[misc.misc] IBM Songbook?

scj@meccsd.MECC.MN.ORG (Scotian) (03/18/89)

I just heard of the existence of an official 'IBM Songbook' containing
songs that at one time IBM employees were forced to sing each morning.
I know this sounds absolutely insane, but it just might have some truth
associated with it.  If anybody has any information about such a book,
please, do tell...
-- 
..............................................................................
Scott C. Jensen
scj@mecc.MN.ORG

waters@dover.uucp (Mike Waters) (03/19/89)

In article <1371@meccsd.MECC.MN.ORG> scj@meccsd.mecc.mn.org (Scotian) writes:
>I just heard of the existence of an official 'IBM Songbook' containing
>songs that at one time IBM employees were forced to sing each morning.
>I know this sounds absolutely insane, but it just might have some truth
>associated with it.  If anybody has any information about such a book,
>please, do tell...

An ex-IBMer showed me what he claimed was one, certainly it had the (old)
IBM logo etc. and was expensively printed. It was from the early 50's
though. 

Other than that I have heard the same stories, but never had anyone who
was working for IBM admit to it nor have I seen any other evidence.

Probably apocryphal (a story just TOO good to die), but still interesting.

-- 
Mike Waters    AA4MW/7                  *  Once a Registered Republican, now a
Motorola CAD Group                      *    *BORN AGAIN*
Mesa, AZ   ...!sun!sunburn!dover!waters *          ACLU Member!
          OR   moto@cad.Berkley.EDU     *  

jejones@mcrware.UUCP (James Jones) (03/19/89)

Well...the existence of the IBM Songbook is asserted in Rodgers's biography of
T. Watson the elder, *Think*, and if memory serves, it cites some of the lyrics.
Also, Ted Nelson's *Computer Lib/Dream Machines* refers to a group of precocious
kids who found a copy of said book and serenaded the IBMers at their booth at a
conference.  Then, there's an outfit that sells disks full of PD/shareware stuff
that claims to have a program that plays songs from the songbook, in particular
the infamous "Ever Onward, IBM."  I haven't seen the book itself, but I tend to
think it exists.

	James Jones

patterso@hardees.rutgers.edu (Ross Patterson) (03/21/89)

There was indeed an IBM songbook, widely available and used, until the 1960's
with their attendant freedoms burst into even IBM's hallowed halls. Those were
also the days of White Shirts Only and the "IBM Wife". Thank goodness they're
over. 

Several of the IBM songs were transcribed into PC-DOS BASIC programs (using
BASICA's "PLAY" statement. I still have a copy of "Ever Onward", the most
famous of IBM's corporate hymns.

Ross Patterson
Rutgers University
Center for Computer and Information Services

gfv@homxc.UUCP (G.VALVO) (03/21/89)

From article <Mar.20.14.23.21.1989.17240@hardees.rutgers.edu>, by patterso@hardees.rutgers.edu (Ross Patterson):
> There was indeed an IBM songbook, widely available and used, until the 1960's
> with their attendant freedoms burst into even IBM's hallowed halls. Those were
> also the days of White Shirts Only and the "IBM Wife". Thank goodness they're
> over. 

I'd imagine that many Japanese employees sing a company song and do
group calisthenics every day.  There is also great emphasis on uniformity
in dress and apperance.  Seeing as how the Japs have been kicking our
industrial butts for several years maybe it's not such a bad idea.


Greg

paul@athertn.Atherton.COM (Paul Sander) (03/22/89)

In article <1371@meccsd.MECC.MN.ORG>, scj@meccsd.MECC.MN.ORG (Scotian) writes:
> I just heard of the existence of an official 'IBM Songbook' containing
> songs that at one time IBM employees were forced to sing each morning.
> I know this sounds absolutely insane, but it just might have some truth
> associated with it.  If anybody has any information about such a book,
> please, do tell...

My mother works for IBM's Santa Teresa Lab, and back in the early 70's, I
remember her bringing home SHEET MUSIC for the official IBM anthem.  (I don't
remember the name of it though, nor do I remember the words.)
-- 
Paul Sander        (408) 734-9822       | Do YOU get nervous when a
paul@Atherton.COM                       | sys{op,adm,prg,engr} says
{decwrl,sun,hplabs!hpda}!athertn!paul   | "oops..." ?

john@frog.UUCP (John Woods) (03/24/89)

In article <6032@homxc.UUCP>, gfv@homxc.UUCP (G.VALVO) writes:
> From article <Mar.20.14.23.21.1989.17240@hardees.rutgers.edu>, by patterso@hardees.rutgers.edu (Ross Patterson):
> > There was indeed an IBM songbook, widely available and used, until the 1960's
> > with their attendant freedoms burst into even IBM's hallowed halls. Those were
> > also the days of White Shirts Only and the "IBM Wife". Thank goodness they're
> > over. 
> I'd imagine that many Japanese employees sing a company song and do
> group calisthenics every day.  There is also great emphasis on uniformity
> in dress and apperance.  Seeing as how the Japs have been kicking our
> industrial butts for several years maybe it's not such a bad idea.
> 
They also tend to be shorter than we.  Seeing as how the Japs have been kicking
our industrial butts for several years maybe it's not such a bad idea.

Maybe faulty logic like the above has a good deal more to do with it, though.

-- 
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (508) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, john@frog.UUCP, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw@eddie.mit.edu

			Remainder Khomeini!