''Downloading the Repertoire'' is a 1996 novelty album by American singer John "Jack" Mudurian (May 23, 1929 – September 30, 2013). Mudurian was a resident of Duplex Nursing Home in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1981, David Greenberger, an employee who also edited the zine '' The Duplex Planet'', overheard Mudurian singing at a home talent show, and when Greenberger spoke to him about it, Mudurian boasted that he could sing as many songs as

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

. Greenberger brought in a cassette

tape recorder An audio tape recorder, also known as a tape deck, tape player or tape machine or simply a tape recorder, is a sound recording and reproduction device that records and plays back sounds usually using magnetic tape for storage. In its present- ...

and asked him to sing; Mudurian proceeded to sing 129 songs, many from the

Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...

repertory (and several more than once), continuously over the next 47 minutes. The recording was issued as ''Downloading the Repertoire'' on Arf! Arf! Records in 1996, and it became a cult novelty hit. Neil Strauss, writing about the recording for

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

, wrote: "What is most interesting about this CD is not Mr. Mudurian's slurred, rushed singing but the way his entire life story unfolds in his selection of material." In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Cub Koda commented: " udurian's.. free association from tune to tune is downright astounding. No matter what kind of music you might have in your collection, it's a good bet you don't have anything that sounds quite like this." A reviewer for CMJ New Music Monthly described the album as "a hysterical, bizarre tour through the history of American popular song." A shortened version of the music heard on ''Downloading'' appeared on Irwin Chusid's compilation of

outsider music Outsider music (from "outsider art") is music created by self-taught or naïve musicians. The term is usually applied to musicians who have little or no traditional musical experience, who exhibit childlike qualities in their music, or who suffe ...

called ''

Songs in the Key of Z ''Songs in the Key of Z'' is a book and two compilation albums written and compiled by Irwin Chusid. The book and albums explore the field of what Chusid coined as "outsider music". Chusid defines outsider music as; "crackpot and visionary music, w ...

, Vol. 1''. Mudurian can also be heard on the compilations ''The Talent Show'' (1996), and ''The Tarquin Records All Star Holiday Extravaganza'' (2000). After meeting Mudurian, singer

Jad Fair Jad Fair (born June 9, 1954) is an American singer, guitarist, graphic artist, and founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese. Biography Fair was born in Coldwater, Michigan. In 1974, he and his brother David formed the lo-fi ...

transcribed his version of "

Chicago (That Toddlin' Town) "Chicago" is a popular song written by Fred Fisher and published in 1922. The original sheet music variously spelled the title "Todd'ling" or "Toddling." The song has been recorded by many artists, but the best-known versions are by Frank Sinat ...

" and performed it in his own live shows. According to Greenberger, the nursing home at which Mudurian resided closed in 1987, and the two lost touch. Greenberger, who affectionately referred to the marathon recording session as "Jack's and my private Olympic event," recalled: "That June afternoon lives on for me. Planes flew overhead, birds chirped in the trees and another resident... could be heard singing in the background from time to time."

Songs sung on ''Downloading the Repertoire''

:''(in order of songs sung)'' #

It's Been a Long, Long Time "It's Been a Long, Long Time" is a big band-era song that was a hit at the end of World War II, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. Background The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person welcoming home their spouse a ...

#Why Am I Always Yearning for Theresa # The Halls of Montezuma # So Long It's Been Good to Know You #Step Right Up (and Help Old Uncle Sam) #

It's Only a Paper Moon "It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose. Background It was originally titled "If You Believed in Me", but later went by the more popular title "It's Only ...

# Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In) # Take Me Out to the Ball Game #

Some Sunday Morning "Some Sunday Morning" is the title of two well-known American songs. The first has music written by Richard A. Whiting with lyrics by Gus Kahn and Raymond B. Egan, and was recorded by Ada Jones and Billy Murray in 1917. The second has music b ...

Any Bonds Today? "Any Bonds Today?" is a song written by Irving Berlin, featured in a 1942 animated propaganda filmCohen (2004), p. 40 starring Bugs Bunny. Both were used to sell war bonds during World War II. Song "Any Bonds Today?" was based on Berlin's own "An ...

Red River Valley The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North; it is part of both Canada and the United States. Forming the border between Minnesota and North Dakota when these territories were admitted ...

My Bonnie My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Market ...

Jimmy Crack Corn "Jimmy Crack Corn" or "Blue-Tail Fly" is an American song which first became popular during the rise of blackface minstrelsy in the 1840s through performances by the Virginia Minstrels. It regained currency as a folk song in the 1940s at the ...

# The Wabash Cannonball #

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" is a popular song. The music was written by Harold Orlob, the lyrics by Will M. Hough and Frank R. Adams. Orlob worked for Joseph E. Howard generating songs for Howard's productions and Howard presented the song a ...

# Ramona # Toot Toot Tootsie! (Goo' Bye) # If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie #

I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" is a popular song written by Mack David. It was originally written for the Disney animated feature ''Cinderella'', but was not used in the final print. The most popular version was recorded by Patti Page in 19 ...

#I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Me) # I'll See You in My Dreams #Lucky Me # I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) #

Near You "Near You" is a popular song written and originally recorded by Francis Craig and His Orchestra at Castle Studio in 1947, with lyrics by Kermit Goell, that has gone on to become a pop standard. Background The recording by Francis Craig (the ...

# South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) #

I've Been Working on the Railroad "I've Been Working on the Railroad" is an American folk song. The first published version appeared as "Levee Song" in ''Carmina Princetonia'', a book of Princeton University songs published in 1894. The earliest known recording is by the Shannon ...

# Goody-Goody # Home on the Range #

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" (or alternatively "Joshua Fought de Battle of Jericho", "Joshua Fit the Battle" or just Joshua and various other titles) is a well-known African-American spiritual. The lyrics allude to the biblical story of the ...

Bell Bottom Trousers "Bell Bottom Trousers" is a reworking of the folksong " Rosemary Lane". A sea shanty version has bawdy lyrics, but a clean version of the tune was written in 1944 for modern audiences by bandleader Moe Jaffe. Moe Jaffe version This version enjoye ...

Ragtime Cowboy Joe Ragtime Cowboy Joe is a popular western swing song. The lyrics were written by Grant Clarke and the music was composed by Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams. It was copyrighted and published in 1912 by F.A. Mills. Artists The song has been rec ...

# Over the Rainbow # When You Wish Upon a Star #

Pistol Packin' Mama "Pistol Packin' Mama" was a "Hillbilly"-Honky Tonk record released at the height of World War II that became a nationwide sensation, and the first "Country" song to top the Billboard popular music chart. It was written by Al Dexter of Troup, ...

# Frankie and Johnnie # Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer # Jingle Bells #

I Love You I Love You, I Love U, or I Luv U may refer to: Film and television Films * ''I Love You'' (1918 film), a silent drama written by Catherine Carr * ''I Love You'' (1925 film), a German silent drama film * ''I Love You'' (1938 film) a German ...

Cuddle Up a Little Closer "Cuddle Up A Little Closer, Lovey Mine" is a popular song. The music was written by Karl Hoschna, the lyrics by Otto Harbach. The song was published in 1908. From the Broadway musical ''Three Twins'' when it was introduced by Alice Yorke. Ada ...

# Ain't She Sweet #Rose O'Day (The Filla-Ga-Dusha Song) #

The Band Played On "The Band Played On", also known (by its refrain) as "Casey Would Waltz with a Strawberry Blonde", is a popular music, popular song. It was written in 1895 in music, 1895 with lyrics by John F. Palmer and music by Charles B. Ward (1865–1917). ...

# Sparrow in the Treetop #"Pep Talk"/South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) #

California, Here I Come "California, Here I Come" is a song interpolated in the Broadway musical '' Bombo'', starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Bud DeSylva, Joseph Meyer, and Jolson. Jolson recorded the song on January 17, 1924, with Isham Jones' Orchestra, ...

Row, Row, Row Your Boat "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is an English language nursery rhyme and a popular children's song, often sung in a round. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19236. Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album ''101 Gang Songs'' (1961). ...

Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charis ...

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue "Has Anybody Seen My Girl? (Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue)" is an American popular song that achieved its greatest popularity in the 1920s. It is sometimes known simply as "Has Anybody Seen My Girl?" and sometimes simply as "Five Foot Two, Eyes of ...

# Lullaby Of Broadway #

#Some Sunday Morning # For Me and My Gal # Blue Skies # Smoke That Cigarette # Ain't Misbehavin' # Cheek to Cheek #

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" is a song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film ''Shall We Dance'', where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as part of a celebrated dance duet on roller skates. The shee ...

I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" is a novelty song composed in 1944 (as "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Cocoanuts") by Fred Heatherton, a songwriting pseudonym for a collaboration of English songwriters Harold Elton Box (1903–1981) and Desmond Co ...

(Roll or Bowl a Ball-A Penny a Pitch) # Michael Row the Boat Ashore #

#When You Wish Upon a Star # I'll See You in My Dreams #Chiquita Banana #

Your Cheatin' Heart "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a song written and recorded by country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1952. It is regarded as one of country's most important standards. Williams was inspired to write the song while driving with his fiancé ...

# Sparrow in the Treetop #

Rock Around the Clock "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was record ...

#That Old Flying Machine # The Man on the Flying Trapeze # School Days # Take Me Out to the Ball Game #Johnson Rag #

Sugarfoot Rag "Sugar-Foot Rag" (or Sugarfoot Rag) is a song written by Hank Garland and Vaughn Horton (given on Red Foley's record label as George Vaughn; both were aliases for songwriter George Vaughn Horton). It was originally recorded by Garland on , and rele ...

# Chicago (That Toddling Town) #

Boola Boola "Boola Boola" is a football song of Yale University. It has enjoyed widespread popularity over the years and has been adapted to many other uses. Despite its popularity, it is not Yale's official fight song, which is "Bull Dog", by Cole Porter. ...

# Honeysuckle Rose # Volare # Quando Quando Quando (Tell Me When) #

San Antonio Rose "San Antonio Rose" is a swing instrumental introduced in late 1938 by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Quickly becoming the band's most popular number, Wills and band members devised lyrics, which were recorded on April 16, 1940, and release ...

# Chattanooga Choo Choo #

The Trolley Song "The Trolley Song" is a song written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 film ''Meet Me in St. Louis''. In a 1989 NPR interview, Blane said the song was inspired by a picture of a trolleycar in a turn-of-t ...

#"Pep Talk"/ Sing Sing Sing #Goody Goody #"Pep Talk"/Pistol Packin' Mama #Any Bonds Today #Music Music Music! (Put Another Nickel In) #It's Only a Paper Moon #Melody Time #

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" is a lighthearted song in tribute to Ireland. Its lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr., set to music composed by Ernest Ball, for Olcott's production of ''The Isle O' Dreams'', and Olcott san ...

# Heartaches # Night and Day #

#Rose O'Day (The Filla-Ga-Dusha Song) #The Wabash Cannonball #"Pep Talk"/Pistol Packin' Mama #The Halls Of Montezuma # Jingle Bell Rock #I'll Never Say "Never Again" Again #Million Dollar Baby #

Shine on Harvest Moon "Shine On, Harvest Moon" is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of moon-related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the Z ...

# Carolina in the Morning #

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" is a popular song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, written in 1938 for the Warner Brothers movie '' Hard to Get,'' released November 1938, in which it was sung by Dick Powell. The b ...

#Jimmy Crack Corn #Any Bonds Today #Rose O'Day (The Filla-Ga-Dusha Song) #Michael Row the Boat Ashore #

Three Blind Mice "Three Blind Mice" is an English-language nursery rhyme and musical round.I. Opie and P. Opie, ''The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1951, 2nd edn., 1997), p. 306. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number o ...

#Ramona #

Mona Lisa The ''Mona Lisa'' ( ; it, Gioconda or ; french: Joconde ) is a half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known ...

# Bye Bye Baby # My Baby Just Cares for Me #Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue #If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie #

That's Amore "That's Amore" is a 1953 song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Jack Brooks, and became a major hit and signature song for Dean Martin, who first recorded and released it that year. ''Amore'' () means "love" in Italian. History The song ...

# The Music Goes 'Round And Around # Jeepers Creepers #Some Sunday Morning # Alexander's Ragtime Band #Any Bonds Today #I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire #Oh What a Gal #The Wabash Cannonball #My Bonnie #Chicago (That Toddling Town) #Rose O'Day (The Filla-Ga-Dusha Song)

References

{{Authority control 1996 albums Outsider music albums