Another story about the song is that Kay Kyser recorded it on one day’s notice as a result of a telephone call from Loesser, who sang it long distance. Kyser liked it and put an arranger on the phone to write down the words and melody as Loesser sang. The band rehearsed and recorded it in Hollywood the next day—July 31, 1942 (the same date they recorded the equally popular and irreverent “Strip Polka”)—at the last Kyser recording session before the musicians’ union prohibition against instrumental recordings took effect. The story seems plausible, as the Library of Congress did not receive Loesser’s music until August 21. Kay Kyser’s dance band had risen to national prominence after first appearing at Chicago’s Blackhawk Hotel in 1934. His musical quiz show, the College of Musical Knowledge, remained topflight radio entertainment for years.
Another story about the song is that Kay Kyser recorded it on one day’s notice as a result of a telephone call from Loesser, who sang it long distance. Kyser liked it and put an arranger on the phone to write down the words and melody as Loesser sang. The band rehearsed and recorded it in Hollywood the next day—July 31, 1942 (the same date they recorded the equally popular and irreverent “Strip Polka”)—at the last Kyser recording session before the musicians’ union prohibition against instrumental recordings took effect. The story seems plausible, as the Library of Congress did not receive Loesser’s music until August 21. Kay Kyser’s dance band had risen to national prominence after first appearing at Chicago’s Blackhawk Hotel in 1934. His musical quiz show, the College of Musical Knowledge, remained topflight radio entertainment for years.