"Chinese Laundry Blues"
Sheet music cover of "Chinese Laundry Blues"
Song by George Formby
Released1932
GenreComic song
Songwriter(s)Jack Cotterill (or Cottrell)

"Chinese Laundry Blues" is a 1932 comic song written by Jack Cotterill (or Cottrell) and associated with the British comedian George Formby. Formby recorded it for Decca Records on 1 July 1932. The song takes place in Limehouse (a traditional Chinatown) where the owner of a laundry has fallen in love, and is no longer paying attention to his job. It subtly uses the Oriental riff.

The song featured in the 1934 comedy Boots! Boots!.[1] It became one of Formby's signature tunes, and introduced the character of "Mr. Wu". who appeared in a succession of songs, such as "The Wedding Of Mr. Wu," and most notably "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now" which shares its subject matter with "When I'm Cleaning Windows".

References

  1. ^ St. Pierre p.169

Bibliography