Undecided Song by John Kirby and The Onyx Club Boys Published 1938 Songwriter(s) Sid Robin, Charlie Shavers “Undecided” is a popular song written by Sid Robin and Charlie Shavers and published in 1938. Recordings The first recording was made by John Kirby and The Onyx Club Boys on October 28, 1938, and released by Decca …
My Mammy 1918 “My Mammy” is an American popular song with music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis. Though associated with Al Jolson, who performed the song very successfully, “My Mammy” was performed first in 1918 by William Frawley (later to become famous on I Love Lucy) as a …
I Could Write a Book 1940 Song from Pal Joey Published 1940 Writer(s) Lorenz Hart Composer(s) Richard Rodgers “I Could Write a Book” is a show tune from the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey (1940), where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. Notable recordings Betty Carter – The Audience with …
Pick Yourself Up “Pick Yourself Up” is a popular song composed in 1936 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. It has a verse and chorus, as well as a third section, though the third section is often omitted in recordings. Like most popular songs of the era it features a 32 bar chorus …
Orange Blossom Special (song) Genre Rockabilly folk bluegrass – 1938 Length 3:06 Label Columbia Writer(s) Ervin T. Rouse The fiddle tune “Orange Blossom Special”, about the passenger train of the same name, was written by Ervin T. Rouse (1917–1981) in 1938. The original recording was created by Ervin and Gordon Rouse in 1939. It is …
Above: Rossini portrayed in 1828, the year he began composing William Tell. 1829 William Tell Overture The William Tell Overture is the overture to the opera William Tell (original French title Guillaume Tell), whose music was composed by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini’s 39 operas, after which …
Blue Skies (Irving Berlin song) “Blue Skies” is a popular song that was written by Irving Berlin in 1926. The song was composed in 1926 as a last-minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy. Although the show ran for 39 performances only, “Blue Skies” was an instant success, with audiences on opening night …
Tuxedo Junction Song by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra Released 1938 Label RCA Bluebird Writer(s) Buddy Feyne Composer(s) Erskine Hawkins Bill Johnson Julian Dash “Tuxedo Junction” is a song co-written by Birmingham, Alabama composer Erskine Hawkins and saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. Julian Dash is also credited for the music. Buddy Feyne wrote the lyrics. …
Begin the Beguine A-side Indian Love Call B-side Begin the Beguine Recorded July 24, 1938, New York City Genre Jazz Length 3:11 “Begin the Beguine” is a popular song written by Cole Porter. Porter composed the song between Kalabahi, Indonesia, and Fiji during a 1935 Pacific cruise aboard Cunard’s ocean liner Franconia. In October 1935, …
Let’s Fall in Love 1933 “Let’s Fall in Love” is a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and published in 1933. The major hit at the time of introduction was by Eddy Duchin. It was originally written in C major with a “Moderately Bright” tempo marking. As a jazz standard, it’s usually played …