Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Baby Face

First recorded by The Jan Garber Orchestra (US #1 1926).
Other popular versions by Ipana Troubadours (US #10 1926), Art Mooney (US #3 1948), Little Richard (US #41/R&B #12/UK #2/NOR #1 1958), Bobby Darin (US #42/UK #40 1962), Wing and a Prayer Fife & Drum Corps (US #14/Soul #32 1976).

From the wiki: “‘Baby Face’ was written by Harry Akst, the lyrics by Benny Davis. The song was published in 1926, and first became popular that same year when recorded by the Jan Garber Orchestra. It has since been covered by many recording artists, including Al Jolson, The Revelers, Bobby Darin, and Wing and a Prayer Fife & Drum Corps. Swan Districts, an Australian Rules club in the WAFL since 1934, bases its club song on this tune.

“Jan Garber was known as ‘The Idol of the Airwaves’ in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman and Guy Lombardo. Garber played violin with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra after World War I and, after, formed the Garber-Davis Orchestra with pianist Milton Davis from 1921–1924. After parting with Davis, Garber formed his own orchestra, playing both ‘sweet’ and ‘hot’ 1920s dance music.”

Ipana Troubadours, “Baby Face” (1926):

Art Mooney, “Baby Face” (1948):

Little Richard, “Baby Face” (1958):

Bobby Darin, “Baby Face” (1962):

Wing and a Prayer Fife & Drum Corps, “Baby Face” (1976):

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