“Just Another Day Wasted Away” – Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra (1927)

A jaunty but wistful love song by Tin Pan Alley songster Charles Tobias and lyricist Roy Turk. Performed by Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra.

Though this number is a more straight-ahead dance tune – listen to the trombone jubilantly playing in the background – or the energized piano accompaniment starting at 1:07 – or the emphatic staccato cymbal crashes throughout. It’s full of jazzy lil’ bits! Not a wasted listen at all!

Lyrics:
Just another day, wasted away – watching and waiting
Just another day, wasted away – filled with gloom
All day all alone, hoping you would phone – but you never called me
Covered miles of ground pacing up and down ’round my room
Just another night, nothing in sight – nothing but grieving
When I go to sleep, memories will creep – makin’ me blue
When the break of dawn I see
What’s it gonna mean to me?
Just another day, wasted away, waiting for you.

Recorded in New York City on July 28, 1927.
Released as Brunswick 3615.

Credits:
Abe Lyman – drums, director
Fred Ferguson, Horace Smith – trumpet
Orlando “Slim” Martin – trombone
Al Baker, Jim Welton – clarinet, alto sax
Zip Keyes – clarinet, tenor sax
Harry Podalsky – violin
Al Newman – piano
Teddy Powell – banjo, guitar
Jake Garcia – tuba, string bass
Frank Sylvano (?) – vocals

Sources:
The American Dance Band Discography, Brian Rust