THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

310-Al Jolson-After You’ve Gone.

1949-Has never charted in the UK, there was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.05. Before Elvis, and before the Rock N’ Roll era, this man was known as ‘The World’s Greatest Entertainer.’

Al Jolsen was born Asa Yoelson on May 26th, 1886, in Seredzus, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire, he died of a massive heart attack on October 23rd, 1950, at the age of 64, his last words were ‘Oh…oh, I’m going.’ Al Jolson was the highest paid artist of the 1920’s, with more recent critics referring to him as ‘The King of Blackface.’ Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used by performers of non-African descent to portray a caricature of a dark skinned person of African descent. In America the practice gained popularity during the 19th Century, and contributed to the spread of racial stereotypes. By the middle of the 19th Century ‘blackface minstrel shows’ had become very popular, and by the early part of the 20th Century this had spread to the stage all over America, becoming part of everyday entertainment. In the 1940’s it’s popularity began to decline, and by the time of the ‘Civil Rights Movement’ in the 1950’s and 1960’s, it was considered highly offensive, and disrespectful, and by the 21st Century it is considered racist as well.

As well as being a recording artist, and a performer in the theatre, Al Jolson was also an actor and singer in the movies. His second film appearance was in 1927 in the groundbreaking ‘The Jazz Singer,’ the first feature length motion picture with both a synchronised recorded music score, as well as lip-synchronous singing and speech. The release of ‘The Jazz Singer’ marked the end of the silent movie era, and the ascendance of ‘sound films.’ Al Jolson certainly left his mark on future generations of performers, with many as diverse as Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, David Lee Roth, Bing Crosby, and Jerry Lee Lewis having all been quoted praising his talents, and significant influence.

‘After You’ve Gone’ was co-written in 1918 by Turner Leyton (1894-1978) who wrote the music, and Henry Creamer (1879-1930) who provided the lyrics. Of the other songs that they collaborated on, perhaps the best remembered is ‘Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,’ a song they wrote in 1922, which would become a million seller in the Rock N’ Roll era when recorded by Freddie Cannon in 1959. ‘After You’ve Gone’ was first recorded by Marion Harris (1896-1944) in 1918, Harris is best remembered as the first widely known white singer to sing Jazz, and Blues songs. In the following decades the song has been recorded dozens of times, by many of the worlds top artists.

‘After You’ve Gone’ is a warning from a lover spurned. He tells her that if she goes he will be heartbroken, and although she doesn’t realise it yet, in time her heart will also be broken because of what she is doing, the way his is now.

‘There’ll come a time, now don’t forget it, they’ll come a time, when you’ll regret it. But baby think what your doin,’ I’m gonna haunt you so, I’m gonna taunt you so, it’s gonna drive you to ruin.’