April Showers

By Louis Silvers & B.G. DeSylva
1921

One of the true signature tunes of the great Al Jolson, this one became a trademark for him after he introduced it in the 1921 stage production, Bombo. It is one of the many songs to contain the "bluebird of happiness" motif in the lyrics. And on a personal note, my great aunt had a music box which played this song, so it will always conjure warm memories for me.

Lyrics:

Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining, have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, (It's raining violets,)

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

Recorded By:

Les Brown
Cab Calloway
Eydie Gorme
Woody Herman
Guy Lombardo

I'm Just Wild About Harry

By Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle
1921

A historic and highly memorable number by the prolific ragtime-era duo of Blake & Sissle. It came from the first successful African-American Broadway musical, Shuffle Along. In fact, it broke the taboo of depicting romantic love between blacks on stage. A huge hit, which made a comeback in 1948 when Harry Truman used it as his campaign song.

Lyrics:

I am here to state, I'm here to relate,
To explain and make it plain that:

I`m just wild about Harry,
And Harry's wild about me;
The heavenly blisses
Of his kisses
Fill me with ecstasy.

He's sweet just like sugar candy,
And just like honey from a bee;
Oh, I`m just wild about Harry,
And he's just wild about,
He can't do without,
He's just wild about me.

Recorded By:

Judy Garland
Peggy Lee
Sarah Vaughan
Jessica Molaskey
Jimmy Dorsey

The Sheik of Araby

By Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler
1921

A huge hit composed as a humorous response to the immensely popular Rudolph Valentino, The Sheik, this song became a bona fide piece of American pop culture during the Roaring '20s. It was even referenced in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It was introduced by the Club Royal Orchestra, and jazz bands also took an instant liking to it, which some have credited to the Louisiana town of Arabi, which became the source of an in-joke amongs jazz musicians.

Lyrics:

I'm the Sheik of Araby,
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep,
Into your tent I'll creep.

And the stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll roam this land with me,
I'm the Sheik of Araby.

Oh, I'm the Sheik of Araby,
And all the women worship me.
You should see them follow me around. Not bad.
Even wives of all the other sheiks,
They beg to kiss my rosy cheeks.
And that ain't bad -- in fact, that's good, I've found. I'm a cad!

When I lay down to sleep,
I'm counting girls instead of sheep.
From my harem I can't scare 'em out. Why should I?
They're beauties from all races,
And some have pretty faces.
I'm the Sheik who knows what love is all about.

Recorded By:

Django Reinhardt
Art Tatum
Leon Redbone
The Beatles (on their failed Decca Records demo)
Louis Prima