Ward Barton, Frank Carroll "Sleep, Baby Sleep" (1916)

"SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP"
Words and Music by John H. Handley
New arrangement by Ward Barton
Performed by Ward Barton and Frank Carroll
Yodling duet with guitar
Recorded February 1, 1916
on Victor 17965-B

"Sleep Baby Sleep" also known as Irene's Lullaby was written by John J. Handley and originally published in 1885. The copyright was transferred in 1912 to Hathaway Music Publisher as seen in the sheet music displayed in this video. The song was adapted by a number of country and blues artists in the 1920s which all used a yodel chorus, but the most famous was done by Jimmy Rogers in 1927 in his very first recording which sold one million copies. Although not exactly the same, Barton and Carroll's performance is similar and may have been an inspiration for Rogers' rendition.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ward Barton
• Frank Carroll
• Sleep Baby Sleep
• John H Handley
• Yodel
• Yodeling
• Duet
• Guitar
• Lullaby
• Victor
• 17965-B

[ArkRed1]

Excellent reproduction. Amazing how with modern electronic equipment they can eliminate all the scratches from the 78's and cylinder recordings. Ward Barton sounds like a female with such a high voice. Was she? or Was he?

[bsgs98]

@ArkRed1 Ward was a male. The high voice was a characteristic of his yodel style of singing.

[hotsickle]

there was a song by that title in 1927

[bsgs98]

Yes. Read the side notes. You're referring to Jimmy Rogers's version.

[hotsickle]

@bsgs98 no, that is not the same song that I'm familar with