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The Rags of George Linus Cobb

Featuring The Midnight Trot (1916) and other Piano Rags of George Linus Cobb

 

By Ted Tjaden

(originally published June 2006 and updated periodically)

 

George Linus Cobb (1886-1942) was a prolific composer of ragtime, including both instrumental compositions and ragtime songs. Included in this online essay is a brief overview of Cobb's life as a composer. I have also included a list of 215 known compositions by Cobb (135 instrumental pieces and 80 songs), along with identifying 4 still to-be-sourced compositions), the most extensive listing of his compositions by anyone to date. Also included is free online access to the sheet music all but 1 of his 215 known compositions, resulting in over 99% of his compositions being available on this site. In addition to being a composer, Cobb was also a columnist for Melody magazine, published by Walter Jacobs Inc, who was also his major publisher for his compositions (see below for a sample of Cobb's "Just Between You and Me" column from the magazine).

Information on this page is set out as follows:

1)  Life of George Linus Cobb
2)  Walter Jacobs Inc: The Tuneful Yankee and Melody magazines
3)  Sheet Music of George Cobb
4)  Commercial Recordings of George Cobb Compositions
5)  Additional avenues of research on George Cobb
6)  Bibliography

1) Life of George Linus Cobb (August 31, 1886 – December 25, 1942)

There is surprisingly little biographical information easily available on George Cobb. In They All Played Ragtime (or at least in the third printing of that book that I have), Cobb does not even get an index entry and is not discussed in the book (although several of his compositions are listed in various parts of the book). As such, very little is known about Cobb's life, compared to say Jack Yellen, one of Cobb's major partners who wrote the lyrics to at least 25 of Cobb's compositions; by way of contrast, Jack Yellen was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a much higher profile than George Cobb. The information on Cobb's life that follows is taken largely from either That American Rag (Jasen and Jones:2000) or Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History (Jasen and Tichenor:1989). Ragtimer Frederick Hodges presented a seminar on George Cobb in 2005 to the West Coast Ragtime Society and more recently updated his research on his website in an online blog post from July 2012 entitled "George L Cobb: The Tuneful Yankee." For now, I set out below some basic facts about the life of George Cobb (with section 5 below containing a list of some areas where additional research on the life and music of George Cobb is needed):

  • George Linus Cobb was born August 31, 1886, in Mexico, New York, and died in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Christmas Day, 1942. Research by Bill Edwards suggests that Cobb was resident in Mexico, New York at least through 1900 (Edwards:2007).
  • Cobb entered the School of Harmony and Composition at Syracuse University in 1905 (at the age of 19): Jasen and Jones (2000:228). Apparently, Cobb then lived in Buffalo on graduation where he won a local competition in 1909 for his composition "Buffalo Means Business" (below).
  • Research by Bill Edwards hints at the possibility – without verification at this stage – that Cobb may have served in the military prior to World War I given his dearth of publications between 1910 and 1912 and other factors (Edwards:2007).
  • Jasen and Jones (2000:229) surmise that it was likely around this time that Cobb hooked up with Jack Yellen, who turned out to be Cobb's main lyricist (Yellen apparently worked as a reporter at the Buffalo Courier), although Jasen and Jones report that Yellen left for the University of Michigan shortly after Cobb and Yellen had completed a few of their first compositions together.

"Rubber Plant" is a testament to Jacobs's good eye for rags, and it is also proof of Cobb's attentiveness at the Syracuse School of Harmony. Its harmonic surprises come thick and fast, as in silent movie music, yet it is not a showoff piece. It is a satisfying rag of middling difficulty, and, like most of Cobb's rags, it sounds harder to play than it is.

  • Cobb and Yellen continued their partnership in Tin Pan Alley and had a hit with their first attempt there: All Aboard for Dixieland (below) (Jasen and Jones: 2000:229). Jasen and Jones document a number of hit songs penned by Cobb and Yellen (all available below) and note their success in writing songs over their first few years in Tin Pan Alley where a number of their songs were performed on Broadway and where others, such as Alabama Jubilee (below), were heavily recorded.
  • Cobb was married in the 1910s to Mary (last name unknown), but she disappears by 1930. He likely moved to the Boston area in late 1916, and a Cambridge address shows on his WW1 draft card (Edwards:2007).
  • Jasen and Jones (2000:230) note that in September 1916 Walter Jacobs hired Cobb to be a staff writer and columnist for Jacobs's the Tuneful Yankee. However, they also note that Jacobs failed to require that Cobb exclusively publish with Walter Jacobs. Although Walter Jacobs was Cobb's main publisher by a long shot, Cobb did shop his compositions around and created a number of hits for publishers such as Will Rossiter with Cobb's Russian Rag (below).
  • His father, Louis, was a real-estate broker, continuing in that career perhaps to his death in the 1920s. Cobb was likely living with wife and parents in 1920, his father still a broker (Edwards:2007).   
  • Jasen and Jones (2000:231) state that Cobb used the pseudonym "Leo Gordon" on two of his new pieces published in The Tuneful Yankee "so he wouldn't seem to be hogging space in the magazine." Although they do not identify which two pieces, they likely are referring to Georgia Rainbow (1916) (below) and Bone Head Blues (1917) (below). However, my research also uncovered the following four less well known compositions by "Leo Gordon":
  • Hang Over Blues (1917) (below)
  • My Little Pal (1918) (below)
  • Opals: Waltz (1918) (below)
  • Youth and You Waltz (1917) (below)
  • Cobb was the arranger for The Blacksmith Rag, composed by "Rednip." Research by Luigi Ranalli (Ranalli:2007), suggests that Rednip is in fact a musician by the name Harold Pinder (with "Rednip" being "Pinder" spelled backwards) and not a pseudonym for Cobb. "Rednip" also composed At the Shimmee Ball (1919) that was published by "Pinder and Company."
  • Research by Bill Edwards suggests that Cobb was living in Somerville, MA, in 1930 with his mother. His occupation is listed as a publishing salesman, consistent with the fact that he was not heavily composing at this time but was instead likely concentrating on sales or distribution on behalf of Walter Jacobs (Edwards:2007). By 1940, Edwards' research has Cobb living in Brookline, MA, according to two copies of his World War II selective service card.
  • Publishers: Cobb's most frequent publisher of his music was Walter Jacobs, who published at least 130 of Cobb's compositions in one form or another. However, as was noted by Jasen and Jones (2000:230), Walter Jacobs did not sign Cobb to an exclusive contract; as a result, Cobb was free to publish elsewhere, something which he did. One of Cobb's early publishers, prior to Walter Jacobs, was Charles I Davis, who published at least 16 of Cobb's compositions. Another major early publisher was HC Weasner & Co of Buffalo, New York, who published at least 22 of Cobb's compositions. After these publishers, the next most frequent publisher of Cobb's music was Will Rossiter (11 compositions). After that, Cobb spread his compositions around, publishing with the following publishers in descending order of the number of publications published by each (with the number of compositions published by that publishers indicated in parentheses following the publisher's name):
  • Jerome H Remick (6)
  • Chas E Roat Music Co (Battle Creek, MI) (3)
  • Harold Freeman Music (2)
  • M Witmark & Sons (2)
  • Ted Garton Music Co (Boston) (2)
  • Vinton Music (Boston) (2)
  • Self (Cobb) (1)
  • Bell Music Co (1)
  • Hub Music Co (1)
  • Leo Feist (1)
  • Metropolis Music Co (1)
  • Oliver Ditson (1)
  • Seidel Music Pub Co (1)
  • Shapiro, Bernstein & Co (1)
  • Sherman Clay & Co (1)
  • Louis C Snyder (1)
  • Remaining publishers unknown
  • Songs: Of the 215 Cobb compositions listed on this page, 80 appear to be songs (i.e., compositions with vocals). Although Cobb appears to have penned the words to approximately 22 of these songs, he heavily relied on Jack Yellen as one of his major lyricists on at least 25 of these songs. The next most prolific vocalist on Cobb compositions appears to have been Robert Levenson (11 songs), with the remaining vocalists penning much fewer songs (with the number of compositions indicated in parentheses after the name of each vocalist):
  • Jack Mahoney (3)
  • J Will Callahan (2)
  • Irving Crocker (2)
  • Phil Volz (1)
  • WL Beardsley (1)
  • Lucius Pratt (1)
  • WR Williams (1)
  • Richard Whiting and Gus Kahn (1)
  • HC Weasner (1)
  • Bob Wyman (1)
  • Will Garton and Leo Wood (1)
  • Treve Collins (1)
  • W Max Davis and Eddie Elliott (1)
  • Aaron Neiberg (1)
  • Norman Leigh (1)
  • Instrumentals: A rough count suggests that 135 of Cobb's 215 compositions listed below are instrumentals. Of these 135 instrumentals, Jasen and Jones (2000) list 25 rags (including three under the pseudonym of Leo Gordon). The remaining instrumentals below fall into the categories of marches, one or two-steps, novelettes or mood pieces and waltzes (there appears to be 13 instrumental waltzes).


2) Walter Jacobs Inc: The Tuneful Yankee and Melody magazines

Walter Jacobs's The Tuneful Yankee and Melody magazines were a major source of many of Cobb's compositions provided below in section 3. The Tuneful Yankee commenced in January 1917 and was a monthly magazine similar to the Ragtime Review, published by Axel Christensen out of Chicago (see my separate essay on the Ragtime Review). Each monthly issue of these magazines typically contained a selection of short articles on ragtime or popular music, along with usually 3 or 4 compositions (typically by composers who had published with Walter Jacobs) and numerous ads (once again, typically for Walter Jacobs's publications). By the end of 1917, it appears that Walter Jacobs was proposing a contest to come up with a new name for the magazine, and in January 1918, the magazine was relaunched as Melody magazine. Cobb wrote a monthly column called "Just Between You and Me," which was formally commenced in the February 1918 (Vol II, Number 2) edition of Melody, although it looks as though previous columns, which were unattributed, were likely also written by Cobb due to the same acerbic style deployed in the earlier columns.

Fortunately, the Silent Film Sound & Music Archive has digitized most of the issues for The Tuneful Yankee and Melody, available here. Included on their site is an index by composer and an index by sheet music title.

Sample cover from the February 1917
                                The Tuneful Yankee (Walter Jacobs)


Left
: Sample cover from the February 1917 The Tuneful Yankee (Walter Jacobs).

February 1918 Melody Magazine
                                Cover


Left
: Sample cover from the February 1918 Melody magazine (Walter Jacobs).

February 1918 "Just Between
                                You and Me" Column in Melody
                                Magazine (by George L. Cobb)


Left
: Sample "Just Between You and Me" column by George Cobb from the February 1918 Melody magazine (Walter Jacobs) in which Cobb critiques piano compositions written and submitted by readers of the magazine.


3) Sheet Music of George Cobb Compositions

Set out below in chronological order is a complete list of known compositions by George Cobb. Ragtime songs (i.e., compositions with vocals) are identified with "peach-colored" backgrounds, whereas instrumental compositions are identified with "yellow" backgrounds. Jasen and Jones in That American Rag (2000) list 22 compositions by George Cobb and 3 by Leo Gordon (a known pseudonym of Cobb). Those 25 compositions listed by them are identified below by the code "TAR" as part of the bibliographic information and include the date of copyright registration as identified by Jasen and Jones (where copyright was in fact registered, which did not happen for all of these 25 compositions).

The sheet music in the tables below that was sourced from The Tuneful Yankee or Melody magazine was digitized from a microfilm version of those magazines; hence, the quality of those particular digital versions is not perfect but the music is quite readable.

Set out below the tables of chronological listings of Cobb compositions is a list of 4 compositions purportedly by Cobb but where I have been unable to obtain any confirming information about those pieces.

Readers who have copies of any of the public domain Cobb pieces identified below but not available are encouraged to provide me photocopies or digital scans of those pieces so they can be added to this site.

1905

Dimples: Characteristic March and
                            Two-Step: Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Dimples: Characteristic March and Two-Step. Boston: Vinton Music Pub Co, 1905.

[view sheet music]


Sources: Personal collection
[top]
Mr
                            Yankee: March and Two-Step Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Mr Yankee: March and Two-Step. Buffalo, NY: George L Cobb, 1905.

[view sheet music]

Source: Charles Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]

1906

The
                            Chauffeur March and Two Step Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. The Chauffeur: March and Two-Step. Boston: Vinton Music Pub Co, 1906.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Fleetfoot March Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Fleetfoot March. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1906.

[view sheet music]

Source: Copy provided courtesy of Frederick Hodges [top]

Western Life March and Two Step Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Western Life March. Detroit, MI: Charles I Davis, 1906.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

1907

Idylia: Novelette-Intermezzo Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Idylia: Novelette-Intermezzo. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1907.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Parade of the Teddy Bears:
                            Characteristic March & Two Step

Cobb, George. Parade of the Teddy Bears: Characteristic March & Two Step. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1907.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

1908

A Happy Group: Barn Dance-Schottische
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. A Happy Group: Barn Dance-Schottische. Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1908.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

1909

Buffalo Means Business Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Buffalo Means Business. Louis Synder, 1909. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 4 June 1909.

[view sheet music]

Source: Copy provided courtesy of Frederick Hodges [top]

Moonlight Makes Me Lonesome For A Girl
                            Like You

Cobb, George. Moonlight Makes Me Lonesome for a Girl Like You (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1908.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box  [top]

Rubber
                            Plant Rag: A Stretcherette Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Rubber Plant Rag: A Stretcherette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1909. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 14 June 1909.

[view sheet music]

Source: Charles Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]

1910

Aggravation Rag Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Aggravation Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1910. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 1 March 1910.

[view sheet music]

Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]

Canned Corn Rag First Page

Cobb, George. Canned Corn Rag. Buffalo, NY: Bell Music Co, 1910. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 1 March 1910.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy provided by Andrew Barrett [top]

That
                            Hindu Rag: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. That Hindu Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1910. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 15 October 1910.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (October-November 1924) [top]

The
                            High Brows: March and Two Step: First Page
                            of Music

Cobb, George. The High Brows: March and Two Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1910.

[view sheet music] [piano part only]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

I Used
                            To Be Lonesome 'Till I Found You Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. I Used To Be Lonesome ('Till I Found You) (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1910.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

1911

I'd Like to Take a Chance with You
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. I'd Like to Take a Chance with You (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1911.

[view sheet music]

Source: British Library catalog [top]

1912

Down On De Levee Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Down on de Levee (words by George Cobb). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Every Little Note Means Love When Billy
                            Plays That Way Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Every Little Note Means Love When Billy Plays that Way (words by George Cobb). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Honey Lou! ('Neath The Big White
                            Honey-Moon) Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Honey Lou! ('Neath the Big White Honey-Moon) (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) [top]

Jolly
                            Dancers Ostende: Latest Ball Room Dance
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Jolly Dancers Ostende: Latest Ball Room Dance. Cleveland, OH: Charles L Davis, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from Bowling Green State University [top]

Lady
                            of the Lake Waltz: First Page

Cobb, George. Lady of the Lake. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1912.

[view sheet music] [piano part only]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University and Cadenza (magazine) (November 1915) [top]

Mister Melody Man Sheet Music Cover


Cobb, George. Mister Melody Man (words by George Cobb). Cleveland, OH: Davis Music Publisher, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: African-American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Brown University) [top]

Oh That
                            Lovey, Dovey Glide Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Oh That Lovey, Dovey Glide (words by George Cobb). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Sheet Music Cover for Stunning
                            Grenadiers (Cobb)

Cobb, George. Stunning Grenadiers: March & Two Step. Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis Music Publisher, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Frederick Hodges [top]

When
                            Oscar Played the Flute Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. When Oscar Played the Flute (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

1913

All
                            Aboard For Dixie Land Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. All Aboard for Dixie Land (words by Jack Yellen). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

The Baboon Bounce: A Rag-Step
                            Intermezzo

Cobb, George. The Baboon Bounce: A Rag-Step Intermezzo. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]

Bring Back My Lovin' Honey Boy Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Bring Back my Lovin' Honey Boy (words by Jack Yellen). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Bunny Hug Rag Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Bunny Hug Rag. Battle Creek, MI: Chas E Roat Music Co, 1913. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 4 August 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Copy provided by reader [top]

The
                            Get Away March and Two Step: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. The Get-A-Way March and Two Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1913.

[view sheet music] [piano part only]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [also available in Melody magazine (June 1920)] [top]

I
                            Long To Be Way Down In Tennessee Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. I Long to be Way Down in Tennessee (words by George Cobb). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

If I Find Another Boy Like You Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. If I Find Another Boy Like You (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

If I Only Had You Again Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. If I Only Had You Again (words by Phil Volz). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the New York State Library [top]

Lonesome Moon Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Lonesome Moon (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

On
                            the Good Ship Nancy Lee Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. On the Good Ship Nancy Lee (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Roll Along Old Georgia Moon Sheet
                              Music Cover


Cobb, George. Roll Along Old Georgia Moon (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Take Me Back To The Days Gone By Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Take Me Back To The Days Gone By (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

You'll Be Sorry Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. You'll Be Sorry (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1913.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal collection [top]

1914

After-Glow: A Tone Picture Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. After-Glow: A Tone Picture. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Dance
                            That Dengozo With Me: Oo-La-La Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Dance that Dengozo with Me: Oo-La-La (words by WL Beardsley). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Fleur
                            D'Amour: Hesitation Waltz: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Fleur d'Amour: Hesitation Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (June 1914) [top]

A Holiday in Dixieland Sheet Music
                              Cover


Cobb, George. A Holiday in Dixieland (words by Lucius Pratt). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Huskin' Time: A Rural One Step Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Huskin' Time: A Rural One Step. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

I'm Coming Back in Springtime Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. I'm Coming Back in Springtime (words by Jack Yellen). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Just for To-Night Sheet Music Cover


Cobb, George. Just for To-Night (words by George Cobb). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1914.

[view sheet music] [Listen to a 1914 Victor recording from Library and Archives Canada]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Knock Knees: One-Step Or Two-Step Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. Knock Knees: One-Step or Two-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (November 1914) [top]

Listen To That Dixie Band Sheet Music
                              Cover


Cobb, George. Listen to that Dixie Band (words by Jack Yellen). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: African-American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Brown University) [top]

Mammy's Golden Wedding Day

Cobb, George. Mammy's Golden Wedding Day (words by Jack Yellen). Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections [top

Mammy's Little Angel Child Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Mammy's Little Angel Child (words by Jack Yellen). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Mona
                            Lisa Valse: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Mona Lisa Valse. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (June 1915); and photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

On A Summer Night Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. On a Summer Night (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

On
                            The Banks of Honolulu Bay Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. On the Banks of Honolulu Bay (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, s.d.

[view sheet music]

Source: Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections [top]


Cobb, George. On the QT: March and Two-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

Source: British Library catalog [top]

La
                            Parisia: Hesitation Waltz Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. La Parisia: Hesitation Waltz. Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal collection [top]

Sing Ling Ting: Chinese One-Step Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Sing Ling Ting: Chinese One-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (July 1915); also British Library catalog and Brigham Young University Library [top]

That Tangoing Turk: One-Step Or
                            Two-Step Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. That Tangoing Turk: One-Step or Two-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (June 1916) and British Library catalog [top]

That
                            Tantalizing Tango Tune Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. That Tantalizing Tango Tune. Words by Jack Yellen. Cleveland, OH: Charles I Davis, 1914.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

1915

Alabama Jubilee Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Alabama Jubilee (words by Jack Yellen). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University) [top]

Are
                            You From Dixie? (Cause I'm From Dixie Too)
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Are You from Dixie? (Cause I'm from Dixie Too) (words by Jack Yellen). New York: M Witmark & Sons, 1915.

[view sheet music] [listen to 1916 Edison recording]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Barbary: Valse Algerienne Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Barbary: Valse Algerienne. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Sources: Cadenza (magazine) (July 1915) [top]

Brass Buttons: March and Two-Step Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Brass Buttons: March and Two-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Sources: Cadenza (magazine) (September 1915); also British Library catalog and January 1917 Jacobs' Band Monthly (University of Illinois, microfiche) [top]

Buds and Blossoms: Waltz Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Buds and Blossoms: Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Sources: Cadenza (magazine) (January 1916); also British Library catalog [top]

Dancing 'Round The U.S.A Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Dancing 'Round the USA  (with Jack Yellen and Harry Carroll). New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Copy provided courtesy of Frederick Hodges [top]

Dreaming (song) by George L. Cobb:
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Dreaming (words by Phil Voltz). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, nd.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy obtained from the New York State Library [top]

Golden Dawn: A Tone Picture: First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Golden Dawn: A Tone Picture. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Jacobs' Piano Folio of Tone-Poems and Reveries, No. 2; also Cadenza (magazine) (November 1915) [top]

It's All A Dream Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. It's All a Dream (words by Jack Yellen). New York: M Witmark & Sons, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Law
                            And Order: March Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Law and Order: March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Sources: Cadenza (magazine) (July 1916); also British Library catalog [top]

On Honolulu Bay Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. On Honolulu Bay (with Ted Barron) (words by Jack Yellen). New York: Metropolis Music Co, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

On
                            The Road To Dublin Town Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. On the Road to Dublin Town (words by Jack Yellen). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Rabbit's Foot Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Rabbit's Foot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza (magazine) (July 1915) [top]

Roses Mean Memories (Mem'ries Mean You)
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Roses Mean Memories (Mem'ries Mean You) (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

That Twilight Melody Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. That Twilight Melody (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal collection [top]

Three Nymphs: Dance Classique: First
                            Page of Music

Cobb, George. Three Nymphs: Dance Classique. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza magazine (January 1915) [top]

Virginia Sue Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Virginia Sue (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Virginia Historical Society [top]

White Narcissus: Hesitation Waltz Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. White Narcissus: Hesitation Waltz. Battle Creek, MI: Charles E Roat, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Digital copy provided by Frederick Hodges [top]

You Didn't Care Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. You Didn't Care (words by WR Williams). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Young April: Novelette Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Young April: Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1915.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza magazine (May 1915) [top]

1916

Cheops: Egyptian Intermezzo Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Cheops: Egyptian Intermezzo. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Drift Wood: Novelette: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Drift Wood: Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (October 1917) [top]

Frangipani: Oriental Fox-Trot Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Frangipani: Oriental Fox-Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Cadenza magazine (August 1916) [top]

Georgia Rainbow: Fox Trot: First Page
                            of Music

Cobb, George (as Leo Gordon). Georgia Rainbow. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (January 1918) [top]

Good
                            Bye Blues First Page of Music (Cover Not
                            Available)

Cobb, George. Good Bye Blues. Battle Creek, MI: Chas E Roat Music Co, 1916. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Digital copy provided by Frederick Hodges [top]

I Can't Forget Sheeet Music Cover


Cobb, George. I Can't Forget (song) (with Richard Whiting and Gus Kahn). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from University of Toronto Music Library [top]

I'm Goin' To Hit The Trail For
                              Alabam' Sheet Music Cover


Cobb, George. I'm Goin' to Hit the Trail for Alabam' (words by George Cobb). Indianapolis, IN: Seidel Music Pub Co, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Charles Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]

In The Beautiful Garden of Dreamland
                              Sheet Music Cover


Cobb, George. In the Beautiful Garden of Dreamland (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

The
                            Midnight Trot Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. The Midnight Trot. Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1916. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 5 April 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Charles Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]

Red
                            Rooster One Step Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Red Rooster. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

See
                            Dixie First Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. See Dixie First (words by Jack Mahoney). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University) [top]

There's Someone You've Forgotten Who
                            Has Not Forgotten You: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. There's Someone You've Forgotten Who Has Not Forgotten You (words by Jack Yellen). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (January 1917) [top]

When You Dream Of Old New Hampshire, I
                            Dream of Tennessee Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. When You Dream of Old New Hampshire, I Dream of Tennessee (words by Jack Mahoney). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

When You're Five Times Sixteen Sheet
                            Music Cover

Cobb, George. When You're Five Times Sixteen (words by Jack Mahoney). New York: Leo Feist, 1916.

[view sheet music] [Listen to a 1916 His Master's Voice recording from Library and Archives Canada]

Source: Arizona State University Digital Repository [top]

Won't
                            You Come and Love Me Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Won't You Come and Love Me (words by HC Weasner). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1916.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

1917

All
                            Aboard For Rock-A-Bye Bay: Waltz Song

Cobb, George. All Aboard for Rock-A-Bye Bay: Waltz Song (words by Will Callahan). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (August 1917) [top]

The
                            Battle Song Of Liberty Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. The Battle Song of Liberty (words by Jack Yellen). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Blue Sunshine: Waltz Page One

Cobb, George. Blue Sunshine: Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music] [view extended version from The Tuneful Yankee]

Orchestral music for this piece is available as follows: bass, cello, viola, 1st violin, 2nd violin, cornets, drums, trombone, saxophone, horns, 1st clarinet, 2nd clarinet, oboe/bassoon, 1st flute, 2nd flute

Source: Photocopy from University of Toronto Music Library. Also available in The Tuneful Yankee (November 1917) [top]

Bone
                            Head Blues: First Page of Music

Cobb, George (as Leo Gordon). Bone Head Blues. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (February 1917) [top]

Columbia's Call Sheet Music Cover


Cobb, George (lyricist). Columbia's Call (music by Bob Wyman). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Down on Blue Bird Bay

Cobb, George. Down on Blue Bird Bay (words by Irving Crocker). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (September 1917) [top]

Down Where It's Always June Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Down Where It's Always June (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Hang
                            Over Blues: First Page of Music

Cobb, George (as Leo Gordon). Hang Over Blues. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (June 1917) [top]

Just
                            Keep The Roses A-Blooming: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Just Keep The Roses A-Blooming (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (October 1917) [top]

Ladder
                            of Love Waltz: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Ladder of Love Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (July 1917). Also available in January 1918 Jacobs' Band Monthly [top]

Levee Land: One Step Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Levee Land: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University) [top]

Mississippi Volunteers (Forward March!)
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Mississippi Volunteers (Forward March!) (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University) [top]

Nautical Toddle Fotx Trot: First Page
                            of Music

Cobb, George. Nautical Toddle: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (December 1917) [top]

Note: A piece with the title Nautical Nonsense is listed in TAR but I wonder if that listing is in error and whether the authors intended Nautical Toddle instead. It is unlikely that Cobb would have composed and titled two pieces in the same year with such unusual but similar titles..

The
                            Picture That The Shamrock Brings To Me:
                            First Page of Music

Cobb, George. The Picture that the Shamrock Brings to Me (words by Will Callahan). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (June 1917) [top]

Send Me A Line (When I'm Across The
                            Ocean) Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Send Me a Line (When I am Across the Ocean) (words by Irving Crocker). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Some Shape One Step Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Some Shape: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Digital copy from a reader. Also available in Tuneful Yankee Magazine (June 1917) and January 1918 Jacob's Orchestra Monthly and January 1918 Jacobs' Band Monthly [top]

There'll Come A Night: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. There'll Come a Night (words by George Cobb). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (March/April 1917) [top]

Waiting: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Waiting. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: The Tuneful Yankee magazine (December 1917) [top]

When
                            the Moon was Hanging Low Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. When the Moon was Hanging Low. Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Cover Sheet of Jacobs' Piano Folio of
                            Dance Waltzes No. 8 (1917)

Cobb, George (as "Leo Gordon"). Youth and You Waltz (with Thomas Allen). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1917.

[view sheet music]

Source: Jacobs' Piano Folio of Dance Waltzes No. 8 (1917) from the Silent Film Sound & Music Archive [top]

1918

Calcutta: Oriental Fox Trot Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Calcutta: Oriental Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (November 1918) [top]

Cracked Ice Rag: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Cracked Ice Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1918) [top]

Here's How: One Step: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Here's How: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1918) [top]

In the
                            Glow of the Alamo Moon: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. In the Glow of the Alamo Moon (words by Jack Yellen). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1918) [top]

In the
                            Old Front Parlor: Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. In the Old Front Parlor (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1918) [top]

Irish Confetti Fox Trot: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Irish Confetti: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1918) [top]

Maori
                            Love: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Maori Love (words by Treve Collins). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1918) [top]

Moonbeams: Novelette: First Page of
                            Music

Cobb, George. Moonbeams: Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1918) [top]

My Little Pal: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. (as "Leo Gordon"). My Little Pal (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June1918) [top]

Opals:
                            Waltz

Cobb, George. (as "Leo Gordon"). Opals: Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1918) [top]

Peter Gink: One Step (Adapted from
                            "Peer Gynt" Suite 1) (Apologies to
                            Grieg)

Cobb, George. Peter Gink: One Step (Adapted from "Peer Gynt" Suite 1) (Apologies to Grieg). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music] [1919 Victor recording] [Sue Keller MIDI]

Source: National Library of Australia Digital Collections [also available in Melody magazine (March 1918)] [top]

Russian Rag Sheet Music Cover

Russian Rag - Alternate Cover from
                              the United Kingdom


Cobb, George. Russian Rag. Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1918. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 27 April 1918.

[view sheet music]

Listen to Historic .MP3 Recording: Montreal: His Master's Voice, 1921: Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co (Library and Archives Canada)

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections  [top]

Say
                            When: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Say When. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918. Listed in TAR. Note: both TAR and Rags and Ragtime indicate "1919" as the year of publication, which appears to be in error.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1918) [top]

Sunshine (Spread All The Sunshine You
                            Can) Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Sunshine (Spread All the Sunshine You Can) (words by George Cobb). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box and Melody magazine (March 1918) [top]

Toy Poodles: Novelty One Step: First
                            Page of Music

Cobb, George. Toy Poodles: Novelty One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (May 1918) [top]

Treat 'Em Rough: One Step Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Treat 'Em Rough: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1918) [top]

What
                            Next! Fox Trot: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. What Next! Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June 1918) [top]

When
                            the Lilies Bloom in France Again: First Page
                            of Music

Cobb, George. When the Lilies Bloom in France Again (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1918.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (May 1918) [top]

1919

Alhambra: Spanish One-Step Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Alhambra: Spanish One-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1919) [top]

Boodiewah Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Boodiewah (words by Max Davis and Eddie Elliott). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1919) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (January
                            1919)

Hall, R.B. (revised by George Cobb). The Commander: March. Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]
Source: Melody magazine (January 1919) [top]
Dixie Lullaby Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Dixie Lullaby. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (January 1919) [top]

Fancies: Novelette Sheet Music: First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Fancies: Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1919) [top]

Feeding the Kitty: A Ragtime One-Step:
                            First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Feeding the Kitty: A Ragtime One-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (November 1919) [top]

Four Roses (song) Sheet Music

Cobb, George. Four Roses (song) (words by Aaron Neiberg). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June 1919) [top]

Hawaiian Sunset: Waltzes Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Hawaiian Sunset: Waltzes. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box and Melody magazine (May 1919) [top]

Javanola: Oriental Fox-Trot and
                            One-Step Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Javanola: Oriental Fox-Trot and One-Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June 1919) [top]

A
                            Little Later On Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. A Little Later On (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: UCLA Archive of Popular Music  [top]

Memoirs: Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Memoirs. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1919) [top]

Mother's Love and Kisses Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Mother's Love and Kisses (song). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1919) [top]

Rose of Burgundy Sheet Music: First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Rose of Burgundy (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1919) [top]

Stop
                            It Fox Trot: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Stop It: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1919) [top]

Tokio
                            Sheet Music: Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Tokio (words by Robert Levenson). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1919) [top]

Water Wagon Blues: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Water Wagon Blues. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1919.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1919) [top]

1920

Asa's Toddy: One Step (With Apologies
                            To Mr. Grieg) Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Asa's Toddy: One Step (with Apologies to Mr Grieg). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Blacksmith Rag: Fox Trot Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George (arranger). Blacksmith Rag: Fox Trot (composed by Rednip). Boston: Ted Garton Music Co, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Blacksmith Rag (With The "Anvil
                            Chorus") Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George (arranger). Blacksmith Rag (with the "Anvil Chorus") (words by Will Garton and Leo Wood) (composed by Rednip). Boston: Ted Garton Music Co, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

Bohunkus: Novelty One Step Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Bohunkus: Novelty One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1920) [top]

Crystal Ball Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Crystal Ball (words by Robert Levenson). San Francisco, CA: Sherman Clay & Co, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University [top]

Dust 'em Off Rag: Sheet Music: First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Dust 'em Off Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920. Listed in TAR.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1920) [top]

Sheet Music Cover for Give My Love to
                            Dixie (Cobb)

Cobb, George. Give My Love to Dixie (words by Robert Levenson). Providence, RI: Harold Freeman Music, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Frederick Hodges [top]

I've
                            Been Living in the Land of Sunshine Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. I've Been Living in the Land of Sunshine (words by Irving Crocker). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1920) [top]

Over The Rockies (Down Frisco Way)
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Over the Rockies (Down Frisco Way) (words by Jack Yellen). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Peek
                            In Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Peek In. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1920) [top]

Umpah!
                            Umpah! One-Step Oddity Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Umpah! Umpah! One-Step Oddity. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box; also Melody magazine (October/November 1920) [top]

When You Made My Dreams Come True Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. When You Made My Dreams Come True (song). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1920) [top]

You've Been A Dear Old Pal (Mother of
                            Mine) Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. You've Been a Dear Old Pal (Mother of Mine) (with Harold Freeman and Robert Levenson). Providence, RI: Harold Freeman Music Co, 1920.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

1921

Across the Hot Sands March Sheet Music
                            Cover

Cobb, George. Across the Hot Sands: March. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [top]

Almond Eyes: Fox Trot: Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Almond Eyes: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1921) [top]

Asia Minor: Fox Trot

Cobb, George. Asia Minor: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1921) [top]

The
                            Faun: Danse

Cobb, George. The Faun: Danse. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (October 1921) [top]

Hop
                            Scotch Fox Trot: First Page of Music

Cobb, George. Hop Scotch: Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1921) [top]

Let's
                            Take A Trip Back To Dixie Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George & HC Weasner. Let's Take a Trip Back to Dixie. New York: HC Weasner, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Personal copy [top]

Love Lessons Waltz

Cobb, George. Love Lessons Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (May 1921) [top]

Put
                            and Take: One Step Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Put and Take: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1921) [top]

Shivaree: One Step Sheet Music: First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Shivaree: One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (October 1921) [top]

Square and Compass March Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Square and Compass March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1921) [top]

Torrid Dora Sheet Music Cover Sheet

Cobb, George. Torrid Dora (Toreador). Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1921. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 18 December 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections [top]

"Wild Oats": One Step Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. "Wild Oats": One Step. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1921.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (May 1921) [top]

1922

Broken China: An Oriental Novelty Sheet
                            Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Broken China: An Oriental Novelty. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1922) [top]

Burglar Blues: Eccentrique Fox Trot
                            Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Burglar Blues: Eccentrique Fox Trot. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1922) [top]

Carnival Revels Dance Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. Carnival Revels Dance. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1922) [top]

Ghost Walk: Eccentric Novelty First
                            Page

Cobb, George. Ghost Walk: Eccentric Novelty. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Photocopy from University of Toronto Music Library; also available in Melody magazine (September 1922) [top]

Love and Laughter (Pizzicato) Novelette
                            Sheet Music: First Page

Cobb, George. Love and Laughter (Pizzicato) Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (November 1922) [top]

March of the Walking Dolls Sheet Music:
                            First Page

Cobb, George. March of the Walking Dolls. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1922) [top]

Potato-bug Parade: An Aroostook Episode
                            Sheet Music Cover

Cobb, George. Potato-bug Parade: An Aroostook Episode. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1922.

[view sheet music]

Source: Maine Music Box [also available in Melody magazine (February 1922)] [top]

1923
First page cover of Melody Magazine
                            March 1923

Cobb, George. Doll Days: Novelette. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source:
Melody magazine (March 1923) [top]

First page
                            cover of Melody Magazine March 1923

Cobb, George. The High Brows March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1923) [top]

First page of Melody Magazine June
                            1923

Cobb, George. Mist of Memory Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June 1923) [top]

First page of Melody magazine (February
                            1923)

Cobb, George. Morning Kisses Waltz. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1923) [top]

Sheet music cover for New Russian Rag
                            (Cobb)

Cobb, George. The New Russian Rag. Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1923. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 16 May 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections [top]

Cover page for A Night in India Suite
                            (George Cobb)

Cobb, George. A Night In India. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Note: This piece contains five movements: Twilight in Benares; The Fakirs; Dance of the Flower Girls; The Temple of Siva; and March of the Brahmin Priests.

Source: Digital copy provided by Frederick Hodges [top]

First page of Melody magazine (January
                            1924)

Cobb, George. Piano Salad. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 19 January 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (January 1923) [top]

First page of Melody magazine (January
                            1924)

Cobb, George. Slumber Song (instrumental). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1923.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (January 1924) [top]

1924

First page of Melody magazine (March
                            1924)

Cobb, George. The American Broadcast March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1924) [top]

First page of Melody magazine
                            (September 1924)

Cobb, George. Cortege of the Cyclops. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1924) [top]

First page of Melody magazine (May
                            1924)

Cobb, George. Dance of the Satyrs. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (May 1924) [top]

Front cover of Melody magazine
                            (September 1925)

Cobb, George. Mountain Laurel Waltz (with Thomas Allen & RE Hildreth). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1925) [top]

Note: The catalog entry for this title from the Houston Public Library includes George L. Cobb as an "added author" even though Cobb's name does not appear on the sheet music. For now, I am keeping the listing here pending further research.

Cover of Melody magazine (April 1924)

Cobb, George. Puddle Ducks: March Grotesque. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1924) [top]

Cover of Melody magazine (February
                            1924)

Cobb, George. Spooks: Eccentric Novelty. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1924) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (August
                            1924)

Cobb, George. Summer Furs (A Syncopated Classic: Scarf Dance Chaminade). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1924.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (August 1924) [top]

1925

Cover for Melody magazine (June 1925)

Cobb, George. Chromatic Capers. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 12 June 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (June 1925) [top]
Melody magazine (December 1927)

Cobb, George. Dance of the Maniacs. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 12 June 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (December 1927) [top]

Sheet Music Cover for Days Gone By
                            Waltz Song (Cobb)

Cobb, George. The Days Gone By: Waltz Song (words by George Cobb). Buffalo, NY: HC Weasner & Co, 1925.

[view sheet music] [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (January
                            1925)

Cobb, George. Static and Code. Available in Dementia Americana: A Super-Syncopated Suite No. 1: For Piano. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (January 1925) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (February
                            1925)

Cobb, George. Hop House Blues. Available in Dementia Americana: A Super-Syncopated Suite No. 2: For Piano. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source:
Melody magazine (February 1925) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (March 1925)

Cobb, George. Owl on the Organ. Available in Dementia Americana: A Super-Syncopated Suite No. 3: For Piano. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source:
Melody magazine (March 1925) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (April 1925)

Cobb, George. Savanna Sunset. Available in Dementia Americana: A Super-Syncopated Suite No. 4: For Piano. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1925.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1925) [top]

1926

First page of Hero of the Game by
                            George L Cobb

Cobb, George. Hero of the Game: March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1926.
[view sheet music]

Source: Melody Magazine (January 1927) [note: the British Library catalog shows a 1914 date of publication for this composition] [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (October
                            1926)

Cobb, George. The Lion Tamer: Galop. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1926.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (October 1926) [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (March 1926)

Cobb, George. "Old Ironsides": March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1926.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1926)
[top]

Cover sheet for Patrol of the Pelicans
                            (Cobb)

Cobb, George. Patrol of the Pelicans. Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1926.

[view sheet music] [top]

Cover for Melody magazine (September
                            1926)

Cobb, George. Power and Glory: Processional March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1926.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (September 1926)
[top]

Cover for Melody magazine
                            (February1926)

Cobb, George. Remembrance. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1926.

[view sheet music]


Source: Melody magazine (February1926)
[top]

1927

Cover for Melody magazine (April 1928)

Cobb, George. Cubistic Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1927. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 14 October 1927.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1928)
[top]

Lindy Sheet Music Cover (Cobb)

Cobb, George. Lindy: Youth with the Heart of Gold (with Norman Leigh). Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1927.

[view sheet music]

Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections [top]

Cover of sheet music for Piano Sauce
                            (George L Cobb)

Cobb, George. Piano Sauce. Boston: Hub Music Co, 1927.  Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 13 August 1927.
[view sheet music]** [view transcription by Vincent Johnson] [view Musescore arrangement] [top]

**Note: This is a PDF file converting very low resolution photos of the original score. It is largely unreadable unless you "Zoom In" on each page using the zoom feature of your browser or PDF reader.
Cover for Melody magazine (July 1927)

Cobb, George. Procrastination Rag. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1927. Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 19 June 1927.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (July 1927)
[top]

Cover for Melody magazine (February
                            1927)

Cobb, George. The Tipster: Eccentric March. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1927.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (February 1927)
[top]

1928

Cover for Melody magazine (April 1928)

Cobb, George. Blue Egypt. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1928.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (April 1928)
[top]

1929

Cover for Melody magazine (March 1929)

Cobb, George. Snuggle Pup. Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1929.  Listed in TAR. Copyright registration date: 4 March 1929.

[view sheet music]

Source: Melody magazine (March 1929)
[top]

1942

Sheet music cover for Uncle Sam Goes
                              to Town (Mow 'em Down, Mow 'em Down, Mow
                              'em Down)

Cobb, George. Uncle Sam Goes to Town (Mow 'em Down, Mow 'em Down, Mow 'em Down). 1942.

[view sheet music] [top]



Unidentified compositions by George Cobb

Various Internet sources suggest the following titles are compositions by George Cobb, but I have not been able to confirm the existence of these compositions through bibliographic entries or other methods of verification:

  • Cleola
  • Ivory Echoes (mentioned on page 3 of Patrol of the Pelicans).
  • Krazy Kat Cartoon Cues
  • Puttin' Out The Kitten Cues

4) Commercial Recordings of George Cobb Compositions

Set out below are several commercially available CD recordings that contain the music of George Cobb:

5) Additional Avenues of Research on George Cobb

There are a number of additional avenues for additional research to be done on George Cobb, including:

  • Syracuse, NY: a search of the archives at Syracuse University for any fonds on George Cobb and a search for student newspapers or music clubs from the era circa 1903 to say 1908 when Cobb was likely there; a search of city directories from that era.
  • Buffalo, NY: a search of Buffalo, New York, newspapers for mention of Cobb's "Buffalo Means Business" prize-winning song and a search of local archives and city directories for information on Cobb.
  • Boston: a search of city directories, archives and public and university libraries for information on Cobb and Walter Jacobs and the various musical periodicals published by Walter Jacobs; also search for obituaries for Cobb (date of death: December 25, 1942).
  • Analysis of music: I have spent so much time compiling Cobb's music, I have not had a chance to analyze it. There are several areas of work that could be done in this regard:
  • I suspect most of Cobb's compositions were written first for piano with a number of them being arranged for orchestra or band; it is possible, however, that some of his music was written specifically for orchestra or band with piano parts included. Further work could be done to catalogue which of Cobb's compositions have been arranged for orchestra or band and to analyze whether those compositions were first written for piano or not.
  • Jason and Tichenor (1989:174) describe Cobb's rag as spanning three phases – Popular, Advanced and Novelty. Given the foregoing extended list of over 200 compositions, there is likely further room for more detailed analysis of his compositions in light of these three phases.
  • Music in context: Cobb appears to have been a clever person with many allusions in his music to contemporary life and to classical compositions (e.g., Torrid Dora, Asa's Toddy). Researching the antecedents and inspirations for some of his compositions would likely produce interesting research and insights into his work.

6) Bibliography

Set out below are resources that contain information on George Cobb.

  • Edwards, Bill ("Perfessor"). Email from Bill Edwards to Ted Tjaden (13 July 2007).
  • Jasen, David & Gene Jones. That American Rag: The Story of Ragtime from Coast to Coast. New York: Schirmer Books, 2000 [Internet Archive version].
  • Ranalli, Luigi. "Who was Rednip"? (11 October 2007). Posting on Elite Syncopations Discussion Listserv. Available online: <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EliteSyncopations/info>

 

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This site created by Ted Tjaden. Page last updated: January 2024.