lee

[mrski]

[The latter is understandable because, as has been pointed out before, both "Come and Get It" and "The Rocking Surfer" are based on the melody played by Good Humor ice cream trucks, which is a traditional Czech folk song called "Stodola Pumpa."

Well, let's not put it to bed just yet!!

Anyone interested in hearing the original Czech lyrics can find it here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovJ6jkJh5ds

zdravím z České republiky 

[LeeDempsey]

Well, let's not put it to bed just yet!!

Anyone interested in hearing the original Czech lyrics can find it here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovJ6jkJh5ds

zdravím z České republiky 

Hmm that's a different melody for "Stodola Pumpa" than this one (which is the Good Humor truck melody):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_hOvS9-9Y

Lee

[mrski]

Well, let's not put it to bed just yet!!

Anyone interested in hearing the original Czech lyrics can find it here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovJ6jkJh5ds

zdravím z České republiky 

Hmm that's a different melody for "Stodola Pumpa" than this one (which is the Good Humor truck melody):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_hOvS9-9Y

Lee

There are several variations... Not sure about having a traditional CZECH folk song with ENGLISH lyrics though!

[Bicyclerider]

Is there an official release of the Tri-five single on CD somewhere?

[LeeDempsey]

Is there an official release of the Tri-five single on CD somewhere?

Yep, it was on the Varese Vintage comp SURFIN', released in 2000.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-varése-mw0000058537

It was included because there is speculation that Dennis and Carl may have played on it, but to me the drumming is too busy for Dennis and the guitar sounds nothing like Carl's tone from that time period.

Lee

[bgas]

Is there an official release of the Tri-five single on CD somewhere?

Yep, it was on the Varese Vintage comp SURFIN', released in 2000.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-varése-mw0000058537

It was included because there is speculation that Dennis and Carl may have played on it, but to me the drumming is too busy for Dennis and the guitar sounds nothing like Carl's tone from that time period.

Lee

OH, I thought it was definite they're on there! Happy if they're not, I can stop looking foir a copy for the collection