The biggest hits of 1920 are now available in a beautiful second edition! This is the first volume of Archeophone Records' celebrated Phonographic Yearbook series, and this new edition features three bonus tracks, an expanded booklet, improved sound, and the high standards listeners have come to expect from the leader in acoustic-era reissues.

National Prohibition went into effect in January 1920, and Bert Williams moaned about the loss of his beloved liquor in "The Moon Shines on the Moonshine," singing wryly, "Even water's getting weaker / 'Bout one tenth of one percent." But also in January of that year, the U.S. went through its first "red scare," in which thousands of suspected Communists were rounded up and arrested. Further, for the first time in American history, the population in cities surpassed that of rural areas, while veterans returning from World War I flooded an uncertain domestic economy.

No Prohibition Against Laughter
The palpable fear of change evident in American society was soothed over by the comedians, who took Prohibition as their subject. In addition to Bert Williams, there was Billy Murray urging his countrymen in "I'll See You in C-u-b-a" to take a trip to the land where wine is flowing; Nora Bayes lamenting the passing of her old friend, Alcohol ("Al" for short) in "Prohibition Blues"; and Van and Schenck extolling the virtues of Mary in "All the Boys Love Mary." It turns out that Mary's charms are not in her face but in the secret her father keeps in the cellar.

Dance Away
The dance craze was in full swing by 1920, with Paul Whiteman's first record, "Whispering" and "The Japanese Sandman" becoming one of the best-selling singles of the entire acoustic era. The future "King of Jazz" was joined in setting dance halls to music by Ted Lewis and his trademark "When My Baby Smiles at Me," as well as Art Hickman, whose "Hold Me" features a splendid piano duet in the middle, and the Kentucky Serenaders' "Rose of Washington Square" (one of the bonus tracks on this second edition). Possibly the biggest of all dance hits was "Dardanella," by Selvin's Novelty Orchestra, a song still played today.

Don't Let the Blues Get You Down
The emergence of jazz was accompanined in the late 1910s by the blues, and here are featured several early attempts. Marion Harris shines on "The 'St. Louis Blues'" and "Left All Alone Again Blues," while trombonist Harry Raderman steps out with the Joseph C. Smith Orchestra on "Yellow Dog Blues" (another bonus track).

Abundant Classics
1920 had more than its share of classics, and they're all here, in the best-sounding versions you will find anywhere on compact disc: songs such as Al Jolson's "Swanee," John Steel's "The Love Nest," Edith Day's "Alice Blue Gown," and Eddie Cantor's "You'd Be Surprised" (the third bonus track included on the new edition). Archeophone's "1920" CD is now a classic in its own right, and with this new edition, you'll be surprised just how much better it is!

Tracks:

1. I've Got My Captain Working for Me NowóAl Jolson
2. Wait Till You Get Them Up in the Air, BoysóBilly Murray
3. DardanellaóSelvin's Novelty Orchestra
4. The Moon Shines on the MoonshineóBert Williams
5. Let the Rest of the World Go ByóElizabeth Spencer and Charles Hart
6. The Love NestóArt Hickman's Orchestra
7. When My Baby Smiles at MeóTed Lewis Jazz Band
8. Left All Alone Again BluesóMarion Harris
9. All the Boys Love MaryóVan and Schenck
10. Alice Blue GownóEdith Day
11. Yellow Dog BluesóJoseph C. Smith's Orchestra
12. SwaneeóAl Jolson
13. Hold MeóArt Hickman's Orchestra
14. Prohibition BluesóNora Bayes
15. WhisperingóPaul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra
16. Rose of Washington SquareóKentucky Serenaders
17. You Ain't Heard Nothing YetóAl Jolson
18. The Love NestóJohn Steel
19. I'll See You in C-u-b-aóBilly Murray
20. I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom TimeóCharles Harrison
21. Tell Me Little GypsyóArt Hickman's Orchestra
22. You'd Be SurprisedóEddie Cantor
23. The St. Louis BluesóMarion Harris
24. Chile BeanóPaul Biese Trio (with Frank Crumit)
25. The Japanese SandmanóPaul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra

Running length: 75:36 / 25 tracks