Singin' in the Bathtub

Song infobox
Name = Singing in the Bathtub


Caption = Original Sheet Music for the Song
Published = 1929
Writer = Herb Magidson
Ned Washington
Composer = Michael Cleary

"Singing in the Bathtub" is a song written in 1929 by Michael H. Cleary, with lyrics by Herb Magidson and Ned Washington for the film "The Show of Shows". [ [http://bosko.toonzone.net/1930/sinkin_in_the_bathtub/ Sinkin' in the Bathtub] ] "The Show of Shows" was Warner Bros.' answer to MGM's "The Hollywood Revue of 1929", and "Singing in the Bathtub" spoofs "Hollywood Revue's" song "Singin' in the Rain". [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=120101 NY Times, Movies] ] In "Show of Shows", the number features an enormous bathtub and is performed by Winnie Lightner and a chorus of male and female performers wearing antiquated bathing suits. [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?_r=1&title1=Show%20of%20Shows&title2=&reviewer=MORDAUNT%20HALL.&pdate=19291121&v_id=&oref=slogin NY Times movie review] ]

The song was recorded by many performers of the time, including Guy Lombardo, [ [http://www.warnerchappell.com/wcm_2/song_search/song_detail/songview_2.jsp?menu_status=songsearch&esongId=120527100 Warner Chappell Music] ] Dorothy Provine, [ [http://www.warnerchappell.com/wcm_2/song_search/searchresult_2.jsp?clearCriteria=Y&entityId=293519&entityType=4&tf9=United%20States&tf8=Entire%20Catalog&tf0=Artist&entityName=DOROTHY+PROVINE&view=songs&wcmsid=p36zkFK8b1ANfpMp0_fdwzA Warner Chappell Music] ] Dick Robertson, [ [http://jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/printout/0,8816,789116,00.html jcgi.pathfinder.com] ] King Ben Nawahi, [ [http://www.mrgosh.com/playlist.html MrGosh Playlist] ] Gracie Fields, [ [http://vitaphone.blogspot.com/2006/12/yuletide-frolic.html Vitaphone Varieties] ] Vaughn DeLeath, [ [http://vitaphone.blogspot.com/2006/11/soul-of-adventuress.html Vitaphone Varieties] ] The Georgians, [ [http://www.redhotjazz.com/georgians.html Red Hot Jazz.com] ] and Danny Kaye, [ [http://www.originaloldradio.com/danny_kaye_show.html Original Old Radio.com] ] and more recently by Robert Crumb, [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000000DSP Amazon.com] ] John Lithgow, [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000I8A3 Singin' in the Bathtub at Amazon.com] ] and Mandy Patinkin. [ [http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Patinkin,_Mandy/Discography/album/P55373/R547674/ Starpulse.com] ] In Vaughn DeLeath's rendition of the song, she sings the line "the ring around the bathtub is a rainbow to me" as "a rainbow "from" me", substantially changing its meaning. [ [http://vitaphone.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html Vitaphone Varieties] ]

The lyrics include a quotation of the title air from "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles".

Use in "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies"

"Singing in the Bathtub" is featured in the first-ever Looney Tunes animated short, "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930). The song appeared in 21 Warner Bros. animated shorts in total: Warner Bros.' ownership of the copyright saved royalty payments. The song is frequently sung by Tweety Bird.

*Sinkin' in the Bathtub (1930)
*Porky & Daffy (1938)
*Polar Pals (1939)
*Little Blabbermouse (1940)
*Porky's Pooch (1941)
*The Aristo-Cat (1943)
*Hop and Go (1943)
*Daffy Dilly (1948)
*I Taw a Putty Tat (1948)
*The Pest That Came to Dinner (1948)
*So Much for So Little (1949)
*Which Is Witch? (1949)
*Wise Quackers (1949)
*Homeless Hare (1950)
*Terrier Stricken (1952)
*Forward March Hare (1953)
*Sahara Hare (1955)
*A Witch's Tangled Hare (1959)
*Tweet and Lovely (1959), sung by Tweety Bird
*From Hare to Heir (1960)
*Compressed Hare (1961), sung by Bugs Bunny

"Cheap Suit Serenaders" Album

"Singing in the Bathtub" is also the 1993 re-release title of an album by R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. The album was originally released in 1978 as "R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders No. 3". [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000000DSP Amazon.com] ]

Track listing:

# Singing In The Bathtub
# Chile Blues
# Dream Of Heaven
# Suits Crybaby Blues
# Collier Medley: Ben Hur March & Napoleon March
# Shopping Mall
# Yearning And Blue
# Hula Girl
# Pedal Your Blues Away
# La Gima Polka
# Sing Song Girl
# Home
# My Gal Sal
# Hano Hano Hawaii

John Lithgow album

"Singin' in the Bathtub" is additionally the title of a children's album released in 1999 with songs performed by John Lithgow. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000I8A3 Amazon.com] ]

Track listing:

# Everybody Eats When They Come To My House (Adaptation)
# At The Codfish Ball
# Singin' In The Bathtub
# A-You're Adorable
# The Gnu Song
# You Gotta Have Skin
# Triplets
# No One Loves You Any Better Than Your M-O-Double-M-Y (Adaptation)
# Swinging On A Star
# I Had A Rooster
# From The Indies To The Andes In His Undies
# Big Kids
# The Hippopotamus Song
# The Inchworm

Notes