Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]
Fritz Schulz-Reichel (July 4, 1912 – February 14, 1990) was a German jazz and pop pianist. Schulz-Reichel was born in Meiningen. His father was a classical musician, and he began playing piano at the age of six. He developed an unusual technique where he played the melody of a tune with the left hand and the rhythm with the right hand. While he trained to be a concert pianist, he chose a career in pop music, playing light jazz and pop tunes. He invented a device called the Tipsy Wire Box, which could be attached to a piano to make it sound like an out-of-tune barrelhouse upright. (Another interpretation is that "Tipsy Wire Box" was a slang expression for the piano itself, which was merely "detuned"; that is, one of the three strings that make up each note of the main section of the piano is slightly flatted, giving the piano the characteristic sound.) In 1953 he adopted the moniker Schräger Otto (Crazy Otto), and recorded for Deutsche Grammophon. His tunes became hits in Germany, France, England, and America; his albums were released on Decca and MGM in the U.S. and Polydor which were distributed by Philips Electrical Industries Pty. Limited in Australia. In 1955, American musician Johnny Maddox played a medley of his songs, entitled "The Crazy Otto Medley"; this went to #2 on the U.S. charts, and in the U.S. both Reichel and Maddox were subsequently known as "Crazy Otto", to some confusion. Schulz-Reichel continued to perform live and on film, and remained a popular jazz favorite in Germany for many years. "Crazy Otto" is referenced in the song "Ramble on Rose" written by Robert Hunter and performed by the Grateful Dead. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decca | 87222 | 12/30/1954 | Glad rag doll | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87223 | 12/30/1954 | Smiles | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87224 | 12/30/1954 | In the mood | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87225 | 12/30/1954 | S-H-I-N-E | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87226 | 12/30/1954 | Beautiful Ohio | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87227 | 12/30/1954 | Lights out | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87228 | 12/30/1954 | My melancholy baby | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87229 | 12/30/1954 | Paddlin' madelin' home | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87230 | 12/30/1954 | Red sails in the sunset | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87231 | 12/30/1954 | Rose of Washington Square | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 87237 | 12/11/1954 | Everready polka | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 88471 | 8/8/1955 | Marching Otto medleys: No.1: Somebody stole my gal ; You were meant for me ; Should I | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 88472 | 8/8/1955 | Marching Otto medleys: No.2: I'll never smile again ; Undecided ; Heartaches ; Military band | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 73 | 3/28/1955* | Twefth Street rag | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 74 | 3/28/1955* | [Unknown title(s)] | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 75 | 3/28/1955* | The Crazy Otto rag | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 86 | 6/22/1955* | The Darktown Strutters' Ball | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 87 | 6/22/1955* | Mammy o' mine | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 88 | 6/22/1955* | I'll always be in love with you | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 89 | 6/22/1955* | Palesteena | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 90 | 6/22/1955* | Indiana | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 91 | 6/22/1955* | If you knew Susie | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 92 | 6/22/1955* | Rag mop | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 93 | 6/22/1955* | Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, oh! | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 94 | 6/22/1955* | Alabama bound | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGN 95 | 6/22/1955* | Somebody else is taking my place | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1169 | 6/11/1956* | My one and only love | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1170 | 6/11/1956* | I fall in love with you every day | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1171 | 6/11/1956* | Rain (falling from the skies) | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1172 | 6/11/1956* | We could make such beautiful music | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1173 | 6/11/1956* | A dreamer's holiday | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1174 | 6/11/1956* | Exactly like you | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1175 | 6/11/1956* | The glory of love | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1176 | 6/11/1956* | Wrap your troubles in dreams | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1177 | 6/11/1956* | In the blue of evening | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1178 | 6/11/1956* | The man with the banjo | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1179 | 6/11/1956* | Let there be love | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1180 | 6/11/1956* | Just another day wasted away | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1212 | 9/19/1956* | Swingin' door medley: Goodbye boys ; Down where the Wurzberger flows ; On a Sunday afternoon ; Under the anheuser bush | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1213 | 9/19/1956* | Derby Hat medley: They always pick on me ; On the old fall river line ; Don't take me home ; Please go 'way and let me sleep | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1392 | 5/15/1957* | Allah's holiday ; Auf wiedersehn ; Sympathy | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1393 | 5/15/1957* | I'll get by ; Mean to me ; Put away a little ray of gold | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1394 | 5/15/1957* | Lady of Spain ; You turned the tables on me ; You're my thrill | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1395 | 5/15/1957* | Dixie train ; It took me all night to get ; It's better to love /em | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1396 | 5/15/1957* | Daisies won't tell ; I left my sugar standing ; Let a smile be your umbrella ; The mansion of aching hearts ; Throw him down Mccloskey ; wedding bells | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1397 | 5/15/1957* | I don't want to set the world on fire ; I've got a lovely bunch of cocoanuts ; Cruising down the river | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1398 | 5/15/1957* | When Paw was courtin' Maw ; Zip-a-dee-doo-dah ; Cora-Belle Lee | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1399 | 5/15/1957* | And the green grass grew all over | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1400 | 5/15/1957* | Ida, sweet as apple cider ; Mama don't want no peas an' rice ; There'll be some changes made | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1401 | 5/15/1957* | Dungaree doll ; I wonder who's kissing her now ; Manhattan | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1402 | 5/15/1957* | Love me or leave me ; Makin' whoopee ; Stop beatin' 'round the mulberry bush | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1403 | 5/15/1957* | It's a sin to tell a lie ; Sweet Jennie Lee ; And the angels sing | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1471 | 7/25/1957* | Medley: Big rock candy mountain ; Jesse James ; Ol' Texas ; The streets of Laredo | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1472 | 7/25/1957* | Medley: Bill Bailey ; Hello central give me heaven ; I guess I'll have to telegraph ; She may have seen better days | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1473 | 7/25/1957* | Medley: Down went McGinty ; Down where the cotton blossoms ; My old New Hampshire home | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1478 | 2/18/1958* | Dinah | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1479 | 2/18/1958* | Georgia on my mind | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1480 | 2/18/1958* | Whispering | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1483 | 2/18/1958* | Ain't misbehavin' | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1484 | 2/18/1958* | Little white lies | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1485 | 2/18/1958* | [Unknown title(s)] | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1486 | 2/18/1958* | Lady be good | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1533 | 2/11/1958* | As time goes by | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1534 | 2/11/1958* | Sentimental journey | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1535 | 2/11/1958* | Little brown jug | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DU 1536 | 2/11/1958* | It had to be you | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 6391 | 11/2/1955* | Gaslight medley: When my baby smiles at me ; Wait till the sun shines Nellie ; I want a girl ; A bird in a gilded cage | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 6392 | 11/2/1955* | Tin Pan Alley medley ; Have I told you lately that I love you? ; Into each life some rain must fall ; I'm walking behind you | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 24275A | 2/23/1961* | Spanish holiday | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 24419B | 2/23/1961* | Piccadilly | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 66616A | 12/15/1958* | Chopin's Polonaise | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 66616B | 12/15/1958 | Sunrise serenade | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 220637A | 10/27/1960* | Christmas medley: Part 1: Sleigh ride ; Winter wonderland ; White Christmas | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 220637B | 10/27/1960* | Christmas medley: Part 2: I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus ; Jingle bells ; Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 1033735 | 12/30/1958 | Goody goody | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 2033098 | 1958 | How deep is the ocean | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 2033099 | 12/30/1958 | Because of you | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 2033734 | 12/30/1958 | For sentimental | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 2033735 | 12/30/1958 | Deep purple | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 3033099 | 12/30/1958 | I can't give you anything but love | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 3033734 | 12/30/1958 | Sur le pont d'Avignon | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 3033735 | 12/30/1958 | Cheek to cheek | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 4033098 | 12/30/1958 | Arrivederci Roma | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 4033099 | 12/30/1958 | Always | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 5033099 | 12/30/1958 | Perfidia | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | DGG 6033098 | 12/30/1958 | Kiss of fire | Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel] | instrumentalist, piano |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]," accessed November 8, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/310135.
Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 8, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/310135.
"Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 8 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Crazy Otto
Discogs: Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]
Allmusic: Crazy Otto [Fritz Schulz Reichel]
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Crazy Otto - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98025175
Wikidata: Crazy Otto - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1468321
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/63620985
MusicBrainz: Crazy Otto - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/64882ce0-05f8-4224-bdc5-4fde467fbeca
ISNI: 0000 0000 5932 2507 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000059322507
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