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THE ANNIVERSARY SONG [performance by Al Jolson] has become synonymous with anniversary celebrations in America and has appeared in countless movies and television programs over the years. Al Jolson, one of America's all-time great entertainers, is credited with co-writing the song (with Saul Chaplin) and sang it in 1946 in the first motion picture based on his life (The Jolson Story). His dramatic recording stayed at No. 2 on the hit parade for six weeks in 1947 and became a million seller. Southern songstress Dinah Shore's version went to No. 1 the same year. Big band leaders Guy Lombardo, Tex Beneke, as well as romantic singer Andy Russell also had Top 5 covers of the song in 1947.
Ace country/pop songwriter Billy Hill wrote THE LAST ROUND-UP [performance by Sons of the Pioneers] in 1933, that year it became a smash in seven different versions. First recorded by tenor Joe Morrison with the big band of George Olsen (that version soared to No. 1 and stayed there for nine weeks!), this mournful ballad was performed on Broadway in the "Ziegfeld Follies Of 1934" and featured in cowboy star Gene Autry's films The Singing Hill and Don't Fence Me In. Hit recordings include those by Guy Lombardo (No. 1), Don Bestor (No. 2), Victor Young (No. 3), Gene Autry (No.12) and Conrad Thibault (No. 18). The Sons of the Pioneers performed the tune for about ten years before recording the 1947 version included here.
TOO FAT POLKA (I Don't Want Her-You Can Have Her-She's Too Fat For Me) [performance by Arthur Godfrey] was recorded by TV and radio star Arthur Godfrey (with the Too Fat Trio) in 1947 and became his all-time greatest of a dozen hits. A happy good-time novelty, the tune stayed at No. 2 on the record charts for eight weeks.
The Ink Spots record YOU WERE ONLY FOOLING (WHILE I WAS FALLING IN LOVE).
Louis Armstrong recorded ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET .
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