100 years ago: “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey” hit #1

Put Your Arms Around Me Honey (I Never Knew Any Girl Like You) Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan

Writer(s): Albert Von Tilzer (music), Junie McCree (words) (see lyrics here) First Charted: March 25, 1911 Peak: 15 US, 12 GA, 110 SM (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.01 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Differing accounts suggest either Virginia Houston DJ or Blossom Seeley SH introduced the song in vaudeville in 1910. Elizabeth Murray also popularized the song in vaudeville DJ and sang it in the Broadway musical production of Madame Sherry, SM although the rest of the songs were by Otto Harbach and Karl Hoschna. TY2 Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan were the first to record the song on November 16, 1910. SH It became a #1 hit the following year. Ada Jones (#5) and “That Girl” Quartet (#6) also charted with the song in 1911. Dick Kuhn revived it in 1942 (#4) and Dick Haymes (#5) also had a hit with the song in 1943. PM The song has also been recorded by Fats Domino, Sammy Kaye, Clyde McPhatter, and others. SH Betty Grable sang it in the 1943 movie Coney Island and Judy Garland sang it in the 1949 film In the Good Old Summertime. DJ It was also featured in Slightly Terrific (1944) and Mother Wore Tight (1947). The music was composed by Albert Von Tilzer, best known for “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The lyrics were written by Junie McCree, born Gonzalvo Macarillo in Toledo, Ohio, in 1865. Not only did he write songs for vaudeville, but he was a successful joke and sketch writer. The two also collaborated on “Take Me Up with You, Dearie” (#4, 1909), “Let’s Go in to a Picture Show” (#5, 1909), and “Carrie (Carrie Marry Harry)” (#1, 1910), “Nora Malone” (#9, 1911), and “Oh, That Moonlight Glide” (#8, 1911). “The conversation between the two black characters..took the form of a proposal” SM from Rastus to Liza. She warns him that they shouldn’t get cold feet and they “laughed at the mention of each others’ faults and sang through another chorus.” SM “The chorus…was the only part that most of the singers who covered the song in the 1940s sang.” SM Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 161. SM Sharon Mawer Charts (1900-1968) VF Music VF SH Second Hand Songs TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. Page 55. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 570. Related Links: First posted 2/26/2023.