Op’m de do’, Richit!

Posted on June 25, 2025June 25, 2025 by Mike

Had an old favorite of mine pop into mind just a short while ago, an immediate hit which, upon its release, speedily ascended all the way up to number one with a bullet on the Billboard charts for Count Basie & his Orchestra back in 1947. It’s a novelty number (remember those? Don’t hear too many of those nowadays) I haven’t heard in way too many years, and had damned near forgotten about completely. So without further ado, here t’is.

I do declare, you just can’t help but dig those rib-tickling vocal stylings of R&B legend “Sweets” Edison, which I hasten to assure one and all I surely do. More from the notes included by the fella who put this one-of-a-kind chart-topper on Yew Toob.

Open The Door, Richard! (McVea-Clarke) by Count Basie & his Orchestra, vocal by Harry “Sweets” Edison, Bill Johnson, and the band

All five posted versions of this short-lived novelty sensation made it into the top-10 on both the pop and R&B Billboard weekly record charts: Count Basie (#1 pop), Dusty Fletcher, Jack McVea, Louis Jordan and The Three Flames.

Huh. Much as I’ve always admired the incomparable hit factory Louis Jordan’s amazing work, I don’t believe I ever heard his version of “Open the door, Richard” before. Gonna have to get cracking right away on filling that yawning chasm in my musical education straightaway.

2 thoughts on “Op’m de do’, Richit!”

Himself says:

June 26, 2025 at 11:30 am

Ok. Here’s something funny. Ever notice how the old Loony Toons they’d put in a ‘modern’ (for the times) reference? Like when Daffy Duck said “I…am an ACTOR! I have a contract with Warner Brothers!.

So there’s a Yosimite Sam / Bugs bunny toon where they are at a circus. Sam keeps chasing Bugs up a high dive and keeps going off of it. At one point, Bugs runs up and builds a door. Sam starts slamming into it. “Open Up! Open up or I’ll bust ‘er down!”

Then he looks at the camera and says “You notice how I didn’t say Richard?!”

Fuggin 45 years later, I finally get the reference.
1. Barry says:
  
  June 26, 2025 at 11:57 am
  
  “…I finally get the reference.”
  
  Nice catch, Himself!

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