Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 02:58:46 EDT
From: "Barry A. Popik"
Subject: Swing terms (August/September 1938)

These two lists that I found today are excellent.
This is from SONG HITS, vol. 1, no. 9, August 1938, pg. 14, col. 3:

SWING TERMS

_Instrument_ _Swing Name_
Piano..........................mahogany (not in RHHDAS--ed.)
Guitar..........................belly fiddle or pick box (RHHDAS has a 1939
"belly fiddle")
Accordion....................push-box
Violin...........................scratch-box
Trumpet........................horn-valves (not in RHHDAS)
Clarinet.........................fountain pen, or black stick (RHHDAS has no
entry for "fountain pen," 1937 for "black stick")
Saxophone....................reeds or fog-horns (RHHDAS has from 1919)
Bass fiddle....................dog-house (RHHDAS has from 1920)
Vibraphone....................vibes or iron-works ("iron-works" not in RHHDAS)
Xylophone......................wood-pile
Trombone......................slush-pump
Oboe.............................thermometer
Drums...........................suitcase, skins
Girl Vocalist...................canary (RHHDAS has from 1886)
Dancers.........................rug-cutters

This is from SONG HITS, vol. 1, no. 10, September 1938, pg. 16, col. 3:

_POPULAR SWING WORDS_

IN THE GROOVE--Co-ordination--instruments must blend their parts with the
greatest perfection to the tempo set by the rhythm section.
GUT BUCKET--Low-down, raucous and blary music.
BARREL HOUSE--Slow heavy tempo featuring solo work by the pianist and others.
BOOGIE-WOOGIE--Piano playing that has an extra moving bass harmony.
CLAM BAKE--An unsuccessful attempt to get a group of men together to improvise
a standard number.
TAKES OFF--An instrumentalist plays a solo changing the melody to suit his
individuality with short figures known as "riffs" or "licks."
SOLID--A mild and perfunctory way of approving a rendition.
SEND--If a performance sneds you into ecstasy.
SOLID-SENDER--A superlative form of praise.
KILLER-DILLER--If you want to compliment an artist personally call him a
"killer-diller."
OUT OF THE WORLD--Reserved for extreme cases of perfection. Woe to the one
who uses it on a mediocre performance.
HEP--People who know just what to say at the right time.
CATS--Musicians in a swing band.
UNHEP--One who doesn't know what to say at the right time (may also be called
"icky").
HEP-CAT--A musician who plays swing very well.
CORNY--Distasteful music.
HE'S A CHARACTER--An eccentric person.
LONG-HAIRS--Serious musicians who play symphonies.
SCHMALTZ--Popular music played over sweetly.
LIFT--An entire band play as a single unit in a jumpy, gay tempo.
THE JOINT IS JUMPIN--Is what the audience usually shouts if the band is
playing in furious tempo that fills the room with contagious rhythm.
ROCK ME WITH RHYTHM--When the tempo was slower, but just as firm, with a
slight lilt. (Like rockabye baby?--ed.)
HE PLAYS A MESS OF HORN--This is usually to applaud a good trumpet player.
YOUR (sic) A KILLER-DILLER, MISS MILLER--This is used to praise a girl singer
using Miss Miller, regardless of her name. If singer is a male change to Mr.
Miller.
DIGGIN THE CATS--When you visit a place for the purpose of hearing a band
play.