{{short description|1921 #1 song by Paul Whiteman Ambassador Orchestra}} {{Italic title}} {{Infobox song | name = Wang Wang Blues | cover = Wang Wang Blues Whiteman 18694.jpg | alt = | caption = | type = single | written = | published = 1920 Leo Feist, Inc. | artist = Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra | album = | B-side = Anytime Anyday Anywhere | released = December 1920<ref name=released>{{Cite web |title=Victor 18694 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/13622/Victor_18694 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}}</ref> | recorded = August 9, 1920<ref name=session>{{Cite web|title=Victor matrix B-24392. Wang-wang blues / Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700009605/B-24392-Wang-wang_blues|access-date=2021-08-02|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> | studio = Victor Studios, Camden, New Jersey | venue = | genre = Jazz | length = {{Duration|m=3|s=21}} | label = Victor 18694 | writer = | composer = Henry Busse, Gussie Mueller, and Theron E. "Buster" Johnson | lyricist = Leo Wood | producer = Ferde Grofe | prev_title = Whispering | prev_year = 1920 | next_title = Avalon-Just Like A Gypsy Medley<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor 35701 (Black label (popular) 12-in. double-faced) |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/30260/Victor_35701 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}}</ref> | next_year = 1920 }} "'''Wang Wang Blues'''" is a 1920 jazz composition written by Henry Busse, Gussie Mueller, and Theron E. "Buster" Johnson, with lyrics by Leo Wood.<ref>[http://digital.library.msstate.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SheetMusic/id/31194 "Wang Wang Blues" Sheet Music]</ref> The song was released as a 78 single by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra featuring Henry Busse on trumpet. The song is a pop and jazz standard. thumb|left|1921 sheet music cover featuring Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. Paul Whiteman recorded the song on August 9, 1920, in Camden, New Jersey. The song was released in December 1920 as a Victor 78 single, 18694-B.<ref name=released/><ref>[http://www.redhotjazz.com/pwo.html Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. Red Hot Jazz.]</ref><ref>[https://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/7657 U.S. Library of Congress. National Jukebox. Wang Wang Blues.]</ref> Ferde Grofe arranged the song. Paul Whiteman recorded and released the song three additional times. The Paul Whiteman recording was No. 1 for 6 weeks on the Billboard pop singles charts.
==Personnel== The personnel on the August 9, 1920 recording at the Victor studios in Camden, New Jersey were: Paul Whiteman (violin, leader), Henry Busse (trumpet, composer, 1918–1928), Ferde Grofe (piano, arranger, composer), Theron E. "Buster" Johnson (trombone, 1918–1920), Gus Mueller (clarinet, alto sax), Hale Byers (alto sax), Mike Pingitore (banjo), Sammy Heiss (tuba), and Harold McDonald (drums).<ref name=session/>
==Other recordings==
"Wang Wang Blues" is one of the most recorded jazz songs, recorded by Henry Busse, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Mamie Smith, Sam Moore and Horace Davis, Gus Van and Joe Schenck in the Ziegfeld Follies, 1921, Fletcher Henderson, Sam Lanin, Benny Goodman, King Oliver, Lucille Hegamin, Bennie Krueger, Ted Lewis, Doc Severinsen, Billy Butterfield, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Eubie Blake, Mal Hallett, Lawrence Welk, Art Tatum, Edyie Gorme, Bobby Hackett, the Orient Dixieland Jazz Band, the Ames Brothers, Tim Brymn and His Black Devil Orchestra, the Norfolk Jazz Quartet, Willy Metschke, and Barbara McNair.<ref>[https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/264536/versions#nav-entity Wang Wang Blues. Second Hand Songs.]</ref>
==Media== The song was featured in the 1996 movie ''The English Patient'' in a performance by Benny Goodman.
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *Paul Whiteman: Pioneer of American Music (Volume 1: 1890–1930), Studies in Jazz, No. 43, by Don Rayno, The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2003. *Pops: Paul Whiteman, King of Jazz, by Thomas A. DeLong, New Century Publishers, 1983. *Jazz by Paul Whiteman, J. H. Sears, 1926. {{refend}}
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Category:1920 songs Category:1921 singles Category:American jazz songs Category:Songs written by Leo Wood Category:Jazz compositions Category:Songs written by Henry Busse Category:Paul Whiteman Category:Works by Ferde Grofé