Irving Aaronson and his Commanders are remembered primarily today for their wonderful version of Cole Porter's "Lets Misbehave". The Commanders were one of the most popular dance bands of the 1920s and early 1930s. Irving Aaronson employed several future jazz greats in his orchestra, most notably Gene Krupa, Claude Thornhill and Artie Shaw.

Thanks to Uncle Dave Lewis, Owen Miller, Scott and Mark of Vintage Music Company and James Gallup, for their help with the recordings on this page.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Ah! But Is It Love?
From "Moonlight and Pretzels"

(Harburg / Gottier)
8-3-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
25005-A
All By Yourself In The Moonlight
(Jay Wallis)
1-16-1929 New York, New York Victor
21867-B
An Evening In June 4-18-1935 New York, New York Columbia
3037-D
An' Furthermore
Vocal Refrain by Irving Aaronson - Phil Saxe and Chorus

(Bud Green / Harry Warren)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21260-B
Crazy Words - Crazy Tune
(Vo-do-de-o)
(8)

(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)
2-4-1927 Camden, New Jersey Victor
20473-A
Crazy Words - Crazy Tune
(Vo-do-de-o)
(7)

(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)
2-4-1927 Camden, New Jersey Franklin
Mint
56
Commanderism
(Franklyn Marks)
4-18-1935 New York, New York Columbia
3043-D
Don't Look At Me That Way (3)
(from the Musical Comedy "Paris")
with Irene Bordoni

(Cole Porter)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
LPV-523
Don't Look At Me That Way (4)
(from the Musical Comedy "Paris")
with Irene Bordoni

(Cole Porter)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21742-B
Do You Believe In Dreams
(Robinson / Britt / Little)
6-25-1926 New York, New York Victor
20095-B
Evening Star
(Help Me Find My Man)

(Roy Turk / Fred E. Alhert)
5-4-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21451-A
Ev'rything's Peaches
(For Peaches And Me)

Vocal refrain by Franklyn Baur

(Harry D. Squires)
12-10-1926 New York, New York Victor
20385-B
Flirtation Walk
From "Flirtation Walk"

(Dixon / Wrubel)
8-22-1934 New York, New York Columbia
2980-D
Give Me A Ukulele And A Ukulele Baby And Leave The Rest To Me
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe, Irving Aaronson and Harold Sallers

(Brown / Williams)
12-10-1926 New York, New York Victor
20385-A
Goodnight Little Girl Of My Dreams
(Pittman / Costello / Max Kortlander)
10-12-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2570
Hard-To-Get Gertie
Vocal Refrain by Irving Aaronson

(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)
6-25-1926 New York, New York Victor
20100-B
He Ain't Done Right By Nell
(Howard / Mack / Gallager)
3-24-1926 New York, New York Victor
rejected
He Ain't Done Right By Nell
(Howard / Mack / Gallager)
4-27-1926 New York, New York Victor
20034-B
Hi-Ho The Merrio
(As Long As She Loves Me)

(Vocal Refrain by Phil Saxe and Cliff (Red) Stanley)

(Lew Brown / Benny Davis / Con Conrad)
5-15-1926 New York, New York Victor
20063-B
If I Had You
Vocal Refrain by Burt Lorin

(Shapiro / Campbell / Connelly)
2-6-1929 New York, New York Victor
21867-A
I'll Get By As Long As I Have You
(Roy Turk / Fred E. Ahlert)
10-16-1928 New York, New York Victor
21786-A
I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe and Chorus

(Sam Coslow / Harry Link / Fred Rich)
6-23-1926 New York, New York Victor
20094-A
Victor
LPV-527
In An Old Log Cabin
(Tobias / Klages / Mencher)
11-10-1934 New York, New York Columbia
2981-D
I Never See Maggie Alone
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe

(Harry Tilsley / Everett Lynton)
1-7-1927 Camden, New Jersey Victor
20473-B
I've Got To Get Up And Go To Work
From "Moonlight and Pretzels"
Vocal Chorus By Dick Robertson

(Herman Hupfeld)
8-3-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
25005-B
Jazzeroo 4-18-1935 New York, New York Columbia
3043-D
Lazy Bones
(Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael)
8-3-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
25004
Let's Be Thankful 11-10-1934 New York, New York Columbia
2981-D
Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
(from the Musical Comedy "Paris")
(Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe and Jack Armstrong)

(Cole Porter)
10-16-1928 New York, New York Victor
21745-A

47749-3
Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
(from the Musical Comedy "Paris")
(Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe and Jack Armstrong)

(Cole Porter)
10-16-1928 New York, New York Franklin
Mint
56

47749-1 or 2
Lets Misbehave
(from "Paris")
Vocal Refrain by Phil Saxe and Chorus

(Cole Porter)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
LPV-523

42526-3
Lets Misbehave
(from "Paris")
Vocal Refrain by Phil Saxe and Chorus

(Cole Porter)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21260-A

42526-4
Marching Along Together
(Dixon / Pola / Steininger)
10-12-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2570-B
Me Without You
From "One Hour Late"

(Robin / Gessler)
11-10-1934 New York, New York Columbia
2980-D
Moonlight Down In Lovers' Lane
(Pittman / Costello / Max Kortlander)
10-12-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2571-B
Moonlight On The Colorado
(Moll / King)
8-22-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
4883
My Scandinavian Gal
(By Yumpin' Yiminy)

Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe

(C. Tobias / H. Sherman)
10-16-1928 New York, New York Victor
21778-B
Oh! You Sweet Old Whatcha-May-Call-It
(From the Musical Comedy "Paris")
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe and male chorus

(Roy Turk / Fred E. Ahlert)
10-16-1928 New York, New York Victor
21778-A
Outside
(Frank Flynn)
2-6-1929 New York, New York Victor
21888-A
Pardon My Southern Accent
(Johnny Mercer / Matt Malneck)
8-22-1933 New York, New York Columbia
2946-D
Poor Papa (He's Got Nothing At All)
(Billy Rose / Harry Woods)
3-24-1926 New York, New York Victor
20002-B
Shadows Of The Swanee
(Harold Spina / Johnny Burke / Joe Young)
8-3-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
25004
Snow Ball
(Hoagy Carmichael)
9-6-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2535
Spring Is Here
(George J. Bennett / Sam Carlton)
4-27-1926 New York, New York Victor
20034-A
Sweetheart Of All My Dreams
(I Love You - I Love You - I Love You)
(A. and K. Fitch-Lowe)
12-21-1928 New York, New York Victor
21834-A
Thanks 9-6-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2536
That's How Rhytmn Was Born
(Whiting / Schwartz / Johnson)
9-6-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2535
The Day You Came Along
(Arthur Johnston / Sam Coslow)
9-6-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2536
The Land Of Going-To-Be
(from the Musical Comedy "Paris")
with Irene Bordoni

(E. Ray Goetz / Walter Kolle)
3-1-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21742-A
The Pump Song
(Lerner / Fields / Whiting)
5-15-1926 New York, New York Victor
20083-A
Waffles
(Fred Fisher / Al koppel)
6-23-1926 New York, New York Victor
20094-B
'Way Back Home 4-18-1935 New York, New York Columbia
3037-D
What Good Is Good Morning?
(There's More Good In "Good-Night!")

(Vocal refrain by Irving Aaronson, Phil Saxe and Harold Saliers)

(Lewis / Young / Santly)
5-13-1926 New York, New York Victor
20063-A
What! No Spinach
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe and Chorus

(Tracy / Atken / Moore)
6-25-1926 New York, New York Victor
20117-B
When You First Ate An Olive 8-22-1934 New York, New York Columbia
2946-D
Why Have You Forgotten Waikiki?
(Gus Kahn / Mabel Wayne)
8-22-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
4883
Wimmin - Aaah!
Vocal refrain by Phil Saxe

(Bud Green / Harry Warren / Dan Dougherty)
3-19-1926 New York, New York Victor
20002-A
Ya Gotta Know How To Love
Vocal refrain by Irving Aaronson, Phil Saxe and Harold Saliers

(Bud Green / Harry Warren)
5-13-1926 New York, New York Victor
20059-B
You Gotta Be A Football Hero
(To Get Along With Beautiful Girls)

(Sherman / Fields / Lewis)
10-12-1933 New York, New York Vocalion
2570-A
Artist Instrument
Irving Aaronson Piano, Leader, Vocals
Jack Armstrong Violin, Vocals
Franklyn Baur Violin, Vocals
Mickey Bloom Trumpet
Irene Bordoni Vocals
"Chin Chin" Violin
Sal Cibelli Violin, Vocals
Frank Cornwell Violin, Vocals
Horace Diaz Piano
Dick Dickerson Piano
Joe Gillespie Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
George Green String Bass
Mort Freeman Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Bob Leitner Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Violin, Vocals
Stanley Johnson Drums, Vocals
Herman Hyde Alto Saxophone, Violin
Red Jessup Trombone
Bert Lorin Vocals
Reggie Merrill Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Herman Mahr Piano
Belle Mann Banjo, Vocals
Charles McGregor Piano
Ernie Mathias Trumpet, Vocals
Harry McKeown Trumpet
Ralph Napoli Banjo, Vocals
Tony Pator Tenor Saxophone, Vocals
Artie Quenzer Alto Saxophone, Violin
Mike Renzulle Trumpet
Sam Rubennowitch Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Harold Saliers Alto Saxophone, Violin, Vocals
Phil Saxe Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Violin, Vocals
Artie Shaw Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Nat Skilkret Piano
Cliff "Red" Stanley Trombone, Vocals
Jimmy Taylor Trumpet, Vocals
Charlie Trotta Trumpet, Vocals
Mack Walker Bass Brass