Writer(s):

Richard H. Gerard/
Harry Armstrong

Quotable:

“The signature barbershop song.” ^DS

First charted:

10/15/1904

Charts:

HT 1 ¹⁰
HP --
CB --
UK --
AC --
CW --
RB --
AR --
MR --
AA --

Sales (in millions):

sales in U.S. only --
sales in U.K. only - estimated --
sales worldwide - estimated --

Airplay (in millions):

Awards:

one of the top 100 songs from 1900-1909s

Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower in My Heart)

Haydn Quartet

Review:

As “the signature barbershop song,” ^DS “Sweet Adeline” may represent the sound of the first decade of the 20th century, ^WHC maybe even the first two decades, ^DS more than any other song. ^WHC The term wasn’t used until the 1920s, ^LW but the format of four-part male harmony with little or no musical accompaniment was introduced in the late 19th century. ^LW

The song began life in 1896 ^WK as an instrumental called “Down Home in New England.” The composer, Henry W. Armstrong, was a barbershop quartet enthusiast and tapped Richard Gerard to add lyrics, resulting in “You’re the Flower of My Heart Sweet, Rosalie.” ^RCG When they couldn’t find a publisher, they changed the title to “Sweet Adeline,” inspired by the “legendarily beautiful” ^LW opera singer Adelina Patti, although prima donna Adeline Gerard has also been cited as an inspiration. ^RCG

It was common for barbershop songs of the day to drift into “minstrel or vaudeville shtick,” ^DS but the Haydn Quartet, who scored their sixth #1 with “Sweet Adeline”, generally stuck to more straightforward harmony. ^DS The song was the biggest hit of 1904. ^WHC The Columbia Quartet and the duo of Albert Campbell & James F. Harrison also charted with versions that year, taking the song to #1 and #2 respectively. The Mills Brothers had a top 10 with it in 1939. The song also became identified with Boston Mayor John F. “Honey” Fitzgerald ^PM who used it as his campaign song in 1906.

“Sweet Adeline” established the foundation for vocal groups for decades to come. The Everly Brothers; The Beach Boys; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and even The Beatles’ penchant for “tight harmony singing” can all be traced back to the barbershop movement. ^LW

Review Source(s):

^DS Don’t Stay Up Too Late (2011). Top 100 Lists
^LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 15.
^RCG RimChiGuy.com The Old Songs (1900-1929)
^WHC Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Pages 5 and 11.
^PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc.
^WK Wikipedia.org