Is there an old song called, ?Down to Panama,? from the late 1930?s or
early 1940?s?  If so, where can I find a copy of it?

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Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 30 Apr 2004 14:50 PDT

gxr73 --


How would you classify the song -- pop (including big band), country,
show tune, Latin -- or something else?  And are you pretty sure that
"Down to Panama" is the exact title?

markj-ga

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Clarification of Question by gxr73-ga on 03 May 2004 06:54 PDT

I don't know how to classify it, but I think I would rule out country.
 I know that Panama was a popular destination at the time, so I'm
guessing it would be either pop/big band or musical.

No, I don't know if that's the exact title.  It might be a lyric from
the refrain, for all I know.

If you can't find a song with this title from the 30s/40s, I think
finding any song from this period that has "Down to Panama" in the
lyrics would be successful, as long as I could get a copy of it to
listen to.

gxr73 --

I have struck out on this one, even though I have a long-time interest
in 30s and 40s pop/jazz music.

There is a traditional jazz piece called "Panama" that has been
recorded many times over the years, but as far as I know (or can tell
from my research), it has no lyrics.  Here is a link to an audio clip
of one of several recordings of the song by Louis Armstrong (this one
is from an Armstong appearance on Bing Crosby's TV show):

Barnes & Noble: "Havin' More Fun"  
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?sourceid=00401402267492137876&ean=717101203529&bfdate=05-03-2004+11:23:47

Just click on the icon at track 12 (you will need Windows Media Player).


The only other recording I have found whose lyrics fit the bill at all
is a song called "Down Panama Way."  However it was sung (and written)
in the 50's by Webb Pierce, a well-known traditional country singer.
Here's a link to a clip:

Barnes & Noble: The Wondering Boy (click on track 9 of disk 3)
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?sourceid=00401402269464777467&ean=790051155223&bfdate=05-03-2004+11:13:25


Maybe another researcher can come up with something more promising.

markj-ga

There is a song from the early 1940's by the Andrew Sosters called
"Rum and Coca Cola" that features the line "down in Trinidad". could
that be what you are looking for?