Matthew Caulfield was wondering what the word "Yale" means.  He found
it on a label and a score of this song on YouTube.  He asked the German
MMD readers for an explanation.  Being a Dutchman I wonder if I'm
qualified.  On the other hand, Germany is the big neighbour of Holland,
so maybe that allows me to try to be of help.

The bad news: neither in my German dictionary, nor in any of my books
on music the word "Yale" can be found.  In fact, very few words in the
German language begin with a "Y".  The good news: maybe there is an
explanation at hand.  Several other recordings can be found, among
others on YouTube, where on the label one can read "mit Refraingesang";
in English, "with Refrainsong", or shorter, "with Refrain".

And the same song -- "Eine schöne weisse Chrysantheme" -- also has
been recorded on the Homocord label:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfy4xnu0w_Y
 

In this case the label says:

  Eine schöne weiße Chrysantheme
  Slow-fox (Willy Rosen - K. Robitschek)
  Homocord-Orchester
  mit Refraingesang: Luigi Bernauer

I must confess that I'm not 100% sure, but I think the words "Lied
und Yale" do have the same meaning as "Song and Refrain".  In German
this is one word: "Refraingesang".  This musical style does have its
roots in the USA, if I'm right.

But still no explanation for "Yale".  I did place the question in
a German forum which is devoted to these old recordings.  Maybe an
answer will come from my German neighbours.

Jan Kijlstra