Performances
Naxos
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Sheet Music
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General Information
| Work Title
|
Pretty Baby
|
| Alternative. Title
|
|
| Composer
|
Jackson, Tony
|
| I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No.
|
None [force assignment]
|
| Key
|
E-flat major
|
| Copyright Information
|
Possibly public domain in EU and other 70 pma territories.This item, which is in the public domain in its country of origin, is likewise in the public domain in countries which apply the rule of the shorter term. All EU countries apply the rule of the shorter term in general.
Note that in some cases this rule may be overridden by a treaty with the source country (especially the United States) and/or may not apply to works which fell into the public domain in their source country due to a failure to renew copyright or comply with other formalities.
|
| Librettist
|
Tony Jackson (1876/82–1921)
Gustav Kahn (1886–1941)
|
| Language
|
English
|
| Composer Time PeriodComp. Period
|
Early 20th century
|
| Piece Style
|
Early 20th century
|
| Instrumentation
|
voice, piano
|
| External Links
|
Wikipedia article
|
| Extra Information
|
see below
|
Navigation etc.
The background as to how this song came to be published has been confused over the years but the truth appears to be that, in 1915, when Egbert Van Alstyne and lyricist Gustav Kahn were writing partners and the prior was Chicago manager of Jerome H. Remick & Co., the two heard Tony Jackson singing the song one evening at a Chicago nightspot. They liked the melody but the lyrics, which referred to a male lover, were unsuitable for mass consumption. So Jackson was paid $250 for the rights to the tune and Kahn re-wrote the lyrics with Van Alstyne adding a verse, taken from one of his earlier songs which had not been successful. Jackson's name was included on the sheet music.
