Bee Gees Weren’t the Only Band to Hit With a Song Called ‘Massachusetts’

The Bee Gees, probably most remembered for their involvement with the incredibly successful Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, were legends long before John Travolta disco danced them all into superstardom in 1977.

The brothers Gibb – Robin, Barry and Maurice – were born on the Isle of Man and performed as The Rattlesnakes before moving to Manchester, England and becoming the Bee Gees.

While the Bee Gees had many hit records, the song "Massachusetts," released in 1967, was a smash with a very interesting backstory.

The Bee Gees were not the only band with a hit platter called "Massachusetts," however.

Famed drummer Gene Krupa and his Orchestra put Massachusetts on the map, and the radio, years before. That version of "Massachusetts" was written by Andy Razaf and Charles "Luckey" Roberts. Razaf was born in Washington, D.C., and Roberts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Neither Razaf nor Roberts were from Massachusetts, but they appeared to have known the Commonwealth based on their lyrics.

Fallout Wiki reports, "The song was recorded for the Okeh Records label on July 13, 1942, and was released that same year." The recording featured Krupa on drums and Anita O'Day on vocals.

The first verse of the 1942 version of "Massachusetts" goes this way:

When the porter yells Massachusetts
I'll be there with bells, Massachusetts
Homesick as can be, Massachusetts
Only place for me, Massachusetts
Got a special date
With that New England state

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The song mentions Plymouth Rock, Nantucket, Bunker Hill and Boston, but not New Bedford.

Ah, well, perhaps if there is a sequel.