Anniversary Song is the English adaptation of Waves of the Danube, the 1880 waltz by Romanian composer Ion Ivanovici. In 1946 Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin added English lyrics and adapted the melody, with Jolson credited for the lyricization. It was released as a Decca single (23714) and tied to the Columbia Pictures film The Jolson Story. The first Jolson recording with Morris Stoloff’s orchestra was on August 21, 1946, and it reached the Billboard charts in early 1947, peaking at number 2. The tune is associated with the Jolson Story soundtrack and is considered a classic of traditional pop and romantic ballad styles, having been covered and used in many films and performances.
