Swingin’ Down the Lane

Isham Jones (1894–1956); Gus Kahn (1886–1941)

Ok, I screwed up here. I had read that this song was written in 1920, but while working on these notes, I found the actual date was 1923. Choosing, arranging, and recording a correct 1920 song would take too much extra time, and disrupt the planned release date, so I’m going with my flawed choice, because, 1.) Having to discard either this song or my 1923 song would be like being handed two of your favorite kittens, and be told to drown one. 2.) The Islamic tradition of incorporating a flaw into each carpet made, because only Allah is perfect, is a fine example to follow, especially because all my previous recordings and notes are flawed––and if these were perfect, Allah would be pissed. 3.) I know some of you out there will be annoyed at my anachronism anyway, and I understand. I feel the same way when I see a car from 1955 in a movie that’s supposed to be happening in 1953. (By the way: I can only date cars from 1941 to 1960. By that time I no longer gave a shit. And cars got more boring). But you can’t be more annoyed than I am about my pet anachronism peeve-the dozens, probably hundreds of movies supposedly happening in 1954 or earlier that have red stop signs. Until 1955, stop signs were yellow and black, like all the other traffic signs. Get it together, Hollywood.

In 1917, the year America got into World War I, Isham Jones wrote “We’re (You’re) in the Army Now,” a big hit during both World Wars. The Isham Jones Orchestra was one of the most successful dance bands of the 20s and 30s. Woody Herman and Benny Goodman were among the musicians who played with him. In 1932, his band recorded with the Victor Talking Machine Company, and was considered one of the best performing and recording bands of the depression era, with the best arrangements.

Gus Kahn had one of the most successful and prolific songwriting careers of Tin Pan Alley, and many of his songs are still with us: “Pretty Baby,” “Ain’t We Got Fun,” “Making Whoopee,” “Ukulele Lady,” “Nothing Could Be Finer Than to Be in Carolina in the Morning,” “Toot Toot Tootsie,” “Goodbye, I’ll See You In My Dreams,” “It Had to Be You,” “Love Me or Leave Me,” and “Chloe,” a personal favorite. (See the Spike Jones rendition of “Chloe” on YouTube—it’s a high point of Western Culture.)

In 1951, the biopic, I’ll See You in My Dreams, was made with Danny Thomas playing Kahn and Doris Day as his adored wife, Grace LeBoy. It was a hit.