Tic-Tock Polka

Trying to dig up further info about another polka, this one called "Tic-Tock Polka". It appears it was originally recorded by Frankie Yankovic around 1949. The sheet music shows lyrics by "S. Guski" and "R.J. Martino" (Ralph John Martino according to Discogs) and music by Gaetano Lama. Considering that Lama died in 1949, it's likely an adaptation of a song he wrote. I've already searched ISWC and can't find anything (nor can I find who "S. Guski" is).

Last edit: 2020-02-16 05:09:18 UTC by Oldiesmann

Hi Michael,

I found an instrumental version from 1941:

https://archive.org/details/78_tic-ti-tic-ta_bee-gee-tavern-band-di-gaetano-lama…

https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/16010us

But it's much older.

in 1922 it was recorded by at least 3 acts.

Alessandro D'Alba on Okeh 86005

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000203174/S-71032-Tic_t_ti…

By Raoul Romito on Columbia E7621

https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/e7621

And Duo Gildo on Victor 73213

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700011320/B-26046-Tic-t_tic…

I think the year 1918 as given in the Youtube of Raoul Romito is wrong, because the song was written in 1920: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Lama

JoJo greets

Thanks for your assistance Jojo! I'll add this one to the site in a bit. Still wondering who the heck "S. Guski" was but still fun to learn the origins of these songs - especially the polkas

Tic-tì-tic-tà and Tic-Tock Polka are now on site

Quote from Oldiesmann

Still wondering who the heck "S. Guski" was but still fun to learn the origins of these songs - especially the polkas

S. Guski = Stanley Edward Guski

https://books.google.nl/books?id=zFQhAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=Stanley+Edward…=onepage&q=Stanley%20Edward%20Guski&f=false

And his real name is Edward Walter Gurzynski (1918-2008)

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailygazette/obituary.aspx?n=edward-w-gurzynsk…

JoJo greets

Thanks again Jojo