100 years ago: “On a Sunday Afternoon” hit #1

On a Sunday Afternoon J.W. Myers

Writer(s): Harry Von Tilzer (music), Andrew B. Sterling (lyrics) (see lyrics here) First Charted: April 15, 1902 Peak: 16 US, 13 GA (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

On a Sunday Afternoon J. Aldrich Libbey

First Charted: April 15, 1902 Peak: 3 US, 13 GA, 16 SM (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards (J.W. Myers): Click on award for more details. Awards (J. Aldrich Libbey):

About the Song: This waltz was one of the earliest hits from songwriter Harry Von Tilzer, “one of the best known Tin Pan Alley songwriters at the turn of the 20th century. SH He was born Harry Gumm in Detroit, Michigan in 1872. He ran away from home at 14 and joined the circus where he played piano, composed, and acted. In 1892, he moved to New York and got a job as a saloon pianist. SH He published his first song, “My Old New Hampshire Home,” in 1898. SH The lyrics were written by Andrew B. Sterling, who would be Tilzer’s songwriting partner for nearly 30 years. FA Sterling was born in 1874 in New York City. He started writing songs for vaudeville after graduating from high school and started working with Von Tilzer in 1898. Among Von Tilzer’s most famous compositions are “A Bird in a Gilded Cage,” “Down Where the Wurzburger Flows,” “The Mansion of Aching Hearts,” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” Sterling also penned “Hello Ma Baby,” “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis.” Von Tilzer got the idea for “On a Sunday Afternoon” while at the beach and pondering how many people had to return to work on a Monday after a fun day at the beach the day before. He presented the idea to Andrew Sterling, who then penned the lyrics. The song celebrated all the activities one could do with free time on Sundays in light of having to work hard on Monday. The song was introduced in vaudeville by Ira Kessner. DJ J.W. Myers was the first to chart with the song in April 1902, reaching #1. It was his sixth of seven chart-toppers from 1893 to 1902 for the baritone ballad singer born John W. Meyers in Wales PM in 1864. Over the next few months, versions also charted by Edward M. Favor (#2), J. Aldrich Libbey (#3), and Harry MacDonough (#5). In 1944, the song was performed by Constance Moore in the movie Atlantic City. The next year it was used in Naughty Nineties, an Abbot and Costello movie. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for J.W. Myers DMDB encyclopedia entry for Hary Von Tilzer FA FleischerAllstars.com “On a Sunday Afternoon” DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 151. SM Sharon Mawer Charts (1900-1968) SH Songwriters Hall of Fame: Harry Von Tilzer TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. Page 18. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954 (1986). Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 333. First posted 12/9/2022; last updated 12/15/2022.

Harry Von Tilzer: Top 30 Songs

First posted 12/8/2019.

Songwriter and vaudevillian performer Harry Von Tilzer was born Aaron Gumbinsky one hundred years ago today on 7/8/1872 in Detroit, Michigan. Also known as Harry Gumm. Died on 1/10/1946. For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

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Top 30 Songs

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Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Many of these songs have been recorded multiple times. Only the highest-ranked version in Dave’s Music Database is included in this list. The recording artist is noted in parentheses. Songs which hit #1 on Billboard’s pop charts are noted.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (Byron G. Harlan, 1906) #1
2. On a Sunday Afternoon (J.W. Myers, 1902) #1
3. A Bird in a Gilded Cage (Steve Porter, 1900) #1
4. Down Where the Wurzburger Flows (Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, 1902) #1
5. I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl Who Married Dear Old Dad (Peerless Quartet, 1911)

DMDB Top 5%:

6. The Mansion of Aching Hearts (Harry MacDonough, 1902) #1
7. My Old New Hampsire Home (George J. Gaskin, 1898) #1
8. Alexander (Don’t You Love Your Baby No More?) (Billy Murray, 1904) #1
9. Under the Anheuser Busch (Billy Murray, 1904)
10. Coax Me (Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, 1905)

11. All Alone (Ada Jones & Billy Murray, 1911)
12. You’ll Always Be the Same Sweet Girl (James Harrison & James Reed, 1915)
13. And the Green Grass Grew All Around (Walter Van Brunt, 1913)
14. I Love My Wife, But Oh You Kid! (Arthur Collins, 1909)
15. All Aboard for Dreamland (Byron G. Harlan, 1904) #1
16. The Cubanola Glide (Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, 1910)
17. All Aboard for Blanket Bay (Ada Jones, 1911)

DMDB Top 10%:

18. I Remember You (Ada Jones, 1909)
19. They Always Pick on Me (Ada Jones, 1911)
20. Knock Wood (Ada Jones & Walter Van Brunt, 1911)
21. All She'd Say Was "Umh-Hum" (Van & Schenck, 1921)
22. On the Old Fall River Line (Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, 1914)
23. Down Where the Cotton Blossoms Grow (Frank Stanley, 1902)

DMDB Top 20%:

24. When the Flowers Bloom in the Springtime, Molly Dear (Haydn Quartet, 1907)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

25. Keep the Trench Fires Going for the Boys Out There (1918)
26. IDA-HO (1906)
27. Top O’ the Mornin’ (1907)
28. Summertime (1908)
29. Taffy (1908)
30. You Can Tango, You Can Fox-Trot, But Be Sure and Hesitate (1914)

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Awards:

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