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{{Infobox song
| name = Open the Door, Richard
| cover = Open the Door Richard sheet music cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption = SheetEarly sheet music cover<!-- Date unspecified on cover, but suggests an early printing style -->
| type = single
| artist = [[Jack McVea]] and His All Stars
| albumB-side = Lonesome =Blues
| released = {{Start date|1946}}
| B-side = Lonesome Blues
| released recorded = {{Start date|1946}}
| genre =
| format = [[Gramophone record#Formats|10-inch 78{{nbsp}}rpm record]]
| recorded = 1946
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
*[[Rhythm and blues]]
*[[novelty song]]
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=:58}}
| label = [[Black & White Records|Black & White]] (no. 792)
| writercomposer = =
*Frank Clarke
*Don Howell
*John Mason
*Don Howell
| lyricist =
*Jack McVea
*Frank Clarke
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"'''Open the Door, Richard'''" is a song first recorded by the [[tenor saxophone|saxophonist]] [[Jack McVea]] for [[Black & White Records]] at the suggestion of [[A&R]] man [[Ralph Bass]]. In 1947, it was the number- one song on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s "Honor Roll of Hits" and became a runaway pop sensation.<ref name="shaw">{{cite booksfn|Shaw|1978|pp=226–227}}
| first= Arnold
| last= Shaw
| year= 1978
| title= Honkers and Shouters
| edition=
| publisher=Macmillan
| location= New York
| pages= 226–227
| isbn= 0-02-061740-2}}</ref>
 
==Origin==
"Open the Door, Richard" started outbegan as a black [[vaudeville]] routine. [[Pigmeat Markham]], one of several who performed the routine, attributed it to his mentor Bob Russell.<ref>{{sfn|Smith (|2004). |pp. =78, 341n.}} According to Markham, Russell wrote the piece for a show called ''Mr. Rareback'', in which the comedian [[John Mason (comedian)|John Mason]] performed it (and presumably expanded it in improvisation). Mason, Russell, and Markham were all [[African-American]] comedians; all performed in [[blackface]].</ref> The routine was made famous by [[Dusty Fletcher]] on stages such as the [[Apollo Theater]] in New York City and in a short film.<ref> [https://archive.org/details/open_the_door_richard [Archive.org&#93;]</ref> Dressed in rags, drunk, and with a ladder as his only prop, Fletcher would repeatedly plunk the ladder down stage center, try to climb it to knock on an imaginary door, then crash sprawling on the floor after a few steps while shouting, half-singing "Open the Door, Richard". After this, he would mutter a comic monologue, then try the ladder again and repeat the process, while the audience was imagining what Richard was so occupied doing.<ref name="fox">{{cite book
| first= Ted
| last= Fox
| year= 1993
| title= Showtime at the Apollo
| edition= 2nd
| location=New York City
| publisher= [[Da Capo Press]]
| isbn= 0-306-80503-0
| page= 96
}}</ref>
 
The routine was made famous by [[Dusty Fletcher]] on stages such as the [[Apollo Theater]] in New York City and in a short film. Dressed in rags, drunk, and with a ladder as his only prop, Fletcher would repeatedly plunk the ladder down stage center, try to climb it to knock on an imaginary door, then crash sprawling on the floor after a few steps while shouting, half-singing "Open the Door, Richard". After this, he would mutter a comic monologue, then try the ladder again and repeat the process, while the audience was imagining what Richard was so occupied doing.{{sfn|Fox|1993|p=96}}
Jack McVea was responsible for the musical [[riff]] associated with the phrase "Open the Door, Richard",<ref name="Smith 2004, p. 76">Smith (2004). p. 76.</ref> which became familiar to radio listeners. Fourteen different recordings of the song were made.
 
Jack McVea was responsible for the musical [[riff]] associated with the phrase "Open the Door, Richard",{{sf|Smith|2004|p=76}} which became familiar to radio listeners.
 
==Composition==
Line 60 ⟶ 35:
Open the door and let me in
Open the door, Richard
Richard, why don't you open that door!<ref name=pc19/>}}
 
The spoken dialogue makes humorous references to negative aspects of urban [[African-American culture|African-American]] life, including poverty and police brutality. The narrator explains: "I know he's in there, 'cause I got on the clothes." He also says "I was on [[welfare|relief]], but they got short of help and you had to go downtown to pick up the checks, so I gave it up." Later, when a policeman tells him to come down from the ladder and begins hitting his feet, the narrator protests: "You act like one of them police that ain't never arrested nobody before." Although the neighbors are being disturbed, McVea continues knocking as the song fades away.<ref name="first">{{cite booksfn|Dawson|Propes|1992|pp=21–25}}
| first1=Jim
| last1= Dawson
| first2=Steve
| last2=Propes
| year= 1992
| title= What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record
| location= Boston & London
| publisher= [[Faber and Faber]]
| pages= 21–25
| isbn=0-571-12939-0
}}</ref>
 
==Charting versions==
*[[Jack McVea]] recorded the original "Open the Door, Richard" in October 1946{{sfn|Smith|2004|p=76}} and it was released by [[Black & White Records]].<ref>[[Black & White Records]] number 792</ref> It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on February 14, 1947 and lasted two weeks there, peaking at number seven.{{sfn|Whitburn|1988|p=285}} It ends with a [[fade-out]] instead of the "cold" or final note ending that had previously been employed on commercial records.
{{copyedit|section|date=October 2017}}
*[[Count Basie]]'s version was released by [[RCA Victor Records]]<ref>[[RCA Records]] number 20-2127</ref> with vocals by [[Harry "Sweets" Edison]] and [[The Funk Brothers#Detroit musicians|Bill Johnson]].<ref name=pc19>{{Gilliland |year=197X |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633223/m1/#track/5 |title=Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #19 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |date=March 23, 2020 |accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> It entered the ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Best Seller chart on February 7, 1947, and lasted four weeks there, peaking at number one.{{sfn|Whitburn|1988|p=36}}
The original recording by [[Jack McVea]] was made in October 1946<ref name="Smith 2004, p. 76"/> and was released by [[Black & White Records]] as catalogue number 792. It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on February 14, 1947 and lasted two weeks there, peaking at number seven.<ref name=Whitburn/> This recording is notable one of the first to end with a fade-out (instead of the "cold" or final note ending that had previously been employed on commercial records).<ref>Robert Petway's "Catfish Blues" is believed to be the first commercial recording to employ the technique of fading out at the end of a record. It was recorded March 28, 1941, in Chicago, and subsequently released as Bluebird B8838.</ref>
*[[Dusty Fletcher]] recorded it for [[National Records]].<ref>[[National Records]] number 4012</ref> It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on January 31, 1947 and lasted five weeks there, peaking at number three.{{sfn|Whitburn|1988|p=152}}
*The Three Flames's version was released by [[Columbia Records]].<ref>[[Columbia Records]] number 37268</ref> It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on February 14, 1947 and lasted three weeks there, peaking at number four.{{sfn|Whitburn|1988|p=412}}
*[[Louis Jordan]] recorded it for [[Decca Records]].<ref>[[Decca Records]] number 23841</ref> It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on March 7, 1947 and lasted two weeks there, peaking at number seven.{{sfn|Whitburn|1988|p=229}}
 
==Copyright dispute==
A recording by [[Count Basie]] was released by [[RCA Victor Records]] as catalogue number 20-2127. It entered the ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Best Seller chart on February 7, 1947 and lasted four weeks there, peaking at number one.<ref name=Whitburn>
The origins of the piece in a vaudeville routine led to there being several claimants to the copyright. Russell was no longer alive, but both Mason and Fletcher came forth claiming to have written it; Fletcher even claimed that he had written the tune. By the time the dust settled, the official credits read "Words by Dusty Fletcher and John Mason, music by Dusty Fletcher and Don Howell". Howell appears to have been an entirely fictional front through which someone managed to pocket some of the royalties at McVea's expense.{{sfn|Smith|2004|pp=81–82}}
{{cite book
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book
| first1 = Jim
| last1 = Dawson
| author-link1=Jim Dawson
| first2 = Steve
| last2 = Propes
| author-link2=Steve Propes
| year = 1992
| title = What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record
| location = Boston, London
| publisher = [[Faber and Faber]]
| isbn=0-571-12939-0}}
*{{cite book
| first = Ted
| last = Fox
| year = 1993
| title = Showtime at the Apollo
| edition = 2nd
| location = New York City
| publisher = [[Da Capo Press]]
| isbn = 0-306-80503-0}}
*{{cite book
| first = Arnold
| last = Shaw
| year = 1978
| title = Honkers and Shouters
| publisher = Macmillan
| location = New York
| isbn = 0-02-061740-2}}
*{{cite book
| last = Smith
| first = R. J.
| year = 2004
| title = Richard Speaks! Chasing a Tune from the Chitlin Circuit to the Mormon Tabernacle
| section = This is Pop
| publisher = [[Harvard University Press]]
| isbn = 0-674-01321-2}}
*{{cite book
| last = Whitburn
| first = Joel
| authorlinkauthor-link = Joel Whitburn
| title = Top R&B Singles 1942–1988
| year = 1988
| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
| publisher = [[Record Research]]
| isbn = 0-89820-068-7}}
| page =
| ref = harv
}}</ref>
 
A recording by [[Dusty Fletcher]] was released by [[National Records]] as catalogue number 4012. It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on January 31, 1947 and lasted five weeks there, peaking at number three.<ref name=Whitburn/>
 
A recording by the [[The Three Flames|Three Flames]] was released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalogue number 37268. It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on February 14, 1947 and lasted three weeks there, peaking at number four.<ref name=Whitburn/>
 
A recording by [[Louis Jordan]] was released by [[Decca Records]] as catalogue number 23841. It entered the ''Billboard'' Best Seller chart on March 7, 1947 and lasted two weeks there, peaking at number seven.<ref name=Whitburn/>
 
For all the artists above except Jordan, this song was their only hit on the charts. (This includes Count Basie, despite his great fame. In Whitburn's ''Pop Memories'', Basie was recognized for his many chart singles outside the retail Top 10. The Basie string of "hits" continued on different Billboard charts through 1968.){{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
 
==Copyright dispute==
The origins of the piece in a vaudeville routine led to there being several claimants to the copyright. Russell was no longer alive, but both Mason and Fletcher came forth claiming to have written it; Fletcher even claimed that he had written the tune. By the time the dust settled, the official credits read "Words by Dusty Fletcher and John Mason, music by Dusty Fletcher and Don Howell". Howell appears to have been an entirely fictional front through which someone managed to pocket some of the royalties at McVea's expense.<ref>Smith (2004). p. 81–82.</ref>
 
==Legacy==
{{importance section|date=October 2017}}
"Open the Door, Richard" was an early [[R&B]] novelty record, a song category that became a basic genre of [[rock and roll]] in the 1950s. It also started the fad of [[answer song]]s.
 
When "Open the Door, Richard" landed on the "Honor Roll of Hits", it joined such white pop songs as "Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah" for a [[Walt Disney]] film. But a black ballad, "[[(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons]]", sung by [[Al Jolson]], was also on the list. These two songs became the first [[rhythm and blues]] songs since "I Wonder" to achieve sensational success in the white market and indicated that the pop mainstream was open to [[R&B]].<ref name="shaw"/>
 
The phrase "Open the Door, Richard" passed into [[African American Vernacular English]] and became associated with the [[American Civil Rights Movement (1896-1954)|civil rights movement]]. When college students marched in 1947 to the state capitol demanding the resignation of [[racial segregation|segregationist]] governor [[Herman Talmadge]], some of their banners read "Open the Door Herman". The ''[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]'' used "Open the Door Richard" as the title of an editorial demanding black representation in city government, and a Detroit minister used the title for a sermon on open housing.<ref>Smith (2004). pp. 83–84.</ref>
 
"Open the Door, Richard" also became a catchphrase in broader American society. It was used in routines by [[Jack Benny]], [[Fred Allen]], and [[Phil Harris]]. [[Jimmy Durante]] and [[Burl Ives]] each recorded versions of the song. The [[opera]] star [[Lauritz Melchior]] performed it on national radio. [[Molly Picon]] recorded a [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] version; it was also covered in [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], [[French language|French]], [[Armenian language|Armenian]] and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]. There were "Richard" hats, shirts, and jeans, and ads for products ranging from ale to perfume incorporated references to the song.<ref>Smith (2004). p. 84–85.</ref>
 
A variant of the phrase ("Open the window, Richard") was used in the [[1947 in film|1947]] [[Looney Tunes]] [[short subject|short]] ''[[Crowing Pains]]''.
 
North Carolina artist Pigmeat Markham released a version of the song for Chess Records in 1964.
 
A non-charting version was recorded by [[Tsai Chin (actress)|Tsai Chin]] and released in 1965 by UK [[Decca Records]] as "The Western World of Tsai Chinn", catalogue number LK 4717, with an arrangement by Harry Robinson and McVea credited as the composer. At its conclusion, Chin is finally admitted by "Christopher".
 
In 1967, [[Bob Dylan]] and the [[The Band|Band]] recorded an homage to the song as part of ''[[The Basement Tapes]]''. Entitled "[[The Basement Tapes#Open the Door.2C Homer|Open the Door, Homer]]", the chorus nevertheless repeated the phrase "Open the door, Richard."
 
[[Ray Stevens]] covered the song on his 2012 box set ''The Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music''.
 
The [[Cuban Boys]] released a re-mix of the song with the same title on their 2000 EP ''Old Skool for Scoundrels''.
 
In 1952, [[Tex Williams]] and Jesse Ashlock wrote what was possibly a response song, entitled "Close the Door, Richard, I Just Saw the Thing".
 
The comedy routine "Dave's Not Here" by [[Cheech & Chong]] was inspired by the song.
 
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
 
==References==
* Smith, R. J. (2004). "Richard Speaks! Chasing a Tune from the Chitlin Circuit to the Mormon Tabernacle". pp. 75–89 in [[Eric Weisbard|Weisbard, Eric]] (ed.), ''This is Pop'' Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|0-674-01321-2}} (cloth), {{ISBN|0-674-01344-1}} (paper).
 
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = "[[(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons]]" by [[The King Cole Trio]]
| title = U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Best Sellers in Stores]] [[List of number-one hits (United States)|number-one single]]
| years = February 22, 1947
| after = "[[Managua, Nicaragua (song)|Managua, Nicaragua]]" by [[Freddy Martin]]
}}
{{s-end}}
 
{{The Charioteers}}
{{Louis Jordan}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:1947 songs]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_the_Door,_Richard!"