A Century of American Popular Music

David A. Jasen

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781135352714
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music

First Published in 2002. A Century of American Popular Music is an annotated index to over 2, 000 of the most popular, best remembered, historically important and otherwise influential and interesting popular music, from the landmark publication of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag to the latest rap hit. It provides information all in one place that is available no where else: song title, composer, lyricist, publisher, date of copyright and genre. The annotations include, where possible, a discussion of the history of the song, how it was written, who popularized it, notable recordings with their original issue numbers, as well as covers and other versions that helped keep the song in public attention. Also included are indices by composer, publisher and year of publication.

THE SONGS: A to Z

---

“A”—YOU'RE ADORABLE

Sid Lippman/Buddy Kaye/Fred Wise

Laurel Music—New York

1948

Perry Como, with the Fontane Sisters, had the number 1 hit that charted for fifteen weeks (Victor 20–3381).

ABA DABA HONEYMOON

Arthur Fields and Walter Donovan

Leo Feist—New York

1914

Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan had the first hit recording (Victor 17620). Debbie Reynolds and Carlton Carpenter revived it in the film Two Weeks With Love (MGM, 1950). Their soundtrack recording became the number 3 hit in 1951 and sold over one million copies (MGM 30282). It was revived again in 1960 by Joe “Fingers” Carr and Ira Ironstrings on their LP Together for the Last Time, Volume 1 (Warner Bros. 1389).

ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN

Dick Holler (w & m)

Regent Music—New York

1968

Former doo-wop star Dion DiMucci made a big comeback with this 1968 song in honor of the assassinated heroes Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy. It was a number 4 hit, remaining on the charts for twelve weeks (Laurie 3464). The song was also covered by comedian Moms Mabley (Mercury 72935) and the Miracles (Tamla 54184), both in 1969.

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

Herbert Dillea (w: Arthur Gillespie)

M. Witmark and Sons—New York

1900

Tearjerker sung in vaudeville by Fred Gladdish. Harry MacDonough made the best-selling disc in 1901 (Victor 907).

ABSINTHE FRAPPE

Victor Herbert (w: Glen MacDonough)

M. Witmark and Sons—New York

1904

Show: It Happened in Nordland

Sung by Harry Davenport in the show. Sung in the film The Great Victor Herbert (Paramount, 1939) by Allan Jones.

AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE

Harold Arlen (w: Johnny Mercer)

Edwin H. Morris—New York

1944

Film: Here Come the Waves (Paramount)

Bing Crosby and Sonny Tufts sang it in the film. Crosby, with the Andrews Sisters, had a number 2 hit that charted for nine weeks (Decca 23379). Lyricist Johnny Mercer had the number 1 hit, which charted for sixteen weeks (Capitol 180).

ACHIN' HEARTED BLUES

Clarence Williams/Clarence Johnson/Spencer Williams

Clarence Williams Music—New York

1922

Introduced in vaudeville by Johnny Wiesser and Cora Reeser. Leona Williams and Her Dixie Band (actually the Original Memphis Five) made the first recording (Columbia A-3599), followed by Clarence Williams's Blue Five (Okeh 4966). Jazzbo's Carolina Serenaders also had a fine version (Cameo 269).

ADDICTED TO LOVE

Robert Palmer (w & m)

Ackee Music

1986

British rock-pop singer Robert Palmer's biggest hit, which held the number 1 spot for one out of fourteen weeks on the charts (Island 99570) in 1986.

AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, AN

Harry Warren (w: Harold Adamson and Leo McCarey)

Leo Feist—New York

1957

Film: An Affair to Remember

(20th Century Fox) Vic Damone sang it in the film and had the number 16 hit (Columbia 40945).

AFRICA

David Paich and Jeff Porcaro

Hudmar Publishing

1982

Pop-rock band Toto had the number 1 hit in 1983 that charted for sixteen weeks (Columbia 03335). Paich and Porcaro were band members. It sold over one million copies.

AFRICAN 400, THE

Charles J. Roberts

Carl Fischer Inc.—New York

1909

Arthur Pryor's Band (Victor 16444) and the Zonophone Concert Band (Zonophone 5531) had fine versions.

AFTER YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT, YOU DON'T WANT IT

Irving Berlin (w & m)

Irving Berlin Inc. —New York

1920

Hit recording by Van and Schenck (Columbia A-2966). Revived by Marilyn Monroe in the movie There's No Business like Show Business (20th Century Fox, 1954).

AFTER YOU'VE GONE

John Turner Layton (w: Henry Creamer)

Broadway Music—New York

1918

Sophie Tucker first made it a hit in vaudeville, then on recordings. Al Jolson popularized it on the Broadway stage. The Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawks made a hit record in 1929 (Victor 22342), while the Benny Goodman Quartet played it in Disney's film Make Mine Music (1946). Shirley MacLaine revived it in the film Some Came Running (MGM, 1959).

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

Bill Danoff (w & m)

Cherry Lane Music

1976

The Starland Vocal Band was a one-hit wonder, and this number 1 hit charted for fourteen weeks (Windsong 10588). It sold over one million copies.

AGAINST ALL ODDS (TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOW)

Phil Collins (w & m)

Golden Torch Music

Film: Against All Odds (Columbia)

1984

Theme song from the film of the same name; Phil Collins's first number 1 hit, which held the top spot for three out of sixteen weeks on the charts (Atlantic 89700).

AGGRAVATIN' PAPA

J. Russel Robinson/Roy Turk/Addy Britt Waterson, Berlin and Snyder—New York

1922

The Virginians, a contingent from Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, recorded it as a splendid syncopated dance tune (Victor 19021), which contrasts nicely with Bessie Smith's very bluesy interpretation (Columbia A-3877).

AH! SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE

Victor Herbert (w: Rida Johnson Young)

M. Witmark and Sons—New York

1910

Show: Naughty Marietta

Introduced by Orville Harrold in the operetta. In the MGM movie, it was sung by Jeanette MacDonald and ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• The Songs: A to Z
• Academy Award Winners for Best Song
• Index by Composer
• Index by Publisher
• Index by Year of Publication