Al Jolson in Songs He Made Famous (also known as simply Al Jolson Album and later as Al Jolson, Vol. 1) is a studio album recorded by Al Jolson for Decca. It was released in 1946 as a set of four 78-rpm phonograph records (catalog no. 469).
Seven of the eight included songs were featured in the biographical musical film The Jolson Story released in the same year.
Release The album was originally released as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm phonograph records (cat. no. A-469).
Content and reception On this album, Jolson sings eight of his best-known songs. On the first two sides, that were recorded earlier, he is accompanied by an orchestra directed by Carmen Dragon and on all the other sides by an orchestra directed by Morris Stoloff.
Seven of the eight songs (all except "Sonny Boy") were featured in the film The Jolson Story released on screen in the same year 1946.
Billboard reviewed the album in its issue from December 21, 1946, writing: "It's a Jolsoniana nicety, rich in nostalgic needling appeal from start to finish, and proves Jolson is a song seller without peer of his school. [...] [N]ow with the movie coming up, it's a set of spinnings rich in merchandising appeal."
The album reached number one on Billboards Best-Selling Popular Record Albums chart.
33-rpm and 45-rpm re-releases Later, the album was made available on 33 rpm (one 10-inch LP, cat. no. DL 5026) and 45 rpm (a set of four 7-inch records, cat. no. 9-9).
Track listing Set of four 10-inch 78-rpm records (Decca A-469)10-inch LP' (Decca DL 5026)
Charts Chart (1947) Peakposition US Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums 1
See also List of Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums number ones of 1947
References