Isham Jones–Greenwich Village Follies, It had to be you

The Ziegfeld Follies of 1924 opened on June 24, 1924. It had a special section of music added as Scene 9 In Act 2. The music included some of Victor Herbert’s most loved music, including “Kiss Me Again,” “I Can’t Do the Sum,” “Gypsy Love Song,” “Toyland” and “March of the Toys.” The great Victor Herbert had died on May 26, 1924 of a heart attack, and The Follies honored his memory with some of his music.

Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake opened The Chocolate Dandies on September 1, 1924; it didn’t have the magic of Shuffle Along and closed after 96 performances.

The Greenwich Village Follies (1924) opened on September 16, 1924, and most of the music was written by Cole Porter. However, an Isham Jones song was added in Act 2; it was called “It Had to Be You,” and it was just the latest hit from Jones. His other hits from the first half of the 1920’s included Wabash Blues, On the Alamo, Swinging’ Down the Lane, “I’ll See You in My Dreams” and “Spain.”

Here is a popular instrumental version of the hit, released by Paul Whitman on April 8, 1924.