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Al Jolson
The February Recordings
Al Jolson recorded only a few songs on the Columbia and Decca labels during February. Here are those recordings.
The Columbia Recordings
Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go?
28 Feb 1916: Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go (With Friday On Saturday Night)? - A daring song with somewhat surprisingly racy lyrics, this was a hit from the show Robinson Crusoe, Jr. As you listen to Jolie sing it, you have to wonder if this song did not have a few more choruses that are lost in the depths of time. It held the #6 position on the Billboard charts for two weeks.
Down Where The Swanee River Flows 28 Feb 1916: Down Where The Swanee River Flows - This song from Robinson Crusoe, Jr. about the Swanee River predates George Gershwin's "Swanee" by about four years! It reached the #3 spot on the Billboard charts, and stayed around for five weeks!
28 Feb 1916: Now He's Got A Beautiful Girl - Recorded after a break at the same session as the previous two songs, this is another song from Robinson Crusoe, Jr. which suggests many encore choruses existed!
14 Feb 1921: Scandanavia - Recorded during the run of Sinbad, although not apparently interpolated into that show, this song, subtitled "Sing dose songs and make dose music," is about Johnny Johnson and his quest for love. A southern song it ain't!
The Decca Recordings
16 Feb 1949: I'm Crying Just For You - This is the first of four songs recorded on this date, a McCarthy-Monoco number that found its way into Jolson Sings Again, but didn't make the final cut of the film. For information, this was the third of four takes of this song, and it sounds great!
16 Feb 1949: I Only Have Eyes For You - Another song fated for Jolson Sings Again, Al Jolson had performed this number on radio since the 1930s, this was his first studio recording of a wonderful Al Dubin - Harry Warren number that, while others have recorded, is a classic Jolson piece.
16 Feb 1949: That Wonderful Girl Of Mine - Sammy Gallop took an old Yiddish number, changed the focus from a village to a girl, and the language from Yiddish to English, and came up with this Jolson hit.
In Our House
16 Feb 1949: In Our House - Al Jolson claimed author credit for this song, which tells the story of a quieter, simpler time. He loved to sing it on the radio, and set it to vinyl with characteritic verve.
16 Feb 1949: Recording Note - This was the last session that Decca Records recorded Jolson on 16 inch acetate disks. After this session, Ampex magnetic tape, at 30 ips, was used. Because of the use of tape, future sessions no longer supported "take" numbers, and spliced performances were possible, assembled from a variety of takes.
Alternate Takes
Al Jolson always said that he never sang a song the same way twice. Enjoy this alternate takes of one of this month's recordings.
16 Feb 1949: In Our House - The released version of this song was the fourth recording take. This is the second take, a bit different in tempo and tone. Jolie begins with "In our house, we get a little sun," rather than the "greet the morning sun" in the released version. This was released, though, on another Decca disc.

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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 23 Feb 25