I call him the first rock star because he's the guy who was arguably the most famous and best-loved entertainer of the first half of the 20th century. This collection includes all of his studio recordings with his film songs thrown in as well. The sound quality/bitrate often leaves something to be desired, but this was first and foremost an experiment to see if it was even possible. For those who actually DL this set, you'll find that there are duplicates of some songs. It appears that in the early days, record companies released different takes at different times/locations. All of these recordings are pre-analog tape and about half were even before microphones and amplifiers were invented. This is a guy who, like an opera singer, could fill a concert hall without needing sound reinforcement.
It's important to remember that these recordings, except possibly the DECCA period, were a side business for him. I seriously doubt he considered these anything more than a secondary revenue stream. The big bucks were made on stage or radio appearances. And that may account for the gaps in time between releases. Few, if anyone, had a real recording career in the early days of records.
I think Jolson gets flack these days for his blackface performances - as if he was exploiting or mocking blacks. I don't see it that way. I think he was the conduit that was instrumental in bringing black artists into the mainstream. Numerous stories abound about how he forced movie studios to use and hire blacks. His 1933 film "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" has him co-star with a black guy where he's treated as a friend and equal. Unheard of in those days.
This collection is MP3 @320 from sourced mostly FLAC files. Some of these original discs are noisy, and I'll be happy to upgrade the sound whenever the opportunity arises. Nevertheless, the collection is quite listenable and enjoyable. You might notice duplicate tracks scattered throughout this collection. This is because back in the day of acoustic (meaning the recording is stored on discs, not tape - many were not even recorded with a microphone!) recording, different takes were pressed onto records.
I present this with love for the World's Greatest Entertainer. I have been a huge fan since I was a child in the mid-sixties.
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 01 (1911-15)
1 That Haunting Melody [Victor 22-Dec-11]
2 Run Tum Tiddle [Victor 22-Dec-11]
3 Asleep In The Deep [Victor 22-Dec-11]
4 Snap Your Fingers [Victor 15-Mar-12]
5 Brass Band Ephram Jones [Victor 15-Mar-12]
6 Ragging The Baby To Sleep [Victor 17-Apr-12]
7 That Lovin' Traumerei [Victor 17-Apr-12]
8 Movin' Man, Don't Take My Baby Grand [Victor 17-Apr-12]
9 My Yellow Jacket Girl [Victor 27-Mar-13]
10 The Spaniard That Blighted My Lifel [Victor 27-Mar-13]
11 Pullman Porters On Parade [Columbia 04-Jun-13]
12 You Made Me Love You [Columbia 04-Jun-13]
13 That Little German Band [Columbia 04-Jun-13]
14 Everybody Snap Your Finger With Me [Columbia 04-Jun-13]
15 Back To The Carolina You Love [1] [Columbia 14-Sep-13]
16 Back To The Carolina You Love [2] [Columbia 14-Sep-13]
17 Revival Day [Columbia 14-Sep-13]
18 Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts For Soldiers [1] [Columbia 03-Dec-14]
19 Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts For Soldiers [2] [Columbia 03-Dec-14]
20 When The Grown Up Ladies Act Like Babies [1] [Columbia 03-Dec-14]
21 When The Grown Up Ladies Act Like Babies [2] [Columbia 03-Dec-14]
1911-15
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 02 (1916-17)
22 Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula [Columbia 14-Jan-16]
23 Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go With Friday On Saturday Night [Columbia 28-Feb-16]
24 Down Where The Swannee River Flows [Columbia 28-Feb-16]
25 Now He's Got A Beautiful Girl [Columbia 28-Feb-16]
26 I Sent My Wife To The Thousand Isles [Columbia 17-May-16]
27 You're A Dangerous Girl [Columbia 17-May-16]
28 I'm Saving Up The Means To Get To New Orleans [Columbia 09-Jun-16]
29 Someone Else May Be There While I'm Gone [Columbia 19-Sep-16]
30 I'm Down In Honolulu Looking Them Over [Columbia 19-Sep-16]
31 Don't Write Me Letters [Columbia 19-Sep-16]
32 A Broken Doll [Columbia 26-Nov-16]
33 Ev'ry Little While [Columbia 26-Nov-16]
34 Pray For Sunshine [Columbia 11-Dec-16]
35 From Here To Shanghai [Columbia 11-Dec-16]
36 Tillie Titwillow [1] [Columbia 29-May-17]
37 Tillie Titwillow [2] [Columbia 29-May-17]
38 Tillie Titwillow [3] [Columbia 29-May-17]
39 Wedding Bells [1] [Columbia 13-Dec-17]
40 Wedding Bells [2] [Columbia 13-Dec-17]
41 I'm All Bound 'Round With The Mason-Dixon Line [1] [Columbia 13-Dec-17]
42 I'm All Bound 'Round With The Mason-Dixon Line [2] [Columbia 13-Dec-17]
43 N' Everything [Columbia 22-Dec-17]
44 There's A Lump Of Sugar Down In Dixie [1] [Columbia 22-Dec-17]
45 There's A Lump Of Sugar Down In Dixie [2] [Columbia 22-Dec-17]
1916-17
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 03 (1918-20)
46 Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody [Columbia 13-Mar-18]
47 Hello Central, Give Me No-Mans Land [1] [Columbia 03-Apr-18]
48 Hello Central, Give Me No-Mans Land [2] [Columbia 03-Apr-18]
49 Tell That To The Marines [1] [Columbia 10-Sep-18]
50 Tell That To The Marines [2] [Columbia 10-Sep-18]
51 I Wonder Why She Kept On Saying Si-Si-Si-Senor [Columbia 10-Sep-18]
52 I'll Say She Does [Columbia 24-Oct-18]
53 On The Road To Calais [Columbia 06-Dec-18]
54 Some Beautiful Morning [1] [Columbia 23-Jul-19]
55 Some Beautiful Morning [2] [Columbia 23-Jul-19]
56 Who Played Poker With Pocahontas (When John Smith Went Away) [Columbia 23-Jul-19]
57 I've Got My Captain Working For Me Now [Columbia 19-Sep-19]
58 You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet [1] [Columbia 21-Sep-19]
59 You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet [2] [Columbia 21-Sep-19]
60 I Gave Her That [1] [Columbia 21-Sep-19]
61 I Gave Her That [2] [Columbia 21-Sep-19]
62 Tell Me Why Nights Are Lonely [1] [Columbia 03-Oct-19]
63 Tell Me Why Nights Are Lonely [2] [Columbia 03-Oct-19]
64 Chloe [Columbia 03-Oct-19]
65 That Wonderful Kid From Madrid [1] [Columbia 08-Jan-20]
66 That Wonderful Kid From Madrid [2] [Columbia 08-Jan-20]
67 Swanee [1] [Columbia 08-Jan-20]
68 Swanee [2] [Columbia 08-Jan-20]
69 In Sweet September [Columbia 20-Apr-20]
70 Avalon [Columbia 16-Aug-20]
71 O-H-I-O (Oh-My-Oh!) [1] [Columbia 12-Dec-20]
72 O-H-I-O (Oh-My-Oh!) [2] [Columbia 12-Dec-20]
1918-20
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 04 (1921-23)
73 Ding-A-Ring-A-Ring [Columbia 04-Jan-21]
74 Scandinavia (Sing Dose Song And Make Dose Music) [Columbia 14-Feb-21]
75 April Showers [Columbia 12-Oct-21]
76 Give Me My Mammy [Columbia 12-Oct-21]
77 Yoo Hoo [Columbia 07-Nov-21]
78 Angel Child [Columbia 17-Jan-22]
79 Oogie-Oogie-Wa-Wa [1] [Columbia 10-Mar-22]
80 Oogie-Oogie-Wa-Wa [2] [Columbia 10-Mar-22]
81 Coo-Coo [Columbia 24-Apr-22]
82 I'll Stand Beneath Your Window Tonight And Whistle [Columbia 04-Aug-22]
83 Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo'bye) [Columbia 09-Sep-22]
84 Lost (A Wonderful Girl) [Columbia 10-Oct-22]
85 Who Cares [Columbia 05-Dec-22]
86 Coal Black Mammy [Columbia 04-Jan-23]
87 Wanita (Wanna' Eat-Wanna' Eat) [Columbia 04-Jan-23]
88 Morning Will Come [Columbia 15-Apr-23]
89 Stella [Columbia 15-May-23]
90 Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail [Columbia 12-Jun-23]
91 That Big Blonde Mama [Columbia 27-Jul-23]
92 You've Simply Got Me Cuckoo [Columbia 07-Sep-23]
93 Arcady [Columbia 23-Nov-23]
94 I'm Goin' South [Columbia 18-Dec-23]
95 Twelve O'Clock At Night [1] [Columbia 20-Dec-23]
96 Twelve O'Clock At Night [2] [Columbia 20-Dec-23]
1921-24
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 05 (1924-25)
97 I'm Goin' South [Brunswick 17-Jan-24]
98 Never Again [Brunswick 17-Jan-24]
99 California, Here I Come [Brunswick 17-Jan-24]
100 The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else [Brunswick 17-Jan-24]
101 Steppin' Out [Brunswick 18-Jan-24]
102 Feeling The Way I Do [Brunswick 18-Jan-24]
103 My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time [Brunswick 13-Mar-24]
104 Lazy [Brunswick 13-Mar-24]
105 Mr. Radio Man [Brunswick 14-Mar-24]
106 Home In Pasadena [Brunswick 14-Mar-24]
107 Mandalay [Brunswick 02-Jul-24]
108 Who Wants A Bad Little Boy [Brunswick 25-Jul-24]
109 Follow The Swallow [Brunswick 06-Aug-24]
110 I Wonder What's Become Of Sally [Brunswick 06-Aug-24]
111 All Alone [Brunswick 02-Oct-24]
112 I'm Gonna Tramp, Tramp, Tramp [Brunswick 15-Oct-24]
113 (Keep Smiling At Trouble) Trouble's A Bubble [Brunswick 19-Nov-24]
114 Hello 'Tucky [Brunswick 19-Nov-24]
115 I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World [Brunswick 21-Dec-25]
116 You Forgot To Remember [Brunswick 21-Dec-25]
117 You Flew Away From The Nest [Brunswick 21-Dec-25]
118 Miami [Brunswick 21-Dec-25]
1924-25
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 06 (1926-28)
119 I Wish I Had My Old Gal Back Again [1] [Brunswick 23-Apr-26]
120 I Wish I Had My Old Gal Back Again [2] [Brunswick 23-Apr-26]
121 I'd Climb The Highest Mountain (If I Knew I'd Find You) [Brunswick 23-Apr-26]
122 At Peace With The World [Brunswick 03-May-26]
123 Tonight's My Night With Baby [1] [Brunswick 03-May-26]
124 Tonight's My Night With Baby [2] [Brunswick 03-May-26]
125 When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along [Brunswick 01-Jun-26]
126 Here I Am [Brunswick 01-Jun-26]
127 Mother Of Mine, I Still Have You [Brunswick 11-Nov-27]
128 Blue River [Brunswick 11-Nov-27]
129 Four Walls [Brunswick 13-Jan-28]
130 Golden Gate [Brunswick 13-Jan-28]
131 Ol' Man River [Brunswick 08-Mar-28]
132 Back In Your Own Back Yard [Brunswick 08-Mar-28]
133 Dirty Hands, Dirty Face [1] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
134 Dirty Hands, Dirty Face [2] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
135 Dirty Hands, Dirty Face [3] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
136 My Mammy [1] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
137 My Mammy [2] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
138 My Mammy [3] [Brunswick 31-Mar-28]
139 There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder [1] [Brunswick 20-Aug-28]
140 There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder [2] [Brunswick 20-Aug-28]
141 There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder [3] [Brunswick 20-Aug-28]
142 Sonny Boy [Brunswick 20-Aug-28]
1926-27
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 07 (1929-32)
143 I'm In Seventh Heaven [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
144 Little Pal [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
145 Used To You [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
146 Why Can't You [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
147 One Sweet Kiss [1] [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
148 One Sweet Kiss [2] [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
149 Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) [1] [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
150 Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) [2] [Brunswick 07-Apr-29]
151 Let Me Sing And I'm Happy [1] [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
152 Let Me Sing And I'm Happy [2] [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
153 To My Mammy [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
154 Looking At You [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
155 When The Little Red Roses Get The Blues For You [1] [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
156 When The Little Red Roses Get The Blues For You [2] [Brunswick 10-Jan-30]
157 Tomorrow Is Another Day [1930 Film 'Big Boy')
158 Hooray For Baby And Me [1930 Film 'Big Boy')
159 The Cantor (A Chazend'l Ohf Shabbes) [Brunswick 20-Dec-32]
160 Hallelujah, I'm A Bum [Brunswick 20-Dec-32]
161 You Are Too Beautiful [Brunswick 20-Dec-32]
162 April Showers [Brunswick 20-Dec-32]
163 Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody [Brunswick 20-Dec-32]
164 Du Host A Liebes Punim (Darling I Love You) {Private Recording 1938]
1929-32
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 08 (1945-47)
165 Swanee (Decca 10-Aug-45)
166 April Showers (Decca 10-Aug-45)
167 Ma Blushin’ Rosie (Decca 20-Mar-46)
168 My Mammy (Decca 20-Mar-46)
169 You Made Me Love You (Decca 20-Mar-46)
170 Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody (Decca 27-Mar-46)
171 California, Here I Come (Decca 27-Mar-46)
172 Sonny Boy (Decca 27-Mar-46)
173 Avalon (Decca 21-Aug-46)
174 The Anniversary Song (Decca 21-Aug-46)
175 Alexander's Ragtime Band (Decca 25-Mar-47)
176 The Spaniard That Blighted My Life (Decca 25-Mar-47)
177 All My Love (Decca 19-May-47)
178 Keep Smiling At Trouble (Decca 19-May-47)
179 Back In Your Own Backyard (Decca 09-Jul-47)
180 I’m Sitting On Top Of The World (Decca 09-Jul-47)
181 Where The Black-Eyed Susans Grow (Decca 09-Jul-47)
182 Toot, Toot, Tootsie! (Decca 09-Jun-47)
183 Carolina In The Morning (Decca 11-Jun-47)
184 Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) (Decca 11-Jun-47)
185 For Me And My Gal (Decca 11-Jun-47)
186 About A Quarter To Nine (Decca 18-Jun-47)
187 Waiting For The Robert E. Lee (Decca 18-Jun-47)
188 Golden Gate (Decca 18-Jun-47)
189 When You Were Sweet Sixteen (Decca 18-Jun-47)
190 There’s A Rainbow Round My Shoulder (Decca 21-Nov-47)
191 If I Only Had A Match (Decca 21-Nov-47)
192 Let Me Sing And I’m Happy (Decca 21-Nov-47)
193 I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad) (Decca 28-Nov-47)
194 By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (Decca 28-Nov-47)
1945-47
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 09 (1947-49)
195 I Wish I Had A Girl (Decca 05-Dec-47)
196 When I Leave The World Behind (Decca 05-Dec-47)
197 Someone Else May Be There While I’m Gone (Decca 05-Dec-47)
198 When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along (Decca 05-Dec-47)
200 Kol Nidre (Decca 19-Dec-47)
201 Hatikvah (Decca 24-May-48)
202 Israel (Decca 24-May-48)
203 Down Among The Sheltering Palms (Decca 08-Dec-48)
204 Is It True What They Say About Dixie? (Decca 08-Dec-48)
205 I'm Crying Just For You (Decca 16-Feb-49)
206 I Only Have Eyes For You (Decca 16-Feb-49)
207 That Wonderful Girl of Mine (Decca 16-Feb-49)
208 In Our House (Decca 16-Feb-49)
209 Pretty Baby (Decca 17-May-49)
210 Medley: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover / Baby Face (Decca 17-May-49)
211 Chinatown, My Chinatown (Decca 23-May-49)
212 After You’ve Gone (Decca 23-May-49)
213 It All Depends On You (Decca 24-May-49)
214 Give My Regards To Broadway (Decca 24-May-49)
215 Is It True What They Say About Dixie (Decca 24-May-49)
216 I’m Just Wild About Harry (Decca 24-May-49)
217 [Just One Way To Say] I Love You (Decca 31-May-49)
218 Paris Wakes Up And Smiles (Decca 31-May-49)
219 Some Enchanted Evening (Decca 31-May-49)
1945-47
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 10 (1950)
220 Let's Go West Again (Decca 23-Jan-50)
221 God's Country (Decca 23-Jan-50)
222 Remember Mother's Day (Decca 23-Jan-50)
223 My Mother’s Rosary (Decca 28-Mar-50)
224 The Old Piano Roll Blues (Decca 18-Apr-50)
225 Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (Decca 18-Apr-50)
226 Are You Lonesome Tonight (Decca 28-Apr-50)
227 No Sad Songs For Me (Decca 28-Apr-50)
228 Old Black Joe (Decca 13-Jul-50)
229 My Old Kentucky Home (Decca 13-Jul-50)
230 Beautiful Dreamer (Decca 13-Jul-50)
231 Massa's In The Cold, Cold Ground (Decca 13-Jul-50)
232 Old Folks At Home (Decca 17-Jul-50)
233 I Dream Of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair
234 Oh! Susannah (Decca 17-Jul-50)
235 Camptown Races (Decca 17-Jul-50)
1950
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - The Complete Studio Collection 11 (Soundtracks 1926-36)
236 April Showers [Plantation Act, 1926]
237 Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody [Plantation Act, 1926]
238 Dirty Hands, Dirty Face [Jazz Singer, 1927]
239 Toot, Toot, Tootsie [Jazz Singer, 1927]
240 Blue Skies [Jazz Singer, 1927]
241 Mother Of Mine, I Still Have You [Jazz Singer, 1927]
242 My Mammy [Jazz Singer, 1927]
243 It All Depends On You [Singing Fool, 1928]
244 I'm Sitting On Top Of The World [Singing Fool, 1928]
245 The Spaniard That Blighted My Life [Singing Fool, 1928]
246 There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder [Singing Fool, 1928]
247 Golden Gate [Singing Fool, 1928]
248 Sonny Boy [Singing Fool, 1928]
249 Back In Your Own Backyard [Say It With Songs, 1929]
250 Used To You [Say It With Songs, 1929]
251 I'm In The Seventh Heaven [Say It With Songs, 1929]
252 Let Me Sing And I'm Happy [Mammy, 1930]
253 Across The Breakfast Table Look At You [Mammy, 1930]
254 Why Do They Take The Night Boat To Albany [Mammy, 1930]
255 Liza Lee [Big Boy, 1930]
256 Little Sunshine [Big Boy, 1930]
257 About A Quarter To Nine [Go Into Your Dance, 1936]
258 Love To Sing-a [The Singing Kid, 1936]
259 Overture [Hallelujah, I'm A Bum, 1933]
Soundtracks 1926-36
