Public Domain

Sweet lovin' mama please come back to me

Johnny Dunn’s Original Jazz Hounds

1923

Confidence

98

— Composition copyright —

Songwriter & publisher

Public Domain

Songwriter(s): Johnny Dunn
Publisher: Unknown
First published: 1923

Rule · Compositions first published before 1931 are in the US public domain (95-year term under the 1976 Copyright Act, as extended by the Sonny Bono CTEA).

The musical composition "Sweet Lovin' Mama Please Come Back to Me" by Johnny Dunn, first published in 1923, is firmly in the public domain in the United States. Under the 1976 Copyright Act, as amended by the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA), works published in the U.S. with proper copyright notice before 1978 receive a copyright term of 95 years from the year of publication. Since this composition was published in 1923, its copyright term expired on December 31, 2018 (1923 + 95 years = 2018). Therefore, the composition is free for anyone to use without needing to obtain permission or pay royalties to a copyright holder. This means it can be covered, sampled, or synchronized in new works without clearance. The absence of a registered publisher further supports the public domain status, as there would be no entity to manage or claim rights.

Confidence

99

Sound recording and composition are two separate copyrights. Even if one is public domain, the other may still be protected — clear cover, sample, and sync rights independently.

No Internet Archive copy was automatically found. Search archive.org →

— Also available at —

Listen on other public-domain archives

Found by AI web search across LoC, Wikimedia, Public Domain Review, Europeana, and more. Verify before commercial use.

— Rule Applied —

The deterministic finding

Recordings fixed 1923 are protected for 100 years; this recording entered the US public domain on January 1, 2024 (MMA, 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a)(2)(B)).

— AI Reasoning —

Why this status applies

The sound recording of "Sweet Lovin' Mama Please Come Back to Me" by Johnny Dunn's Original Jazz Hounds, fixed in 1923, entered the public domain in the United States on January 1, 2024. This is due to the Music Modernization Act (MMA), specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a)(2)(B). The MMA brought pre-1972 sound recordings under federal copyright protection for the first time, establishing a tiered system for their term. Recordings fixed between 1923 and 1946 were granted a term of 100 years from their fixation, meaning they would enter the public domain on January 1st of the year following the completion of that 100-year term. Johnny Dunn's Original Jazz Hounds were a notable early jazz ensemble, and their recordings, including this one, contribute significantly to the historical canon of American music. Before the MMA, these pre-1972 recordings were governed by a patchwork of state laws, leading to inconsistency and legal uncertainty regarding their use. The federalization of these rights through the MMA has clarified their status, ensuring that after their designated protection period, they enter the public domain for all to use freely.

— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

Music Modernization Act, 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a)(2)(B)
Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA)
U.S. Copyright Office Circular 92: Copyright Basics
Library of Congress: Public Domain Chart

This analysis is AI-generated for informational research only and does not constitute legal advice. Sound-recording status under the MMA does not determine the status of the underlying composition. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.