THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

310-Al Jolson-After You’ve Gone.

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

Best Bit-At 2.08. Before Elvis, (see also best songs 954-664-442-and 194) and before the Rock N’ Roll era, this man was known as ‘The World’s Greatest Entertainer.’

Al Jolson was born Asa Yoelson (Yiddish: אַסאַ יואלסאָן;) on May 26th, 1886, in Seredzus, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire, which is now known as Seredžius, near Kaunas, in Lithuania, 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 also performed for the United States troops during World War II, and then later during the Korean War. Al Jolson was 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, (1903-1977) and Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-1922) having all been quoted praising his talents, and his significant influence.

‘After You’ve Gone’ was originally written in 1918 by Turner Layton, (1894-1978) (music) and Henry Creamer, (1879-1930) (lyrics) with the first recording of the song being by the American singer Marion Harris (1897-1944) in 1918, Harris is best remembered as the first widely known white singer to sing Jazz, and Blues songs ‘After You’ve Gone’ has been recorded by many of the worlds top artists down the decades and into the 21st Century, with notable early recordings being by Bessie Smith, (1894-1937) and Sophie Tucker (1886-1966) in 1927, and Louis Armstrong, (1901-1971) and Bing Crosby (1903-1977) in 1929. More recent versions can be found by Phil Collins in 1996, and Jamie Cullum in 2007. At one time ‘After You’ve Gone’ became so popular that the sheet music was decorated with tiny photographs of 45 of the male vocalists who had made the song famous, including Paul Whiteman, (1890-1967) Rudy Vallée, (1901-1986) and Guy Lombardo (1902-1977.)

Turner Layton who wrote the music for ‘After You’ve Gone’ was born John Turner Layton, Jr. on July 2nd, 1894, in Washington, D.C., United States, he died in London, England, on February 6th, 1978, at the age of 83. His daughter A’Lelia Shirley inherited his musical estate and left the copyright and royalties to her father’s music to ‘Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children’ in London in her will, on her death, in January 2001. Turner Layton is best remembered for his many compositions with Henry Creamer, including ‘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. Creamer and Layton contributed music and lyrics to many Broadway shows, including the ‘Ziegfeld Follies’ of 1917, 1921 and 1922, ‘Three Showers,’ (1920) ‘Some Party,’ (1922) and Creamer’s own ‘Strut Miss Lizzie’ (1922.) Henry Creamer was born Henry Sterling Creamer on June 21st, 1879, in Richmond, Virginia, United States, he died on October 14th, 1930, at the age of 51.

‘After You’ve Gone’ was recorded in by Al Jolson in 1949, and is credited on the record to ‘Al Jolson with Four Hits and a Miss and Matty Malneck and his Orchestra.’ ‘Four Hits and a Miss’ who were also at times known as ‘Six Hits and a Miss,’and ‘Three Hits and a Miss,’ depending on how many group members there were at the time, consisted of male singers and one female, thus the word ‘miss’ in their name having a double meaning. The group was formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1936 as a ‘Swing’ era singing group foursome, and they recorded as back up singers for artists including Judy Garland, (1922-1969) and Jimmy Durante (1893-1980.) In total there were 12 different members at varying times, including for a short while Andy Williams, (1927-2012) (see also best songs 914 and 112.) Matty Malneck was born Matthew Michael Malneck, on December 9th, 1903, in Newark, New Jersey, United States, he died on February 25th, 1981, at the age of 77. As well as being an orchestra leader Matty Malneck was also a songwriter, with his best known composition being ‘Goody Goody,’ (1936) with lyrics by Johnny Mercer (1909-1976.)

‘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.’