100 years ago: The American Quartet’s “Over There” hit #1

Over There American Quartet

Writer(s): George M. Cohan (see lyrics here) First Charted: September 29, 1917 Peak: 19 US, 120 GA, 122 SM, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.05 video, -- streaming

Over There Nora Bayes

First Charted: November 3, 1917 Peak: 13 US, 120 GA (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.18 video, -- streaming

Awards (American Quartet version):

---

Awards (Nora Bayes’ version):

About the Song: George M. Cohan’s “biggest song not written for Broadway” RCG became World War I’s most famous song. DJ He penned the patriotic number after reading in the newspaper that the United States had declared war on Germany. He expanded the opening phrase of “Johnny Get Your Gun,” a popular song from 1886, into “a lyric that is both a call to arms and a vow not to come home till ‘it’s over, over there’.” RCG Cohan himself introduced the song at Ft. Myers to an audience of soldiers, but it had little impact. However, the response was “overwhelming” when Charles King sang it at the New York City’s Hippodrome Theatre for a Red Cross Benefit. RCG For the official recording of the song, Cohan specifically requested Nora Bayes. NRR She was a popular vaudeville and Broadway star and former member of the Ziegfeld Follies. NRR She introduced it at a Red Cross war-bond rally, DJ added it to her vaudeville act, and then recorded it. It sold over a million copies RCG and hit #1. She wasn’t the first to chart with the song, however. In fact, the American Quartet and the Peerless Quartet took it to #1 before she did. The American Quartet’s version was the biggest hit of 1917. CPM The following year, Enrico Caruso also recorded a chart-topping version PM giving “Over There” and “Peg O’ My Heart” the distinction of being the only two songs in history to top the charts four times. Billy Murray and Prince’s Orchestra also recorded top 10 versions of the song. Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 154. NRR National Recording Registry RCG RimChiGuy.com The Old Songs (1900-1929) PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 565. CPM Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Record Research, Inc.: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 28. Related Links: First posted 9/29/2011; last updated 3/20/2023.