LEW LESLIE'S BLACKBIRDS OF 1934



Composer: Alberta Nichols
Lyricist: Mann Holiner

Opened: December 2, 1933, Apollo Theatre, Harlem, N.Y.C.; second edition opened in September 1934; Opened: August 25, 1934, Coliseum Theatre, London
Performances: 25 (First Edition); Unknown (Second Edition); Unknown (London Edition)

Note: The show was titled BLACKBIRDS OF 1933 out of town. A complete song list for the London edition is not available at this time.


Christmas Night In Harlem (M: Raymond Scott; L: Mitchell Parish) (added for the Second Edition):

1. 78/Brunswick 45-05505 (Louis Armstrong and the All Stars with orchestra directed by Benny Carter) [also 78/Decca 29710]
2. 78/Gramophone B 6549 (Johnny Mercer with Jack Teagarden and Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra) [also 78/Bluebird B 10969; 78/Victor 24615; reissued on The Man From Georgia, CD/Jasmine JASCD 428]
3. 78/Vocalion 2689 (Chick Bullock with Clarence Williams and His Orchestra) [reissued on The Chronological Clarence Williams 1933-1934, CD/Classic Records CLC 871]
4. Music Maestro Please, Star-Tone (M) ST-210 (Jack Teagarden, Frank Trumbauer, and Charlie Teagarden with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra)
5. Jim And Jay's Christmas, CD/Sackville 3054 (Jim Galloway and Jay McShann)
6. Microphone Music, CD/Basta 9109 (The Raymond Scott Quintette)
7. The Raymond Scott Orchestra On The Perry Como Show, 1943, CD/Intermusic (Perry Como with the Raymond Scott Orchestra)
8. Moments To Remember, 1952-56, CD/Ambassador 1917 (Louis Armstrong)
9. Hal Kemp & His Orchestra 1934 & 1936, CD/Circle 25 (Hal Kemp and His Orchestra)
10. Willie Lewis & His Negro Band 1941, CD/Classics 880 (Willie Lewis and His Negro Band)
11. Manhattan Minuet, CD/Basta 9036 (The Beau Hunks)
12. Raymond Scott: Chesterfield Arrangements 1937-1938, CD/Basta 9097 (Metropole Orchestra)
13. Christmas In My Dreams, CD/Laurel Records 40084 (Inner Voices)
14. Kustard Kristmas, CD/Confidential Recordings 3005 (Kustard Kings)
15. The Very Best Of Ozzie Nelson, Vol. 1: 1932-1934, CD/Collectables 7477 (Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra)
16. Zat You, Santa Claus?, CD/Swing Out 106 (Banu Gibson and the New Orleans Hot Jazz Band)
17. Live From The Hickory House, New York, CD/Jazz Oracle 8056 (The Three T's)
18. Lots Of Christmas, CD/X5 Music Group (Bing Crosby)
19. A Big Band Christmas, CD/Columbia 40948 (Lester Lanin)
A radio transcription performed by Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra is also known to exist.


Great Getting' Up Mornin' (M/L: Traditional):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this number.


A Hundred Years From Today (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young) (also used in the London edition):

1. Click here for recordings of "A Hundred Years From Today".


I'm Walkin' The Chalk-Line (also used in the London edition):

1. 78/Regal Zonophone MR1468 (Sam Browne with The Six Swingers conducted by George Scott Wood)


Let Me Be Born Again (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young) (also used in the London edition):

1. 78/Decca K746 (Everett Marshall with orchestra conducted by Victor Young) [also 78/Decca 15002]


Moonglow (M: Will Hudson; L: Eddie De Lange; Irving Mills) (added for the Second Edition and used in the London edition):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this standard.


Rhapsody In Blue (inst.) (M: George Gershwin) (added for the Second Edition):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this standard.


St. James Infirmary (M/L: Joe Primrose) (added for the Second Edition and used in the London edition):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this standard.


Tappin' The Barrel (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young):

1. 78/Columbia 2856 D (Jack Teagarden with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra) [also 78/Columbia DB 5014; reissued on The Chronological Benny Goodman And His Orchestra 1931-1933, CD/Classics 719]


Your Mother's Son-In-Law (also used in the London edition):

1. 78/Regal Zonophone MR1468 (Sam Browne with The Six Swingers conducted by George Scott Wood)
2. 78/Columbia CB 786 (Billie Holliday with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra) [also 78/Columbia FB 2826; 78/Special Editions 5009 S; 45/Columbia B-821; reissued on The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol. 1 (1933-1935), CD/Columbia CK-40646]
3. 78/Bluebird B 5308 (Lee Sullivan with Bill Scotti and Orchestra)
4. The Broadway Musicals Of 1933, CD/Bayview RNBW017 (Mary Testa, Mary Bond Davis, and Anne Runolfsson with the Ross Patterson Little Big Band)
5. Midnight Sun, CD/Paris Kitten Productions (Katz Romero)
6. In The Green Room, CD/Sue Palmer 4 (Sue Palmer)
7. Live At Feinstein's At Loews Regency, CD/Arbors Records 19433 (Rebecca Kilgore with The Harry Allen Quartet)
8. Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, CD/Emarcy 2724155 (Dee Dee Bridgewater)
9. Driving You Crazy!, CD/Deluxe 553 (The Blue Room Boys)
10. Too Hot For Words, CD/Jukebox Jazz 9904 (Terry Blaine)
11. Oceans Of Time, CD/Unknown label (Christa Dulude)
12. Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, CD/Columbia 5089592 (Macy Gray)
13. Miki Sings Billie, CD/Warner Bros. 24521 (Miki Howard)


Unrecorded Material:

Concentrate A Little On Love
Doin' The Shim Sham
Gentlemen Of Japan
Just A Song And Dance (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young) (ASCAP/Library Of Congress only)
Minstrel Man
Prologue
Victims Of Voodoo Drums (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young)
Voo Doo Pageant (inst.) (M: Victor Young)
What-No Dixie? (M: Victor Young; L: Ned Washington; Joe Young)