Photo: Jim Caruso has released a deluxe version of his classic album The Swing Set. Photo courtesy of Christopher Boudewyns ...

Al Jolson was in a class all by himself. From about 1912 until 1934, he was the most highly paid entertainer in the United States. What Enrico Caruso was to opera, Jolson was to popular song.

About the Album: Rare early recordings, some live, of Al Jolson from Chip Deffaa's own extensive collection. "Swanee," "Medley: Whispering / My Melancholy Baby / Poor Butterfly," "Ma Blushing ...

From the early 1910s to the late 1940s, Bernstein writes, “there was nobody…bigger than Al Jolson ... had to confront the singer’s 1977 album “Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter” and ...

Album covers can sometimes make or break the appeal of an album. These five super-cool album covers from the 1990s only made the music within their sleeves even better. Let’s take a look at just ...

But when an album does have a great cover, it stands out. When that cover’s visually representative of the music itself, it stands out even more. Below is a list of some of the most notable ...

Al Jolson lived “The American Dream.” Born in Lithuania, Jolson rose through the ranks of vaudeville as a comedian and a blackface “Mammy” singer. By 1920, he had become the biggest star ...

Richard Bernstein wastes no time dealing with the radioactive subject of blackface in his fascinating new biography of the Jewish singer and actor Al Jolson. He puts the rightly reviled practice ...

In the early days of vinyl records, album covers were nothing more than a safety feature, blank paper jackets meant to protect the fragile content inside. That is, until, designer Alex Steinweiss ...

From Mary Pickford and Lionel Barrymore to Charlie Chaplin and Al Jolson, motion pictures made ... Every time Buck Owens released an album, The Beatles requested a copy through their shared ...

Hubris, lack of taste, massive amounts of drugs: There are many reasons for terrible album covers. This gallery collects 50 of the worst. Enter the carnival tent to witness the monstrosities ...

The album cover has been a cultural obsession as long as albums have. Ever since 12-inch vinyl records took off in the 1950s, packaged in cardboard sleeves, musicians have been fascinated by the ...