"Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" by the Andrews Sisters (1938)
The Andrews Sisters enjoyed particular popularity toward the end of the 1930s, their success tied largely to the increasing importance of personality and film appearances in the new formula for mainstream pop music stardom. This recording displays the sisters' smooth jazz delivery that was particularly suited for popular music. Before the Andrews Sisters could record a hit with "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Means That You're Grand)", the original Yiddish lyrics (of Jacob Jacobs, tune by Sholom Secunda) had to be translated. Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin wrote the English version, which was eventually recorded by Cab Calloway as well. Mancuso comments that the sisters were the first vocal group to "…cash in on the boogie woogie phenomenon, which was introduced to 'pop America' at the 'From Spirituals to Swing' concerts at Carnegie Hall in December 1938 to 1939."
