That International Rag

Album: Hello Ragtime (1913)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "That International Rag," also referred to as "The International Rag", was copyrighted August 12, 1913, and was one of many attempts by Irving Berlin to capitalize on his massive 1911 hit "Alexander's Ragtime Band." And it shows. Echoes of the latter song can clearly be heard in the former, but Berlin never came close to repeating the success of his monster hit with any of his subsequent rags. Actually, "That International Rag" is not strictly a rag, but the first part of the title is correct, because he wrote it while on a visit to London. He actually came up with it under extreme pressure the night before it was performed, by Berlin himself, in the show Hello Ragtime.
  • Published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, Carrie McManus appears on the front of one edition of the sheet music; it was also recorded on Victor by Billy Murray the same year, 1913. The song was used in the 1938 film Alexander's Ragtime Band in which it was performed by Alice Faye, Jack Haley and Chick Chandler. (This film is not to be confused with two earlier shorts of the same name).
  • "That International Rag" was also used in the 1953 film Call Me Madam in which it was performed by the lady with that unique voice, Ethel Merman. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.