Chinese Laundry Blues

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"Chinese Laundry Blues"
Comic song
Songwriter(s)Jack Cotterill (or Cottrell)

"Chinese Laundry Blues" is a 1932

comic song written by Jack Cotterill (or Cottrell) and associated with the British comedian George Formby. Formby recorded it for Decca Records on 1 July 1932. The song takes place in Limehouse (a traditional Chinatown) where the owner of a laundry has fallen in love, and is no longer paying attention to his job. It subtly uses the Oriental riff
.

The song featured in the 1934 comedy Boots! Boots!.[1] It became one of Formby's signature tunes, and introduced the character of "Mr. Wu". who appeared in a succession of songs, such as "The Wedding Of Mr. Wu," and most notably "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now" which shares its subject matter with "When I'm Cleaning Windows".

References

  1. ^ St. Pierre p.169

Bibliography

  • St. Pierre, Paul Matthew. Music Hall Mimesis in British Film, 1895-1960: On the Halls on the Screen. Associated University Presse, 2009.