[ Mike Walter wrote in 190207 MMDigest

> Hi all, I need some assistance in finding someone who has an original
> copy of Ampico roll no. 214681, "Mine", by George Gershwin, played
> by Rickenbach & Carroll.  I am looking to find out the lyrics between
> Refrain #1 and Refrain #2.

The missing "verse" included in the Ampico roll "Mine" sounds like
period music to me; however, neither the 1933 sheet music (with
the recitative verse) nor the 1952 revival version (verse omitted
altogether) include it.

While it's possible a verse was written earlier, then cut during the
show's tryouts and later replaced with the recitative verse, Ira
Gershwin makes no mention of this whatsoever in his book, "Lyrics on
Several Occasions."  He describes in detail his fitting lyrics to the
existing tune for "Mine" yet he never mentions there being an earlier
version of an in-tempo verse.  Only the recitative verse is mentioned.
(You can hear this recitative on the 1987 cast album.)  One of
Gershwin's sketchbooks at the Library of Congress also includes drafts
and notes for "Mine", however there is no verse present there either.

The fact the lyrics are missing from the Ampico roll indicate
to me that the lyrics (and melody) are most likely NOT part of the
Gershwin/Gershwin composition.  If they were, the lyrics would appear
on the roll with the music.  From my experience, Ampico artists of
popular rolls almost always used the published sheet music as their
guide.  Keys, tempo, fills, phrasing prove this again and again.  It
would have been strange for an Ampico artist to search out a rare
manuscript version of a song, simply to record an unknown and unused
verse for completeness sake.

Additionally, the Ampico roll of "Mine" was put out in December
1933, mere weeks before the failing show ("Let 'Em Eat Cake") closed.
Again, for a company like Ampico whose business relied on income from
predicting "hits", especially during the depression, this seems like
significant expense, trouble and bother to go to simply to record
a "cut" part of a song for a failing show that "flopped."

What is more likely is that the verse belongs to another composer.
It could be part of an existing song and if it ever had lyrics, those
lyrics were written by another lyricist entirely.  It may not ever
had lyrics just as well.  It may also be the creation of the pianist
himself. (While it was customary for the Gershwins to reuse earlier
cut songs in later shows, I looked through all of the cut songs from
the Gershwin brothers shows as far back as 1924 and could not find this
"verse" coming from any other show material, cut or otherwise.)

On the other hand, it was not unusual for Ampico to include a song
_within_ a song. (I'm speaking only of "single" tune rolls here, not
"Outstanding Hits," etc.)  Many single-tune rolls actually include two
songs: one main song on the label and then a "highlight" of another
song from another composers/lyricists (uncredited) within the routine.
The indicator?  Suddenly, mid-roll, where a melody clearly exists,
lyrics are not printed alongside the punches.  Then the tune on the
label returns and the lyrics resume.  Here are three such examples:

204591 "Toodle-Oo" -- The song with music by Vincent Youmans and Oscar
Hammerstein II includes an entire refrain of "I'm in Love with Love" by
Jerome Kern and Anne Caldwell from their musical "Stepping Stones".

204691 "Maybe (She'll Write)" -- The song with music and lyrics by
Turk-Snyder and Ahlert includes and entire refrain of "A Lonely Nest"
by Victor Herbert and Buddy DeSylva from "Orange Blossoms".

208711 "Nesting Time" -- The song with music and lyrics by Dixon/Monaco
includes an entire refrain (as well as numerous other musical quotations
throughout) of Louis Hirsch and Otto Harbach from the show "Mary".

All that being said, there _are_ a few lyrics missing from the Ampico
"Mine" roll which are missing from the roll.  They don't make a lot of
sense out of context from the show so that is at least part of the
reason they were omitted.  These lyrics appear at the end of the
"recitative" verse for those who are looking at the 1933 sheet music.

The missing "verse" lyrics for "Mine" fit at Ampico roll video time
1:33, in the 4 bars or so preceding the refrain 2, the triplet section:

  "We'd love to know how you feel about her
   and how she feels about you."

It's possible that this missing material will surface so I will continue
researching.  I cannot find my copy of Robert Kimball's "The Complete
Lyrics of Ira Gershwin" but will check it and a few other sources and
report back if I find anything more.

Adam Aceto
Los Angeles, Calif.
tel.: 1-818-239-6814
https://www.instagram.com/adamswinelist/?hl=3Den 

 [ Thanks, Adam.  Maybe we'll learn that the "verse" was composed by
 [ pianist Paul Rickenbach himself!  -- Robbie