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WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS [performance by The Andrews Sisters with Al Jolson] was written for the New York revue "Spices of 1922." Later that year, the great male vocal group, The Peerless Quartet, recorded the first hit version; others came later from bandleader Paul Whiteman and vaudeville singer Blossom Seeley. The Andrews Sisters recorded a spirited version of the song in 1950, with a quest appearance by the great entertainer Al Jolson. Big-voiced Frankle Laine and pop stylist Jo Stafford teamed on a duet version in 1953. Today the best known recording is a rock 'n' roll one by Freddy Cannon, whose rousing rendition went to No. 3 on the hit parade in 1959.
YES! WE HAVE NO BANANAS [performance by Spike Jones] is one of the best-loved novelty songs of all time. It was introduced on Broadway in 1922 by Eddie Cantor in the musical revue "Make It Snappy" and caused such a sensation that the audience demanded
that Cantor repeat it for a quarter of an hour! There were no less than five hit versions in 1923 by Billy Jones (No. 1), Ben Selvin (No. 1), the Great White Way Orchestra (No. 3), Benny Krueger (No. 8) and Sam Lanin (No. 15) - and even a sequel, "I've Got The 'Yes! We Have No Bananas' Blues' (No. 2 in 1923 for the aforementioned Mr. Cantor). Novelty musician Spike Jones and His City Slickers revived this tale of a push-cart vendor on the streets of New York in August 1950, and their delightful rendition is included here.
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