"Frankie and Johnny" (sometimes spelled "Frankie and Johnnie"; also known as "Frankie and Albert", "Frankie's Man, Johnny" or just "Frankie") is a traditional American popular song.
It tells the story of a woman, Frankie Baker, who finds her man Al(len) Britt ("Albert") making love to another woman and shoots him dead. Frankie is then arrested; in some versions of the song she is also executed.
The song was inspired by one or more actual murders. One of these took place in an apartment building located at 212 Targee Street in St. Louis, Missouri, at 2:00 on the morning of October 15, 1899.
Frankie Baker (1876 – 1952), a 22-year-old woman, shot her 17-year-old lover Al(len) Britt (or "Albert") in the abdomen.
In 1899, popular St Louis balladeer Bill Dooley composed "Frankie Killed Allen" shortly after the Baker murder case. He printed up copies of the finished song as single-sheet publications and set about selling them at 10c a time as he performed the ballad for passing pedestrians all over St. Louis' Chestnut Valley vice district.
The first officially published version in 1904 is by Hughie Cannon, a black-face comedian, who turned the song into a sequel to his earlier hit "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home", which was titled "He Done Me Wrong" and subtitled "Death of Bill Bailey".
Cannon kept Dooley's tune and refrain, but threw out everything else.
(c) Arthur Collins (1904) (as "He Done Me Wrong")
Recorded around 1904 in New York
Released on Leeds 4064
Lyrics "He Done Me Wrong":
Many's de winds been a-blowin'
Many's de time I have sighed
Many's de time I been weeping hard
Since Bill Bailey died
But then he done me wrong
Yes he done me wrong
Billy was one of the willing
A man with de willing mind
I done forgive him for all he done
He was so good and kind
But then he done me wrong
He done me wrong
etc
Listen here:
In 1908 The Leighton Brothers wrote a new arrangement of "He Done Me Wrong" and published it as "Bill You Done Me Wrong" under their own name.
Nearly 20 years later this version was recorded by Al Bernard.
(c) Al Bernard (1928) (as "Bill You Done Me Wrong")
Recorded January 1928 in New York
Released on Grey Gull 4225
Lyrics "Bill, You Done Wrong":
Whenever da wind am a-blowin'
Dat am the time that I sigh
For that kind of weather reminds me
Of the night that Bill Bailey died
He was my man
But he done me wrong
Billy was mighty congenial
A man with a liberal mind
With all my heart I forgive him
He was so good and kind
He was my man
But he done me wrong
etc.
Listen here: Bill You Done Me Wrong - Al Bernard.mp3
(c) Al Bernard (1928) (as "Bill You Done Me Wrong")
Recorded February 28, 1928 in New York
Released on Harmony 645-H
Frank and Bert Leighton published the same tune again in 1912, this time named "Frankie and Johnny", with "Albert" changed to "Johnny" because it flowed better.
"Frankie and Johnny" was first recorded by American vaudeville and ragtime singer Gene Greene and American pianist Charlie Straight in London, England in December 1912, while the pair were on tour in the United Kingdom.
(o) Mr. Gene Greene (the Rag Time King) (1912) (as "Franky & Johnny")
Pianoforte acc. by Charley Straight
Recorded December 1912 in London, England.
Released on Pathe 5370
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnny":
Franky and Johnny were sweethearts
They had a quarrel one day
Johnny he vowed that he would leave her
Said he was goin' away
He's never comin' home
He's goin' away to roam
Franky she begged and pleaded
Cried "Oh, Johnny please stay"
She says my honey I have done you wrong
But please don't go away
Then Johnny sighed and to his Franky cried
Oh and I'm a-goin' away and I'm a-goin' to stay
I'm never comin' home
You're goin' to miss me hon' in the days to come
When the winter winds begin to blow
The ground is covered up with snow
You'll think of me and you will wish to be
Back with your lovin' man
You're goin' to miss me hon',
In the days, days, days to come
etc.
Listen here: it starts at 4 minutes and 55 seconds
The Leighton Brothers recorded their own composition for Victor in 1916 but it was never issued.
Al Bernard made the first American recording in 1921
(c) Al Bernard with Carl Fenton's Orchestra (1921) (as "Frankie and Johnnie")
Recorded May 1921 in New York
Released on Brunswick 2107
Listen here: Frankie and Johnnie - Al Bernatd & Carl Fenton.mp3
2 months later it was recorded by Frank Crumit with the Paul Biese Trio.
(c) Paul Biese Trio and Frank Crumit (1921) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
Recorded July 21, 1921 in New York
Released on Columbia A 3459
In 1927 Frank Crumit recorded a new version for Victor Records using different lyrics.
(c) Frank Crumit (1927) (as "Frankie and Johnnie")
Recorded May 11, 1927 in New York
Released on Victor 20715
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnnie" (adapted by Frank Crumit):
Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
Oh! Lord, how they did love
Swore to be true to each other
Just as true as the stars up above
He was her man, he wouldn't do her wrong
Frankie went down to the corner
Just for a bucket of beer
She said, Mister Bartender
Has my lovin' Johnny been here?
He is my man, he wouldn't do me wrong
etc.
Listen here: Frankie and Johnnie - Frank Crumit.mp3
In 1926 Charlie Poole recorded "Leaving Home", which is in fact a version of the Leighton Brother's "Frankie and Johnny".
(c) Charlie Poole with the North Carolina Ramblers (1926) (as "Leaving Home")
Recorded September 18, 1926 in New York
Released on 15116-D
Listen here:
(c) Jimmie Rodgers (1929) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
Recorded August 10, 1929 in Dallas, TX
Released on Victor 22143
Listen here: FRANKIE AND JOHNNY - Jimmie Rodgers.mp3
Or here:
So, since 1912, the Leighton's "Frankie and Johnny" was the most popular version of this songcluster.
But around 1924, versions of the original "Frankie and Albert" saga entered the market.
In 1927 Carl Sandburg included a version of the original Frankie and Albert saga in The American Songbag
And John A. Lomax included a 1909 version of "Frankie and Albert" from Texas sources in his 1934 book American Ballads and Folk Songs.
In the original 1899 Bill Dooley version, he was named Allen: "Frankie Killed Allen".
Then in 1912 he was named Johnny.
But in Sandburg and Lomax's book the victim's name was no longer Allen, but Albert (probably a contraction of Al(len) Britt).
In June 1934 John Lomax also recorded a version of the song in Crowley, La.
Listen here: frankie_and_albert.mp3
As I just said since 1924 the original Frankie and Albert saga was recorded by many artists.
Ernest Thompson seems to be the first artist to record the original Frankie and Albert version.
(c) Ernest Thompson (1924) (as "Frankie Baker")
Recorded April 26, 1924 in New York
Released on Columbia 168-D and Harmony 5098
Listen here: Frankie Baker - ERNEST THOMPSON.mp3
(c) Welby Toomey (1926) (as "Frankie's Gamblin' Man")
Recorded November13, 1925 in Richmond, IND
Released on Gennett 3195
Also released on Challenge 232 (as by Clarence Adams)
Listen here:
(c) Dykes' Magic City Trio (1927) (as "Frankie")
Recorded March 9, 1927 in New York
Released on Brunswick 127 and Vocalion 5143
Although the composer-credits on the label read: Leighton Bros, this in fact version of the original "Frankie and Albert" saga.
Listen here:
(c) Mississippi John Hurt (1928) (as "Frankie")
Recorded February 14, 1928 in Memphis, TN
Released on Okeh 8560
OKeh matrix W400221. Frankie / Mississippi John Hurt - Discography of American Historical Recordings
Lyrics "Frankie"
Frankie was a good girl everybody know
She pay one hundred dollars for our one suit of clothes
He's a man and he done me wrong.
Frankie went down to the corner saloon, didn't go to be gone long
She peek through one of the keyholes and spied Albert in Alice's arms
He's my man and he done me wrong.
etc
Listen here:
(c) Emry Arthur (1929) (as "Frankie Baker part 1 and part 2")
Recorded June 18, 1929 in Chicago, IL
Released on Vocalion 5340
Lyrics "Frankie Baker-Part 1"
Frankie was a good woman, like everybody knows
She gave one hundred dollars, for Albert, a suit of clothes
For he's her man, her gamblin' man
That suit was in the pawn shop, before the day went by
And he went and spent that money, on a girl named Alice Frye
He done her wrong, and he didn't come home
Frankie went to the barroom, she called for a glass of beer
She asked the barroom tender, "Has Albert Jones been here?
He is my man, my gamblin' man."
etc.
Listen here:
Or to a fragment here: Country music pioneer : Selected sides 1928-1935 [remastered]
(c) Charley Patton (1930) (as "Frankie and Albert")
Recorded October 1929 in Grafton, WIS
Released on Paramount 13110
Lyrics "Frankie and Albert":
Well, Frankie went down to Albert's house, "How late Albert been here?"
Oh, Albert's sittin' down, some cheap gal's lap, buyin' some cheap gal's beer
Say, he was my man, but he done me wrong
Well, Frankie, she called Albert, she called him some two, three times
Look down that road 'bout a quarter block, you mighta seen little Albert flyin'
Say, he was my man but he done me wrong
Well, Frankie, she was a good ol' gal that everybody know
She would pay one half a hundred for the makin' of her man's clothes
Say, he was my man but he done me wrong
etc.
Listen here:
(c) Lead Belly (1939) (as "Frankie and Albert" part 1 and part 2)
Recorded April 1, 1939 in New York City
Released on Musicraft 223
Listen here:
Leadbelly had recorded "Frankie and Albert" in 1935, but it wasn't issued until 1990 on the album below:
In 1983 Rory Block recorded a version, which is a blueprint of Mississippi John Hurt's version.
Listen here:
Bob Dylan included the song on his 1992 album Good As I Been To You.
He closely follows the original Frankie and Albert saga, but in the end Frankie gets executed on the gallows.
Frankie went to the scaffold
Calm as a girl could be
Turned her eyes up towards the heavens
Said, "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
He was her man but he done her wrong
Listen here:
In 1921 Perry Bradford had written a new arrangement of the Frankie saga (with lyrics by Marion Dickerson)
First recorded by Mamie Smith in 1921 and covered by Edith Wilson in 1921 and Bessie Smith in 1924.
(o) Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds (1921) (as "Frankie Blues")
Recorded February 22, 1921 in New York City
Released on Okeh 4856
Listen here:
(c) Edith Wilson and Johnny Dunn's Original Jazz Hounds (1921) (as "Frankie")
Recorded October 6, 1921 in New York
Released on Columbia A 3506
(c) Bessie Smith (1924) (as "Frankie Blues")
Recorded April 8, 1924 in New York
Released on Columbia 14023-D
Listen here:
Here below some versions, that closely follow the 1927 Frank Crumit version from earlier on in this post.
(c) Carson Robison Trio (1930) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
vocal by Frank Luther
Recored December 30, 1929 in New York
Released on various labels: Banner 0581, Cameo 0181, Domino 4490, etc, etc
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnny"
Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
Oh! Lordy, how they could love
Swore to be true to each other
Just as true as the stars up above
He was her man, but he done her wrong
Frankie went down to the corner
Just for a glass of beer
She said to the bartender
Has my lovin' man been here?
He was my man, I'm 'fraid he's doing me wrong
etc.
Listen here:
(c) Burl Ives (1946) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
with Alma Kaye, Jack McCauley and Ted Tiller (vocals)
Recorded March 23, 1945 in NYC
Released on Decca 23441 (as part of album A-404)
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnny"
Frankie and Johnny were lovers
Oh! how they did love
They vowed to love each other
Just as long as there were stars above
He was her man and wouldn't do her wrong
Listen here:
(c) Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (1958) (as "Frankie and Johnnie")
Recorded December 9, 1957 in Hollywod, LA
Released on the next album
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnnie"
Well, Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
True as the stars above
Frankie said, "Johnnie, you my man
You the man I love
You my man, but don't you do me wrong"
Well, Johnnie walked down to the barroom
He said, "Man, I sure am dry"
He said, "Give me some o' that joy juice
So I can drink it with Nellie Bly"
He was her man, but heard he done her wrong
etc
Listen here:
Sam Cooke's 1963 version of Frankie and Johnny - a top 30 hit on both sides of the Atlantic - had Frankie giving her beau a sports car and some Ivy League clothes.
(c) Sam Cooke (1963) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
Recorded August 9, 1961 RCA Victor Studio A in New York City
Released on RCA Victor 47-8215
Listen here:
Frankie Baker herself had two unsuccessful lawsuits, one against Mae West and Paramount Pictures for the use of her name in the film She Done Him Wrong,
In 1928 Mae West inserted the ballad in her successful Broadway play Diamond Lil. West sang the ballad again in her 1933 Paramount film She Done Him Wrong, which takes its title from the refrain, substituting genders.
Listen here:
And in 1938, Frankie Baker sued Republic Pictures for their 1936 film Frankie and Johnny. After Baker lost the suit, Republic Pictures claimed ownership of the story.
The film was shot on location in The Bronx, New York in 1934 and sat on the shelf for two years before being released by the studio due to interference from United States film censors.
In 1934 Helen Morgan, who played the role of Frankie in that movie, had recorded the song "Frankie and Johnny", but it wasn't used in the movie.
(c) Helen Morgan (1934) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
Recorded March 21, 1934 in New York
Released on Victor 24650
Listen here:
Elvis Presley recorded "Frankie and Johnny" as the title-song of his movie from 1966.
On the same day he recorded a studio-version and a slighty different film-version.
Here's the studio-version
(c) Elvis Presley (1966) (as "Frankie and Johnny")
Recorded May 14, 1965 in Hollywood, LA
Released March 1966 on RCA Victor 47-8780
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnny"
Frankie and me we were lovers
Oh! Lordy, how we did love
Swore we'd be true to each other
Just as true as stars above
I was her man, she caught me doin' her wrong
My luck at poker was fading
When a new gal caught my eye
I gambled, I tried to change my luck
With a chick named Nellie Bly
I was Frankie's man, but I was doin' her wrong
I don't wanna cause you no trouble
I don't wanna tell you no lies
But I saw your lover half an hour ago
With a girl named Nellie Bly
He is your man, but he's doin' you wrong
etc.
Listen here:
After 1936 and 1966, in 1991 a third movie titled Frankie and Johnny was released, starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.
But it was James Intveld, who sang the title-song in that movie:
Lyrics "Frankie and Johnny"
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
Oh! Lordy, how they could love
Swore they'd be true to each other
True as the stars above
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong
I ain't gonna tell you no stories
I ain't gonna tell you no lies
I saw your man Johnny about an hour ago
With that girl named Nellie Bly
He was your man, but he was doin' you wrong
Listen here:
More versions here:
In 1951 the story of "Frankie and Johnny" was retold in the animated short film Rooty Toot Toot, directed by John Hubley - best known as the creator of Mr Magoo - for UPA's Jolly Frolics series. Frankie's singing voice was provided by Annette Warren. The cartoon was nominated for an Oscar as Best Animated Short Film in 1951, but lost out to Tom & Jerry's The Two Mousketeers.
See the cartoon here:
SEE ALSO: Shooting scripts: Frankie on screen
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