You Came A Long Way from St. Louis

Music by John Benson Brooks and lyrics by Bob Russell , 1948

Jewel Music ASCAP

With Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra

Arrangements by Joe Lipman and Jack Andrews

Produced by Charles Grean and Lee Schapiro

Recorded in RCA Victor's Studio A, New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Final Recording Time 3:06

Recorded April 23rd, 1959 ~ Matrix No. K2PB-2333 Take 6

SESSION MUSICIANS

April 23, 1959

Produced by Charles Grean and Lee Schapiro

Orchestra

Leader: Mitchell Ayres

Contractor: Henry "Hank" Ross

Trumpet ~ James Maxwell

Trumpet ~ John Lawson

Trombone ~ Robert Byrne

Trombone ~ Robert Alexander

Trombone ~ John D'agostino

Trombone ~ Chauncey Welsch

Trombone ~ Urban Green

Trombone ~ Richard Hixon

Sax ~ Bernard Kaufman

Sax ~ Abraham Richman

Sax ~ Stanley Webb

Piano ~ Henry Rowland

Guitar ~ Anthony "Tony" Mottola

Guitar ~ Danny Perri

Drums ~ Terry Snyder

Drums ~ Sol Gubin

Bass ~ Robert Haggart

Tuba ~ Don Butterfield

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Como Swings" LSP-2010 STEREO SEPTEMBER 1959

Single release: RCA-45RPM-47-8518

Single Flip Side: "Route 66"

Stereo Single release: RCA-45RPM-61-8518 ( same flip side )

St. Louis is in Missouri, and that's known as 'The Show-Me' State. And that's what this bright novelty tune is all about: a gal who has come a long way from St. Louis but, according to the guy she's trying to impress, still has a long way to go. Bob Russell and John Benson Brooks collaborated on the song inn 1948. Russell wrote the words for such hits as Frenesi, Maria Elena, Don't Get Around Much Anymore and Brazil. Brooks, a leading arranger for big bands ( including Les Brown's and Tommy Dorsey's ), also had some hits, among them Who Threw the Whisky in the Well and Just as Though You Were Here.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )