Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody

"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" is a popular song written by Jean Schwartz, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. The song was introduced by Al Jolson in the Broadway musical Sinbad and published in 1918.

"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody"
78rpm record label
Single by Al Jolson
Released	August 1918
Genre	Popular
Length	2:51
Label	Columbia 2560
Songwriter(s)	Jean Schwartz, Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young
Al Jolson singles chronology
"Hello Central, Give Me No Man's Land" (1918) "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (1918) "Tell That to the Marines" (1919)

Probably the best-known version of the song was by Al Jolson who recorded it on March 13, 1918[1] and whose version reached No. 1 the same year.[2]

Other Recordings

• Al Jolson also recorded the song on December 20, 1932 with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians.[3] Jolson recorded the song again on March 27, 1946 with an orchestra under the direction of Morris Stoloff.[4]
• Arthur Fields - considered to be a No. 9 hit in 1918.[5]
• Dean Martin recorded the song on April 28, 1950.[6]
• Judy Garland included the song in her album Miss Show Business (1955) and her 1960 recording appeared in the compilation album The London Sessions.[7] The song was also included in her live album Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961).
• Jerry Lewis - his version was a Top 10 hit in 1956[8] and became a gold record.
• Sonny Rollins, for his 1959 album Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders.
• Brenda Lee recorded her version of the song for her 1959 album Grandma, What Great Songs You Sang!.
• Connie Francis recorded her rendition of the song, also early in 1959, for her album The Exciting Connie Francis.
• Aretha Franklin also recorded a version of this song[9] for her album The Electrifying Aretha Franklin, which reached No. 24 in Cash Box and #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.[10]
• Bing Crosby recorded the song for the 1965 album Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love.
• Sammy Davis, Jr. - frequently sang it in his live shows, and included it his live album That's All! (1966)
• Nat King Cole
• Cher - from the album Bittersweet White Light
• Mandy Patinkin - from his 1989 album Mandy Patinkin

Film appearances

• A Plantation Act (1926) - sung by Al Jolson
• The Show of Shows (1929) - sung by Sid Silvers[11]
• The Singing Kid (1936) - sung by Al Jolson in the opening medley[12]
• Rose of Washington Square (1939) - performed by Al Jolson[13][14]
• The Merry Monahans (1944) - sung by Donald O'Connor[15]
• The Jolson Story (1946) - sung by Al Jolson
• Jolson Sings Again (1949) - sung by Al Jolson
• Terms of Endearment (1983) - Judy Garland version heard[16]

References

1. Goldman, Herbert G. (1988). Jolson: The Legend Comes to Life. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 379. ISBN 0-19-506329-5.
2. Al Jolson, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" Chart Position Retrieved September 14, 2013
3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 388. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
4. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 389. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
5. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 155. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
6. Tosches, Nick (1992). Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams. New York: Dell Publishing. p. 581. ISBN 0-440-21412-2.
7. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). New York: Billboard Books. p. 367. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
9. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 52 – The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 8] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Track 2.
10. Aretha Franklin, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" Chart Position Retrieved September 14, 2013
11. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
12. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
13. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
14. Al Jolson singing "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" in Rose of Washington Square (1939) on YouTube (audio only)
15. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
16. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.