Al Jolson
33 records in the collection· mostly on Brunswick, Columbia, Victor
Al Jolson was one of the defining stars of American popular entertainment in the 1910s and 1920s, a singer and stage performer famous for his forceful, highly theatrical delivery. Closely associated with songs such as “Swanee” and “April Showers”, he also became a landmark figure in early sound film through The Jazz Singer (1927), although his use of blackface makes his legacy a complicated one today.
This introduction was written by AI from what is known of the artist. Ask us if you want to know more about a particular record.
Records by Al Jolson
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- AAt Peace with the World
- BTonight's My Night with Baby
Al Jolson, the most celebrated and commercially successful popular singer of the 1920s and early 1930s, and a groundbreaking jazz vocalist, recorded "At Peace with the World" and "Tonight's My Night with Baby" for Brunswick. Jolson's booming voice and showmanship defined an era of popular recording.AI summary
Brunswick 3196 Personalities (Prs)
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- AAvalon
- B(H Burr)Old Pal why don't you answer me
Al Jolson, the legendary American entertainer, recorded 'Avalon' and 'Old Pal, Why Don't You Answer Me?' on Columbia's A-series, a mass-produced popular catalogue.AI summary
Columbia A2995 Personalities (Prs)
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- ADown where the Swanee River flows
- B(Harrison/Reed)They made it twice as nice as Paradise
Al Jolson records 'Down Where the Swanee River Flows' and — with Harrison and Reed — 'They Made It Twice as Nice as Paradise' on Columbia A2007, an American acoustic pressing from around 1916. Jolson's mid-period Columbia acoustic sides are collected worldwide and this is a good example of his wartime popular output.AI summary
Columbia A2007 Personalities (Prs)
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- AEv'ry little While
- B(J Harrison)Pack up your Troubles in your old Kit Bag
Al Jolson, the American entertainment superstar, recorded 'Ev'ry Little While' and 'Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag' on Columbia A2181, a UK pressing from the 1910s.AI summary
Columbia A2181 Personalities (Prs)
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- AGolden Gate
- BWhen you were sweet sixteen
Al Jolson performing 'Golden Gate' and 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen' on Brunswick 03821. Jolson was the dominant popular singer of the 1920s–30s and one of the most recorded voices in history; this represents his late-period work.AI summary
Brunswick 03821 Personalities (Prs)
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- AGolden Gate
- BWhen you were sweet sixteen
Al Jolson performing 'Golden Gate' and 'When you were sweet sixteen' on Brunswick 03821, from his prolific 1930s recording period.AI summary
Brunswick 03821 Personalities (Prs)
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- AI'm all bound round with the Mason Dixon Line
- B(Collins and Harlan)Dark Town Strutters Ball
Al Jolson on Columbia A2478, recording 'I'm All Bound Round with the Mason Dixon Line' and the 'Darktown Strutters Ball' with Collins and Harlan.AI summary
Columbia A2478 Personalities (Prs)
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- AI'm Sitting on Top of the World
- BYou Flew Away from the Nest
Al Jolson, 'The World's Greatest Entertainer', performing 'I'm Sitting on Top of the World' and 'You Flew Away from the Nest' on Brunswick 3014, from his prolific recording career of the 1920s.AI summary
Brunswick 3014 Personalities (Prs)
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- AIn sweet September
- B(F Crumit)Early in the Morning
Al Jolson, 'The World's Greatest Entertainer', performing 'In Sweet September' and 'Early in the Morning' (with Frank Crumit) on Columbia A2946, a popular song side from the 1920s.AI summary
Columbia A2946 Personalities (Prs)
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- ALazy
- BMy Papa doesn't two time no Time
Al Jolson, the American vaudeville star, performing 'Lazy' and 'My Papa doesn't two time no Time' on Brunswick; another Jolson single from his prolific recording output.AI summary
Brunswick 2595 Personalities (Prs)
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- ALet me sing and I'm happy
- BIf I only had a match
Al Jolson performing 'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy' and 'If I Only Had a Match' on Brunswick. Jolson was the most celebrated entertainer of the 1920s-1930s and a recording superstar; this Brunswick pressing captures his later recording work.AI summary
Brunswick 03866 Personalities (Prs)
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- ALet me sing and I'm happy
- BIf I only had a match
Al Jolson on Brunswick 03866, performing two jazz-influenced numbers. Jolson was the most famous entertainer of the 1920s and his records are widely collected, though Brunswick pressings are less scarce than his earlier acoustic sides.AI summary
Brunswick 03866 Personalities (Prs)
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- ALittle Pal
- BI'm in Seventh Heaven
Brunswick 10286 Personalities (Prs)
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- AMa blushin' Rosie
- BYou made me love you
Al Jolson, the legendary American entertainer, recorded 'Ma Blushin' Rosie' and 'You Made Me Love You' for Brunswick—iconic songs from the vaudeville and early recording era, performed by one of the most important popular singers of the early 20th century.AI summary
Brunswick 03798 Personalities (Prs)
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- AMandalay
- BWho Wants a Bad Little Boy?
Al Jolson (1886–1950), the American vaudeville and film star, performing 'Mandalay' and the novelty number 'Who Wants a Bad Little Boy?' on Brunswick; Jolson was one of the first international recording stars.AI summary
Brunswick 2650 Personalities (Prs)
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- AMiami
- BYou Forgot to Remember
Al Jolson, the American vaudeville and jazz-song star, performs two sides for Brunswick: 'Miami' and 'You Forgot to Remember'.AI summary
Brunswick 3013 Personalities (Prs)
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- AN everything
- B(Trio)When you play with the Heart of a Girl
Al Jolson on Columbia A2519, recording 'N Everything' and 'When You Play with the Heart of a Girl' (Trio).AI summary
Columbia A2519 Personalities (Prs)
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- APullman Porters' Parade
- BYou made me love you
Al Jolson records 'Pullman Porters' Parade' and 'You Made Me Love You' on Columbia A1374, an American Columbia pressing from around 1913 — among Jolson's earliest and most collected recordings. 'You Made Me Love You' became one of his signature songs; the A-series Columbia dates this to the acoustic era. Jolson is one of the towering names of American popular entertainment and his early Columbia acoustic sides are keenly sought.AI summary
Columbia A1374 Personalities (Prs)
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- ARainbow Round My Shoulder
- BSonny Boy
Brunswick 4033 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASnap your Fingers
- B(Collins/Harlan)I want to be in Dixie
Al Jolson records 'Snap Your Fingers' and — with Collins and Harlan — 'I Want to Be in Dixie' on Victor 17075, an American acoustic pressing from around 1912. This is among Jolson's earliest Victor recordings and is a period document of American vaudeville at its peak; the Collins and Harlan reverse coupling adds further period interest.AI summary
Victor 17075 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASome enchanted evening
- BI dram of Jeanie
Al Jolson on Brunswick performing 'Some Enchanted Evening' and 'I Dream of Jeanie', popular ballads by the iconic American entertainer and star of the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer.AI summary
Brunswick 04813 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASonny Boy
- BThere's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder
Al Jolson was the most celebrated entertainer of the 1920s and 1930s, known for his vaudeville showmanship and role in early talking pictures. This Brunswick side pairs two of his iconic songs, 'Sonny Boy' and 'There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder', from his peak commercial period.AI summary
Brunswick 3879 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASonny Boy
- BThere's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder
Al Jolson was one of the most celebrated entertainers of the early 20th century, known for vaudeville, musical theatre and his pioneering role in film; "Sonny Boy" and "There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder" are among his signature songs, recorded here on Brunswick.AI summary
Brunswick 3879 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASwanee
- BApril Showers
Al Jolson, the most famous entertainer of the Jazz Age and the star of the first talking picture (The Jazz Singer), recorded "Swanee" (his signature song, a massive hit) and "April Showers" for Brunswick. Jolson was one of the most recorded artists of all time.AI summary
Brunswick 03765 Personalities (Prs)
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- ASwanee
- BApril Showers
Al Jolson, 'The World's Greatest Entertainer', recorded the jazz standards 'Swanee' and 'April Showers' for Brunswick, representing his work in the early electrical era.AI summary
Brunswick 03765 Personalities (Prs)
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- ATell me
- B(Murray)He'd say Oo-la-la wee-wee
Al Jolson was one of the biggest recording stars of the 1920s, and this Columbia coupling — probably from around 1919–1921 given the catalogue number — pairs a Jolson performance with a Murray side on the reverse. British Columbia pressings of Jolson at this period are standard catalogue material but reliable sellers; the Murray reverse adds modest interest. Most copies are not scarce but condition-sound examples fetch a few pounds from entertainer collectors.AI summary
Columbia 2957 Personalities (Prs)
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- AThat lovin' Traumerei
- B(B Murray)Lucia Burlesque
Al Jolson records 'That Lovin' Traumerei' and — with Billy Murray — 'Lucia Burlesque' on Victor 17119, an American acoustic pressing from around 1912–13. The Billy Murray coupling makes this a dual-star pressing; Jolson's early Victor sides are collected alongside his better-known Columbia acoustic recordings.AI summary
Victor 17119 Personalities (Prs)
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- AThat wonderful Kid from Madrid
- B(J Kaufman)I'll see you in Cuba
Al Jolson, the most popular entertainer of the 1920s, records two Spanish-themed novelty songs: 'That Wonderful Kid from Madrid' and 'I'll See You in Cuba' (with Jack Kaufman), on Columbia.AI summary
Columbia A2898 Personalities (Prs)
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- AWanta
- B(F Crumit)Jimbo Jambo
Al Jolson, the most popular entertainer of the 1920s, records 'Wanta' and a duet with Frank Crumit on 'Jimbo Jambo' for Columbia.AI summary
Columbia A3812 Personalities (Prs)
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- AWhen the grown up Ladies act as Babies
- BSister Susie's sewing Shirts for Soldiers
Al Jolson records 'When the Grown-Up Ladies Act as Babies' and 'Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers' on Columbia A1671, an American acoustic pressing from around 1914–15. Jolson's Columbia acoustic sides from the mid-1910s are among his most collected early recordings, and wartime comic songs of this type are period documents as well as entertainment.AI summary
Columbia A1671 Personalities (Prs)
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- AWhy Can't You
- BUsed to You
Al Jolson, the legendary entertainer, performing 'Why Can't You' and 'Used to You' on Brunswick.AI summary
Brunswick 10287 Personalities (Prs)
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- AYaaka hoola hickey doola
- B(A Chandler)You can't get along with em or without em
Al Jolson records 'Yaaka Hoola Hickey Doola' and — with Chandler — 'You Can't Get Along With 'Em or Without 'Em' on Columbia A1956, an American acoustic pressing from around 1916. Jolson's mid-period Columbia acoustic sides are collected worldwide and this is a representative example of his wartime novelty output.AI summary
Columbia A1956 Personalities (Prs)
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- AYaaka Hula Hickey Dula
- B(Young) The Road to Home
Al Jolson on Columbia 2711, the famous vaudeville and film star performing 'Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula' and 'The Road to Home'. Jolson was one of the biggest entertainers of the 1920s-30s, and his recordings are widely collected.AI summary
Columbia 2711 Personalities (Prs)