RHYTHM IS OUR BUSINESS
(Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / Jimmie Lunceford)

Jimmie Lunceford & His Orch. (vocal: Willie Smith) - 1935
Wingy Manone & His Orch. (vocal: Wingy Manone) - 1935
Ray Noble & His All Star American Orch. - 1935
Willie Lewis & His Entertainers - 1935
Freddy Johnson & His Orch. with Louis Bacon's Septet - 1935
Skinnay Ennis & His Orch. - 1956
Big Bill Bissonnette & His Easy Riders Jazz Band - 1985
The Western Dixie Band (vocal: Chris O'Connell) - 1988
Duke Heitger & His Swing Band - 1998

Also recorded by: Cyril Blake & His Jigs Club Band;
Svend Asmussen; Sammy Cahn; Laura Fygi; Marty Grosz;
Don Neely; Pasadena Roof Orchestra; John Pizzarelli;
George Scott-Wood: ............ and others.


Rhythm is our business, rhythm is what we sell,
Rhythm is our business, business sure is swell,
Now, if you blue, rhythm's what you need
If you got rhythm you're sure to succeed,
Rhythm is our business, business sure is swell.

He's the drummer man, in the band
Crosby's on the drums, in the band
Oh, when he does tricks with the sticks
The boys in the band all play hot licks

He plays saxophone in the band
Joe plays the saxophone in the band
Oh, when he goes up that scale
(One line of scat singing followed by saxophone break)

Mose plays on the bass in the band
Mose plays on that bass in the band
Now when he picks on those strings
Happiness to you he brings
(Short bass break)

He blows on the trumpet in the band
Steve blows on that trumpet in the band
Oh, he's the guy, hits `em high
Makes you think he's in the sky
(Trumpet Break)

Oh rhythm is our business!


(Transcribed from the Jimmie Lunceford
recording by Bill Huntley - November 2005)