Further from the "things I never expected to find on the internets" file: was poking around YouTube the other night and found this version of "the Spaniard That Blighted My Life" by British music hall performer Billy Merson. I only knew the version by Al Jolson and Bing Crosby. According to the comments (and we all know that YouTube commentors are unimpeachable sources of information), Jolson stole the song from Merson, who unsuccessfully sued. Not sure I really understand the charge of stealing here. I thought all the performers in vaudeville/music hall were stealing material constantly from each other. Maybe Jolson started singing the song without properly paying or crediting Merson. Here's a more pro-Jolson version of the story. Which includes the interesting tidbits that it's the earliest surviving Jolson recording. Also that Billy Merson worked in the music halls with George Formby, Sr. Ah, Wikipedia to the rescue. According to this entry on the 1928 movie the Singing Fool, Merson sued arguing that so much of his livelihood was tied up in performing "the Spaniard That Blighted My Life" that any Jolson performances of same would be unfair. So Jolson's version of the song was removed from all prints of the movie shown in the UK.