Irving Berlin, Vol. I - Young Irving Berlin & The Brits

The most astonishing thing about the songwriting career of Irving Berlin is its consistency. You listen to the songs on Annie Get Your Gun, and it seems unbelievable that Berlin wrote them towards the end of his career as a songwriter: there's no tapering off; every melody and lyric is right on the button.

But I was to meet with even greater surprise when I decided to delve into the early songs of Berlin - perhaps there I would encounter the kind of hokey, homely, faddish nonsense typical of the time. But to find moving, satirical, memorable songs at the start of his career that would mark the summit of any other composer's? Never did I expect that.

These interpretations are all by British singers, many having that Music Hall flavour that I think brings something to the undeniable Americanness of Berlin's melodies.


01 - My Wife's Gone to the Country - Harry Carlton - 1910

02 - Everybody's Doing It Now - Harry Fay - 1912

03 - Snooky Ookums - Lew Hearn and Bonita - 1913

04 - When that Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam' - Mr G. H. Elliott - 1913

05 - International Rag - Charles Manny and Bob Roberts - 1915

06 - After You Get What You Want You Don't Want It - Will Strong (Harry Lauder's alias) - 1921

Note the way you never catch Berlin pairing a great tune with a sloppy lyric ('My Wife's Gone to the Country' being a case in point). Furthermore, I challenge you not to start snapping your fingers along with the 'famous opera singers' on the chorus of 'International Rag'. What's more impressive is that Berlin knew exactly what he was doing.

In Vol. II, I'll look at some mid-period Berlin, focusing on his musicianship (or alleged lack thereof).

There are a few other early Berlin songs in my post about Coon Songs. Also, read my post The Voice of Irving Berlin, which features some recordings of Berlin singing.