Mills Brothers - Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger) with lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two sound files and one film clip of The Mills Brothers performing "Tiger Rag" ("Hold That Tiger"). Information about this song and the song's lyrics are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT "THE TIGER RAG" ("HOLD THAT TIGER")
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Rag
"Tiger Rag" is a jazz standard, originally recorded and copyrighted by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917. It is one of the most recorded jazz compositions of all time. In 2003, the 1918 ODJB recording of "Tiger Rag" was placed on the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry…
Their second recording of the tune on 25 March 1918 for Victor Records, 18472-B, backed with "Skeleton Jangle" as the A side, on the other hand, was a smash national hit and established the tune as a jazz standard.[2] The song was copyrighted, published, and credited to bandmembers Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields in 1917.[3] Harry DaCosta later wrote lyrics to the instrumental when it became a million- seller and a no. 1 national hit for The Mills Brothers in 1931…
While the exact details are unclear, it seems that at least something similar to "Tiger Rag" or various strains of it was played in New Orleans before the Original Dixieland Jass Band recorded it. How close these were to the Band's recording is a matter of speculation. The Band's record seems to have helped solidify a standard version or head arrangement of the number, although one strain in the Band's recordings (just before the famous "hold that tiger" chorus) is almost invariably left out of later recordings and performances of the number."
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The word "rag" in the title "Tiger Rag" refers to the "Ragtime" genre of music. Here's information about Ragtime from that music's Wikipedia page:
"Ragtime (alternatively spelled rag-time)[1] is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918.[2] Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm.[2] It began as dance music in the red-light districts of African American communities in St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published as popular sheet music for piano/"..."
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime for more information about this type of music.

FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1 The Mills Brothers Tiger Rag 1931



Discofelsi, Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009

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Example #2: The Mills Brothers - Tiger Rag



SyberkaPL,Uploaded on Oct 9, 2009

Young Mills Brothers in movie The Big Broadcast from 1932 with their famous song.
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This film clip is the same rendition is the same as Example #1. I included Example #1 mostly for its photograph of the singers.

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Example #3: The Mills Brothers Tiger Rag 1970's

millsbrothers, Uploaded on May 31, 2010
This is a late in the game recording but I am very fond of it!!!
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Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwsBhZHBr_s
blues2boogie, 2010
"The Mills Brothers started the harmonic group really. I wish there were more recordings of John, DEonald, Herbert, and my favorit Harry. My grandparents introduced me to them back in the 1960s. I only wish I could have seen them perform live. The Mills Brothers are the best harmonic group ever."
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This performance only featured three Mills Brothers as John was no longer living at the time of that recording.

LYRICS: TIGER RAG
Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger

Where's that tiger? Where's that tiger?
Here's that tiger
Where's that tiger? Here's that tiger
Where's that tiger? There's that tiger

Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger, hold that tiger
Hold that tiger

Where's that tiger? Where's that tiger?
Here's that tiger
Where's that tiger? Here's that tiger
Where's that tiger

http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/mills-brothers-lyrics/tiger-rag-lyrics.html

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to composers of this song and thanks to The Mills Brothers for their music legacy. Thanks to those who provided information and comments about The Mills Brothers and thanks to the uploaders of these sound files and video.

Also, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.