I did a search of this Forum and couldn't come up with any reference to this before, so I thought I'd post it now.
Even though it is a bit of a long story, it comes back to cinderella stamps and advertising covers from the J. Albert & Son Music Company based in Australia.
A short time ago in conversation with an elderly family member, she came up with an old-time 1930s Depression-era "ditty" of a song "Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Jones". I had never heard it before, so I researched the lyrics and tune, which are recited below:
Quote: There was a most peculiar kid in our town Was always late for school He never learned to tell a verb from a noun And always broke the rules Though they looked upon him as a clown Yet he wasn't such a fool
Oh, Puddin' head Jones was fat and funny Dumber than sticks and stones Now that is just why the kids all called him Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Jones
He couldn't spell Constantinople Didn't know beans from bones All those pencils and books, they were never made for Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Jones
Teacher told his mother she would take him right in hand And teach him a thing or two Like his older brother he began to understand He learned everything that she ever knew
All of the kids to the teacher carried Candy and ice cream cones But who do you think (that) the teacher married Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Jones
(Orchestral Interlude)
After he got married, he went out and got a job And kept at it night and day Money stuck to him as close as corn upon the cob He never spent it in a cabaret
Stock market crashed, then came depression Bankers cut down their loans But who do you think had all the money Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Woodenhead, Puddin' Head Jones
Of course, the last verse contained the Depression-era reference.
In any case, I wanted to hear the 1930s recording of the song which is found here:
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Surprisingly the website shows the label of a 78 rpm recording with a "J. Albert and Son" Royalty Stamp affixed, which prompted me to research that stamp and I found it referenced here:
Quote: There is a somewhat peripheral 'philatelic' interest to the Albert & Son company for the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand sold in 1947 the following item for NZ$20 described as:
"Mechanical Royalty stamps (ex 78rpm records), J.ALBERT & SON 1937-40's vermilion & green assorted values to 2d. Issued to show the payment of composer's royalties and affixed to labels of records."
Maybe our friends from Australia are more familiar with this than we are here in the US, but I found it to be an interesting little-known piece of philatelic trivia.
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Posted 10/07/2014 8:14 pm
