1923 Music – Pop Standards and Artists

1923 Pop Standards and Artists

Al Jolson
Toot Toot Tootsie
Jolson would sing this song in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer. This film was the first feature-length movie to have talking sequences. The song has been recorded by such artists as Brenda Lee and The Supremes. In 1991 it was recorded by Brent Spiner TV’s Data on Star Trek The Next Generation.

Benny Kreuger and his Orchestra
I Cried for You
A popular song that would be recorded by many artists including Count Basie, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

Bill Murray and Ed Smalle
That Old Gang of Mine
The song is about the ending of childhood friendships as we move into adulthood. The song’s original title was Wedding Bells are Breaking up That Old Gang of Mine and has been recorded by such artists as Dean Martin and The Four Aces.

Paul Whiteman
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
The song was originally composed in 1897 by German composer Leon Jessell. In 1905 Jessell arranged the piece for Orchestra and had it re-published. In 1922 lyrics were written for the piece by Ballard Macdonald. Recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1923 it would soon become more of a Christmas song as time went by. The song has been used in a Betty Boop Cartoon and as a Disney short (see YouTube link) It has been recorded at least ten times by The Boston Pops. Harry Connick Jr. recorded it with the lyrics for his Christmas album and the piece is used annually by the Rockettes for their Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Van and Schenck
Carolina in the Morning
The song was written by Walter Donaldson (music) and Gus Kahn (lyrics) for the musical revue The Passing Show of 1922. I t was performed by William Frawley, Fred Mertz of I Love Lucy, who would later perform it along with Vivian Vance, Ethel Mertz, in an episode of the show. The song would be revived regularly as a standard into the 1950s. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore would use the song in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. 

Top Artists and Songs of 1923
Al Jolson
Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye)
Art Landry
Dream Melody
Ben Bernie (May 30, 1891 – October 23, 1943)
Swingin’ Down the Lane
Ben Selvin
Yes! We Have No Bananas
Benny Krueger and his Orchestra
I Cried For You
Bessie Smith
The Empress of the Blues
Aggravatin’ Papa
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
Down Hearted Blues
Gulf Coast Blues
T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do
Billy Jones
Yes! We Have No Bananas – is probably the oldest novelty pop song (most have a short lifespan) that people may recall
Billy Murray and Ed Smalle
That Old Gang of Mine
Blossom Seeley
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Carl Fenton
Love Sends A Little Gift of Roses
Eddie Cantor
He Loves It
No, No Nora
I’ve Got The Yes We Have No Bananas Blues
Ethel Waters
Georgia Blues
Fiddlin John Carson – This could very well be the Johnny who played in a fiddle contest against the devil in The Devil Went Down To Georgia by Charlie Daniels.
Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane
You’ll Never Miss Your Mother Till She’s Gone
Henry Burr
Faded Love Letters
Isham Jones
Farewell Blues
Saw Mill River Road
Swingin’ Down the Lane
– #1 for six weeks in the USA.
Who’s Sorry Now?
Jelly Roll Morton -Born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, Mr. Morton claimed to have invented Jazz in 1902. He was a bit of an exaggerator.
Kansas City Stomp
King Oliver’s Jazz Band
Chimes Blues
Dippermouth Blues
Marion Harris
Beside a Babbling Brook
Carolina In The Morning
Dirty Hands! Dirty Face!
Melville Gideon
Horsey Keep Your Tail Up
Paul Specht (March 24, 1895 – April 11, 1954)
Goodbye
Paul Whiteman
Bambalina
Carolina In The Morning
Chansonette
Dearest (You’re The Nearest To My Heart)
I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise
I Love You
Last Night on the Back Porch
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
Underneath the Mellow Moon
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Wonderful One
The Georgians
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
The Virginians
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
Van & Schenck
Carolina In The Morning
Will Fyffe – Later came in second place in a ‘Will Fyffe’ contest singing I Belong To Glasgow.
I Belong To Glasgow