Music Before 1950

Celebrating the First 70 Years of Recording History

[musicbefore1950]

The John B Sails (1935)

I don’t know much about this history of The John B Sails (or it’s varying titles) aside from the fact that’s it’s a traditional folk song from the Bahamas and Brian Wilson adapted it for his album Pet Sounds. This recording by Alan Lomax is the earliest version I could find. 

[musicbefore1950]

In the Jailhouse Now (1928)

Althought this song has its roots in early 20th century vaudeville, country music pioneer Jimmy Rodgers is credited with the original recording of In the Jailhouse Now. 

[musicbefore1950]

Georgia On My Mind (1930)

Hoagy Charmichael wrote quite a lot of classic songs that have undoubtedly stood the test of time. Georgia On My Mind was released less than a year after the stock market crash of 1929 which left the composer nearly broke. Many artists have covered the song since then, but the best known is by Ray Charles released thirty years after the original.  

[musicbefore1950]

I Ain't Got Nobody (1916)

Forty years before Louis Prima's version of Just a Gigolo became a massive hit in 1956, a young Marion Harris was the first to record the blues classic I Ain't Got Nobody. In the past 100 years, this song has become a 'standard' and recorded over and over by countless popular artists.

[musicbefore1950]

Midnight, the Stars and You (1934)

In my opinion, this is one of the most romantic songs of all time. Additionally, the smooth vocals of South African crooner Al Bowlly coupled with the "champagne" sound of Ray Noble's Orchestra created an eerie yet perfect counterbalance after the suspenseful climax of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.

[musicbefore1950]

Musik! Musik! Musik! (1939)

It's been a while since I posted anything on here and I have been meaning to get back into it for some time. The hold up wasn't due to lack of finding good songs. It was about doing the research so the info I write here is accurate and interesting. 

I randomly came across this song while listening to a YouTube playlist. It's from Berlin 1939 by the Otto Stenzel Orchestra. Immediately, I recognized the melody and am sure that any fan of The Muppet Show will too. Beyond this, I couldn't find any further info on the song or Otto Stenzel. 

[musicbefore1950]

The Liberty Bell (1897)

John Philip Sousa wrote a lot of marches in the late 19th & early 20th centuries. Many of his compositions are still used today by schools, the US military, throughout popular culture. The Liberty Bell was written in 1893 during a time when the bell was traveling around the country and being shown off as a symbol of freedom at exhibitions. The earliest recording I could find online is this one from 1897, but I'm sure earlier ones exist. Either way, Monty Python's Flying Circus fans should instantly find it recognizable! 

[musicbefore1950]

In My Merry Oldsmobile (1905)

In 1905, the automotive industry was still quite young. Henry Ford was 3 years away from introducing his iconic Model T and Oldsmobile had been making cars for only 8 years. In My Merry Oldsmobile, is a light song from that year, yet another "advertisement" recorded by Billy Murray in the days before owning a car was a thing.  

[musicbefore1950]

Ain't We Got Fun? (1921)

Over the years, I've heard Ain't we Got Fun? used to advertise cruises and other destinations that promise "fun". The original, published in 1921 and recorded by Van & Schenck, it's as cheery with lyrics like, "the rich get richer and the poor get laid off". This song actually a sarcastic look at class differences from a poor couple's perspective. 

[musicbefore1950]

Alexander's Ragtime Band (1911)

By request from my aunt, I'm posting Irving Berlin's first hit song  Alexander's Ragtime Band. Although it's been recorded by several famous artists for decades and is the title song from a 1938 film, the original was written in 1911 and recorded by the duet Collins & Harlan (Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harlan) that same year.

[musicbefore1950]

Moonlight Bay (1912)

Sung in the barbershop style, Moonlight Bay was written in 1912 and originally recorded by the American Quartet featuring one of the most popular singers of the time Billy Murray. 

[musicbefore1950]

On The Good Ship Lollipop (1934)

Sadly, Shirley Temple passed away today at the age of 85. One of the few remaining stars from the "golden age of Hollywood", she was perhaps the first child "superstar". Temple began acting at the age of 3 in 1932 with light hearted movies and uplifting songs that brought a little bit of joy to a nation deep into the Great Depression. On The Good Ship Lollipop is without a doubt her most famous song and was released in 1934 originally featured in the movie Bright Eyes. 

[musicbefore1950]

Misirlou (1927)

Here's a little something with international flavor! Ten years before Dick Dale was born and 67 years before Pulp Fiction was released, Misirlou was originally recorded by rebetiko (Greek folk) artist Tetos Dimitriades in 1927. 

[musicbefore1950]

Under the Anheuser Bush (1904)

I was looking for a song to post from Billy Murray, who was one of the top recording artists from the very early 20th century. Interestingly, I came upon this little 110 year old gem from Edison Records called Under the Anheuser Bush. It's beer marketing 1904 style! 

[musicbefore1950]

Me and My Shadow (1927)

It's said that Whispering Jack Smith got his signature singing style due to the effects of exposure to chemical weapons while serving in WWI. After the war, he worked as a song plugger for Irving Berlin's publishing company and began a popular recording career in 1925. Me and My Shadow was originally recorded by Smith in 1927 and is one of his most famous songs and has been re-recorded several times since by an assortment of popular artists. 

[musicbefore1950]

Daisy Bell (1894)

The song Daisy Bell was written by Harry Dacre in 1892 and is a love song from a time when bicycling became quite popular. I wasn't able to find a recording earlier than this 1894 cylinder with Edward M. Favor singing and not sure one exists online.

Fun fact: In 1961, IBM made a computer sing for the first time and chose this song.

[musicbefore1950]

The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (1937)

It's funny that much of my musical knowledge from the first few decades of the 20th century started with watching Looney Tunes as a kid. In 1937, Henry "Red" Allen and His Orchestra were the first to record the newly published song, The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down. Later that year, several other versions were recorded and in 1938 Warner Bros. featured an instrumental version which would later become this popular theme song.