Tracks Unwrapped

I('ve) Found A New Baby

Exploring the stories behind the music

I Found A New Baby was written by pianist Spencer Williams in the 1920s. Spencer was also responsible for Basin Street Blues, Royal Garden Blues, Tishomingo Blues and Everybody Loves My Baby. He wrote it with Jack Palmer (who also shares the credits for Everybody Loves My Baby). Jack was a staff writer in Tin Pan Alley and his other two 'hits' Jumpin' Jive and Boog It were written with Cab Calloway. It was Clarence Williams (no relation to Spencer Williams) who first introduced the tune on Okeh records in January 1926 with his Blue Five and with Eva Taylor (contralto) - it is sometimes called I've Found A New Baby. Here is the Clarence Williams recording:

Clarence Williams went on to make other recordings of the song - this one (here) is quite 'hot' - and over the years many others have recorded it from the 1920s to Charlie Parker (1943), Sonny Rollins (1958) and Don Byron (2004) you wonder what it is about the song that has made it so popular? The website Jazz Standards says: “I’ve Found a New Baby” is included in the repertoire of almost every traditional jazz band. It is attractive as an improvisational vehicle, allowing not only the individual musician creative vistas but the group ample opportunity to share solos. The lyrics speak of a happy fellow who has fallen hard for a pretty girl. The jargon is definitely the patter of the 1920’s, “Tells me lies, but she’s wise, naughty eyes, mesmerize I vow, and how, I don’t mean maybe!”. But clearly the tune extends beyond 'every traditional jazz band'. Here is the Sonny Rollins version. Jazz Standards notes: "After making this recording, Rollins would spend several years in retirement, seeking to develop his sound. This was a very surprising development at the time, and is still striking today when hearing how advanced his music already was. He plays a swinging and very witty version of "I've Found A New Baby"' accompanied by an all-star West Coast rhythm section:

Charlie Christian's guitar solo on I've Found A New Baby with the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1940 has been called one of the most influential solos recorded by the guitarist. Charlie was 'an early performer on the electric guitar, and a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. "His single-string technique, combined with amplification, helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument."

Ev'rybody look at me,
Happy fellow you will see,
I've got someone nice, oh, gee!
Oh what joy, what bliss.
Just the treasure that I need,
Pure as gold and guaranteed.
Is she pretty? Yes, indeed,
Let me tell you this.

I've found a new baby, I've found a new girl,
My fashion plate baby, has got me a whirl.
Her new king o' lovin' done made me her slave,
Her sweet turtle dovin' is all that I crave.
Sweetest miss, with a kiss full o' bliss, can't resist somehow.
Tells me lies, but she's wise, naughty eyes, mesmerise I vow,
and how, I don't mean maybe!
I just had to fall,
I've found a new baby, new baby that's all.

How long the word 'baby' has been used as a term of endearment? English Online notes: "A term that’s used all over the world, “baby” shows you want to look after and protect someone – it started being used as a term of endearment in the 17th century." (but the statement not give evidence to back this up).

The fact that today 'baby' refers to both men and women is underlined in Woody Allen's film Bullets Over Broadway. We are not able to show a clip of the film, but in 2014 the story was staged on Broadway - here are Betsy Wolfe and Zach Braff reprising the number in a TV show:

As for "My fashion plate baby". Wikipedia says: "A fashion plate is an illustration (a plate) demonstrating the highlights of fashionable styles of clothing. Traditionally they are rendered through etching, line engraving, or lithograph and then colored by hand." But the term is also applied to a person. e.g. "From his first appearance in the comic strip sporting a flower on his collar in 1950, Charlie Brown’s faithful friend was always a fashion plate whose clothing reflected his personality and fantasy life." (Merriam-Webster's Dictionary).

I don't care if people think
That I am a crazy gink,
If love puts me on the blink
I'll just yell, Hey, Hey,
'cause I'm wild about my queen,
Sweetest girl I've ever seen.
She's red hot that's what I mean,
Listen while I say........

As yhe young musicians from the Sant Andreu Jazz Band show, the tune is still popular, still allowing musicians plenty of opportunitity to take solos and to have fun with the number:

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