Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sleepy Hall's Melody Boys – If I Can't Have You (I Want To Be Lonesome. I Want To Be Blue.)
Written by Walter Donaldson
78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records.
Harrington And Bersch With Sleepy Hall's Banjo / Sleepy Hall's Melody Boys – My Ohio Home / If I Can't Have You
Harrington And Bersch - My Ohio Home / If I Can't Have You
Label: His Master's Voice Victor – 216515 (Canada)
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Released: 1927
Genre: Country, Pop
Style: Vocal, Banjo
Other side of this record: Harrington And Bersch With Sleepy Hall's Banjo – My Ohio Home
youtu.be/XmMkWHump1Y
John Nelson, known professionally as Sleepy Hall, was an American banjoist. Hall went to Yale, in 1924. He led the Yale Banjo Club, entertained with his band there and also toured. Rudy Vallee also was in his band at one time and recorded with Hall. He had an exceptional custom-made banjo made for him by Bacon Banjo Co.
Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947) was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Songbook. Donaldson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a piano teacher. While still in school he wrote original music for school productions, and had his first professional songs published in 1915. The following year he had a hit with "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady". After serving in the United States Army in World War I, Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company. He stayed with Berlin until 1928, producing many hit songs, then in 1928 established his own publishing company. His company was legally Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble, Inc, but all the publications had Walter Donaldson's name in large letters, and the legal name of the company in fine print.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 revolutions per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
Sleepy Hall's Melody Boys – If I Can't Have You (I Want To Be Lonesome. I Want To Be Blue.)
Written by Walter Donaldson
78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records.
Harrington And Bersch With Sleepy Hall's Banjo / Sleepy Hall's Melody Boys – My Ohio Home / If I Can't Have You
Harrington And Bersch - My Ohio Home / If I Can't Have You
Label: His Master's Voice Victor – 216515 (Canada)
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Released: 1927
Genre: Country, Pop
Style: Vocal, Banjo
Other side of this record: Harrington And Bersch With Sleepy Hall's Banjo – My Ohio Home
youtu.be/XmMkWHump1Y
John Nelson, known professionally as Sleepy Hall, was an American banjoist. Hall went to Yale, in 1924. He led the Yale Banjo Club, entertained with his band there and also toured. Rudy Vallee also was in his band at one time and recorded with Hall. He had an exceptional custom-made banjo made for him by Bacon Banjo Co.
Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947) was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Songbook. Donaldson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a piano teacher. While still in school he wrote original music for school productions, and had his first professional songs published in 1915. The following year he had a hit with "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady". After serving in the United States Army in World War I, Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company. He stayed with Berlin until 1928, producing many hit songs, then in 1928 established his own publishing company. His company was legally Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble, Inc, but all the publications had Walter Donaldson's name in large letters, and the legal name of the company in fine print.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 revolutions per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
