Here are the #1 hits of 1925. But before that, I want to quote something from Joel Whitburn Presents A Century of Pop Music. “For popular music, the most historic event of the 1920s was a switch from acoustic to electric coal recordings, which followed a year of experiments by engineers of Bell Laboratories in 1924-25. Instead of the acoustic process of singers and musicians performing directly into a recording horn, they were now able to record with a condenser microphone in a spacious studio.
“With the use of a vacuum tube amplifier and an electromagnetically-powered cutting stylus, the frequency range of recorded music expanded by two and a half octaves. The Associated Glee Clubs of America’s pairing of ‘Adestes Fideles’ and ‘John Peel’ became the first electrically-recorded hit in July 1925, and within months, every major label record label had gone electric.”
The Prisoner’s Song – Vernon Dalhart (Victor), written by Guy Massey, 12 weeks at #1, gold record
Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby – Gene Austin (Victor), written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson, “ukulele and jazz effects by Billy (‘Yuke’) Carpenter,” seven weeks at #1
I’ll See You In My Dreams – Isham Jones with Frank Bessinger (vocals) and Ray Miller’s Orchestra (Brunswick), listed as instrumental – seven weeks at #1
If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie) – Eddie Cantor (Columbia), written by B. G. Sylva – five weeks at #1
Harlem Globetrotters theme
Sweet Georgia Brown – Ben Bernie and His Hotel Orchestra (Vocalion), written by Bernie/Casey/Pinkard, instrumental, five weeks at #1. It shouldn’t be surprising, but I know these last four tunes, plus Tea for Two, astonishingly well, even though they are a century old.
All Alone – Al Jolson with Ray Miller and His Orchestra (Brunswick), written by Irving Berlin, five weeks at #1
Manhattan – the Knickerbockers (Columbia), from a Rodgers and Hart musical Garrick Gaieties, instrumental, four weeks at #1
Oh, How I Missed You Tonight – Ben Selvin’s Cavaliers (Columbia), instrumental, three weeks at #1; scratchy sound, unfortunately
Tea for Two – Marion Harris (Brunswick), from No, NO, Nannette, three weeks at #1
All Alone – Paul Whiteman and his orchestra (Victor), instrumental, written by Irving Berlin, three weeks at #1
All Alone – John McCormick (Victor), two weeks at #1
Oh, Katharina! – Ted Lewis and his band (Columbia), instrumental, written by Fall and Gilbert, one week at #1
Remember – Isham Jones Orchestra (Brunswick), instrumental, written by Irving Berlin, one week at #1
