SWINGIN' GRANNY
Swingin' Granny, 1964
Homebase: Echo Lake, Route No. 1, Box 430, Snoqualmie, Wash
Stats: b. 1884 -
Misc Notes: A soprano vocalist, Irral Berger began her public singing career in the vaudeville days of the old Orpheum Theater circuit. "As a young and pretty girl [she] sang, danced and played half-a-dozen musical instruments [violin, guitar, accordion, pipe organ and grand piano] on Seattle Stages. She knew Alex Pantages well, took her bows along with such vaudeville stars as Robert Atheon, Elizabeth Hale, 'Dad' Russell and Dick Lonsdale." [Seattle Times 11.18.64]. In December 1963 she entered a studio to record a demo recording as a present for her daughter. In 1964, and at age 80, Berger went to Albany, California, to record some original songs. Among them was a Twist-beat rock 'n' roll novelty song, "Mother's Old Rocking Chair." Released on the Irral Records label, it became a quick hit in the San Francisco / Bay Area radio market. Developing a stage act where, as the "Swingin' Granny", she sat in a rocking chair, sang and then began doing The Twist dance, Berger became a sensation, making appearances on TV shows hosted by Steve Allen and Art Linkletter.
see also:
1.) BERGER, IRRAL
2.) MORRISON, LEW ("Irral Waltz")
MISC NOTES: Although the media hyped this record up as being "rock 'n' roll," it wasn't. It did have an electric guitar riff -- played almost as a rock parody - and a drum kit pushing the song along, the main attraction was the Swingin' Granny shtick in which she performed while sitting in a chair and then surprising viewers by launching into some incongruous dance moves based on "The Twist" fad.
Monarch Records delta (^) point towards this disc being pressed August - September, 1964
LOCATION: Albany, CA.
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Irral Berger (vocals, piano); ? (electric guitar); ? (horns); ? (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: 800-A
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:800 A ^54149 (etched)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Irral Berger
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Duane Music (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: 800-B
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:800 B ^54349 - X (etched)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Irral Berger
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Duane Music (BMI)
MISC NOTES: Artist credit on this disc = Swinging Granny.
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Irral Berger
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Irral Berger
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: