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Kansas City (song)





A SONG FROM THE BROADWAY MUSICAL '' OKLAHOMA! "

In this 1942 light opera, the plot set-up for this tune is the return of cowboy Will Parker (a secondary character) from an excursion to Kansas City . He describes his experiences in song. The tune starts out:
Everythings up to date in Kansas City,

:''They've gone about as far as they can go..."

The tune continues to describe the wonders of this city and its entertainments (from the viewpoint of a country bumkin), all reprising with the concept that the conditions (in 1906) represent the ultimate in progress with little more expected.


THE "BLUES" SONG

"Kansas City" also the title of a Rhythm And Blues song dating back to the 1950s. Its best known version was recorded in 1959 by Wilbert Harrison . It has been recorded by a number of performers including Little Richard , The Beatles , and Bill Haley & His Comets .

The origin of the song is a matter of some dispute. Although the song is usually credited to Jerry Leiber And Mike Stoller , and dated to 1951, a recording of an identical song entitled "KC Loving" dates from around the same time and is credited to Little Willie Littlefield , who recorded it.

Little Richard's version was often combined into a medley with another song, "Hey Hey Hey". Several different versions of Haley's "Kansas City" exist, some featuring vocals by Haley himself and others sung by his saxophone player, Rudy Pompilli .