Your favorite music of 1921

Can be a single track, a 78 with multiple tracks, early albums (as in literal albums of 78s bound together), a classical piece, a later compilation focusing on the year . . . whatever.

Doesn't have to be a list, though of course you can post a list if you want. You can also just post one title at a time as you think of it/run across it (which is what I do in these threads).

 

Igor Stravinsky - Suite No. 2 for Chamber Orchestra (aka Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra)

This is a lesser-known Stravinsky piece that's a fantastic set of miniature "grotesques." At times, Stravinsky almost seems like he's spoofing Tchaikovsky here. This is also an unusual piece for Stravinsky structurally, in that repeated sections are employed so often. The reason for this is that as with Suite No. 1 for Chamber Orchestra (which wasn't completed until 1925), this actually began life as one of Stravinsky's piano pieces for students, the "pièces faciles" sets--there's a Trois pièces faciles and a Cinq pièces faciles. Suite No. 2 is an adaptation of the whole of Trois pièces faciles + the last piece of Cinq pièces faciles. (And then Suite No. 1 is an adaptation of the first four pieces of Cinq pièces faciles.)

 

Nora Bayes


78 Record: Nora Bayes - Saturday (1921)

b/w 'You've made a chicken of your mother (but you can't make a goose of me)'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szMBy3OIk2w&ab_channel=warholsoup100warholsoup100

 

In 1921, Sergei Prokofiev completed his Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, here performed by pianist Yuja Wang and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra directed by Claudio Abbado:

 

'All by Myself' - Aileen Stanley


78 Record: Aileen Stanley - All By Myself (1921)
one of several 1921 versions -
Cover versions of All by Myself written by Irving Berlin | SecondHandSongs

 

Frank Crumit


'Home Again Blues' issued on a 78 shared with Al Jolson; one of several 1921 versions of song written by Irving Berlin and Harry Akst
Al Jolson / Frank Crumit – Ding-A-Ring A Ring / Home Again Blues (1921, Shellac)

 

'Ain't We Got Fun' sung by Van and Schenck


Gus Van & Joe Schenck; one of several 1921 versions
Cover versions of Ain't We Got Fun written by Richard A. Whiting, Raymond B. Egan, Gus Kahn | SecondHandSongs
78 Record: Van And Schenck - Ain't We Got Fun (1921)

 

Mamie Smith and her jazz band


Mamie Smith And Her Jazz Band – Daddy, Your Mama Is Lonesome For You / Sax-O-Phoney Blues (1921, Shellac)
OKeh matrix S-70075. Daddy, your mama is lonesome for you / Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band - Discography of American Historical Recordings

 

'Down by the 'O-Hi-O (I've got the Sweetest Little O, My! O!)' - Billy Murray - Victor Roberts (aka Billy Jones)


78 Record: Billy Murray--Victor Roberts - Down By The O-Hi-O (I've Got The Sweetest Little O, My! O!) (1921)
Cover versions of Down by the O-hi-o written by Abe Olman, Jack Yellen | SecondHandSongs

also recorded by Aileen Stanley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asCF0iUcYAs&ab_channel=TimGracykTimGracyk
78 Record: Aileen Stanley - O-Hi-O (1921)

 

Lucille Hegamin


accompanied by Blue Flame Syncopators; apparently issued on a dozen different labels ...
78 Record: Lucille Hegamin - Arkansas Blues (1921)
Cover versions of Arkansas Blues written by Spencer Williams, Anton Lada | SecondHandSongs
Lucille Hegamin and her Blue Flame Syncopaters

 

Marion Harris


'Where is my Daddy Now, Blues'
78 Record: Marion Harris - I Ain't Got Nobody (1921)

 

Ethel Waters and the Jazz Masters


Ethel Waters And The Jazz Masters – There'll Be Some Changes Made / One Man Nan (1921, Shellac)
Cover versions of There'll Be Some Changes Made written by Benton Overstreet, Billy Higgins [US2] | SecondHandSongs

 

Oboe Sonata, Op. 166⸻Camille Saint-Saëns

 

Sam Moore


The first of three versions of 'Laughing Rag' that he recorded

playing the saw on the B-side 'Mother Machree'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUyf7oEcPWY&ab_channel=R.ConnorMontgomery
Sam Moore – Laughing Rag / Mother Machree (1921, Shellac)
Sam Moore: From “Laughing Rag” to “Spooning and Ballooning”

 

Mary Stafford and her jazz band


78 Record: Mary Stafford And Her Jazz Band - I'm Gonna Jazz My Way Right Straight Thru Paradise (1921)
Mary Stafford (singer) - Wikipedia

 

Edith Wilson and Johnny Duncan's Original Jazz Hounds


78 Record: Edith Wilson And Johnny Dunn's Original Jazz Hounds - Nervous Blues (1921)
Edith Wilson (singer) - Wikipedia

 

Al Bernard


recorded December, 1920; the catalogue number indicates a release ca. February/March, 1921
Al Bernard – Beale Street Blues / St. Louis Blues (1920, Shellac)
a version by Marion Harris was released later in the year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygi4FlBiN5Y&ab_channel=TimGracyk
Marion Harris – Beale Street Blues / The Memphis Blues (1921, Shellac)
Cover versions of Beale Street Blues written by W.C. Handy | SecondHandSongs

 

'Ma' - Billy Jones


Billy Jones – Ma / Molly On A Trolley (By Golly With You) (1921, Shellac)
recorded July, 1921; released ca. October/November, 1921; one of several 1921 versions (some instrumental)
Cover versions of Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me written by Con Conrad, Sidney Clare | SecondHandSongs
the song would later be an unlikely 1957 UK no.2 hit for Johnny Otis and his orchestra with Marie Adams and the Three Tons of Joy

 

The Trix Sisters (Helen and Josephine)


'Back to London Town' released by UK HMV ca. July, 1921
The sisters from Pennsylvania appeared in revues in London during 1921.
Tricks and the Trix Sisters - Jazz Age Club

 

Hans Huber - Symphony No. 8 "Spring Symphony"

This was actually completed in 1920, but I use the premiere date (since it's essentially the publication date, like an album release date) when the premiere date isn't long past the composition date. This premiered October 29, 1921, not even two months prior to Huber passing away--which was on Christmas Day of 1921.

 

Noble Sissle and his Sizzling Syncopators


78 Record: Noble Sissle And His Sizzling Syncopators - The Boll Weevil Blues (1921)
recorded March, released June, 1921
Cover versions of The Boll Weevil Blues written by [Traditional] | SecondHandSongs
Noble Sissle - Wikipedia

 

'Kitten on the Keys' - Zez Confrey


"pianoforte solo" first recorded in January, and released on Brunswick, May, 1921
Zez Confrey – Kitten On The Keys / My Pet (1921, Shellac)
Cover versions of Kitten on the Keys written by Zez Confrey | SecondHandSongs
Zez Confrey - Wikipedia

 

Ferera and Franchini


'Susquehanna Shore' - Frank Ferera and Anthony Franchini
78 Record: Ferera And Franchini - Hawaiian Chimes (1921)

 

'I Found a Rose (In the Devil's Garden)' - the Sterling Trio


recorded in March, released in May, 1921 on a 78 shared with the Rega Dance Orchestra
78 Record: Rega Dance Orchestra - Some Little Bird (1921)