I would appreciate some help

Hi!

While browsing around the database I came across this lovely album called If I Were a Bell - The Songs of Frank Loesser by Andrea Marcovicci and went straight on to Spotify to listen to it and bring the links here. That's how I came across the song Doesn't mean this anything to you? and immediately wanted to add it to SHS. But guys, what a hassle! My research wasn't as successful as I would have liked.

Here is what I found:

• It was written by Frank Loesser and Bob Emmerich in 1934.
• Publisher: Frank Music Corp.
• Publisher before: Luz Bros Music Publishers
• ISWC: T-071.964.133-4
• ASCAP: 00000341102390

As you can see I could neither make out the first release nor find a performer other than the cover artist.

Is there any way to add the cover nonetheless? Or does anybody have another idea where to continue with the research?

Here are the links if you want to follow my findings:

article from Frank Loesser's brother Arthur with a list of his songs

copyright.gov

ASCAP

frankloesser.com

grainger.de - Luz Bros -> see works

grainger.de - Bob Emmerich -> see works

theatermania.com - article on Andrea Marcovicci's cover

Dola unfortunately we can only include in the database works that have at least one cover. Hopefully your post will help you find a cover (or the original).

Yes, I know we need at least one cover. And I found a cover as you can see.

Any ideas on how to find such an old original, sebcat? At the moment I'm afraid I'll have to wait until someone comes along who doesn't have to research it, but knows it. sigh

Try contacting Frank Loesser Enterprises. They might be able to help. https://frankloesser.com/contact/

Unfortunately the only other recordings by that name I've found were both done 5 years before this particular song was written so I can't be much help beyond that.

Doesn't That Mean Anything to You by Loesser (words) and Emmerich (music) was copyrighted December 17, 1934. I haven't found a recording from that period. The earliest performance I found was by Jane Froman on her NBC Sunday night radio show on February 3, 1935.

Quote from SlimD

The earliest performance I found was by Jane Froman on her NBC Sunday night radio show on February 3, 1935.

Eureka

That is, now that we know a first performance, can an entry be created for the song? Or is a release needed also?

Thank you guys for coming to my rescue.

Quote from Dola

That is, now that we know a first performance, can an entry be created for the song? Or is a release needed also?

A broadcast performance is fine as the original performance.

For the editor's notes here are more details.

Several newspapers described this show including the February 3, 1935 issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas). She was accompanied by Frank Black's Orchestra.