THE COCOANUTS

THE COCOANUTS

Composer: Irving Berlin
Lyricist: Irving Berlin

Opened: December 8, 1925, Lyric Theatre, N.Y.C.
Performances: 276

Note: Although some authorities maintain that “Always” was written by Berlin for this show, such a contention is disputed in The Complete Lyrics Of Irving Berlin.

The Bellhops (aka “The Bell Hop”):

1. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (The Marx Brothers)

(With A) Family Reputation (cut after opening):

1. Always: The Love Story Of Irving Berlin, CD/No label (KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler)

Five O'Clock Tea:

1. Reaching For The Moon: Songs Of Irving Berlin 1925-1935, CD/Oakton Recordings ORCD 0008 (Leigh Barrett, Cynthia Mork, Benjamin Sears, and Peter Miller with Bradford Conner, piano)

Florida By The Sea:

1. 78/Victor 35769 (Victor Light Opera Company conducted by Rosario Bourdon) [also 78/HMV C1460; reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone Vol. IV: 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085)
2. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (Chorus)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (added to the “New Summer Edition”) (subsequently used in R.S.V.P.):

1. 78/Columbia 4072 (Joyce Barbour with piano accompaniment) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving Berlin Volume II, CD/Pearl GEM 0117]
2. Say It With Music: British Dance Bands Play Irving Berlin, Vol. 2, CD/American Songbook Classics (Jack Hylton and His Orchestra)

Gypsy Love Song (M: Victor Herbert; L: Harry B. Smith) (used in the film version; originally used in THE FORTUNE TELLER):

I have not attempted to compile discographical information for this song beyond original cast member performances.
1. The Marx Brothers, Murray Hill 931680 (Chico Marx, piano, with Dave Newman, violin)

A Little Bungalow (cut after opening):

1. 78/Victor 35769 (Victor Light Opera Company conducted by Rosario Bourdon) [also 78/HMV C1460; reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone Vol. IV: 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085)
2. 78/Domino 3630 (Newport Society Orchestra)
3. 78/Champion 8789 (Hollywood Night Owls with vocal chorus)
4. 78/Apex 8432 (Ben Selvin and His Orchestra)
5. 78/Banner 1663 (Newport Society Orchestra)
6. 78/Brunswick 3037 (Harry Archer and His Orchestra)
7. 78/Victor 19974 (Helen Clark and Franklyn Baur with orchestra)
8. 78/Perfect 14534 (Bill Wirges and His Orchestra)
9. 78/Vocalion 15233 (The Vanderbilt Orchestra)
10. 78/Victor 19860 (Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra)
11. The Broadway Musicals Of 1925, CD/Bayview RNBW024 (Stephanie J. Block and Howard McGillin with the Ross Patterson Little Big Band)

Lucky Boy:

1. 78/Victor 35769 (Victor Light Opera Company conducted by Rosario Bourdon) [also 78/HMV C1460; reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone Vol. IV: 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085)
2. 78/Victor 19860 (Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra) [reissued on 1925-1928, CD/Swing Time 9910]
3. Everything’s Made For Love, CD/Stomp Off SOSCD 1393 (Barbara Rosene)

Monkey Doodle-Doo (different song than in ALL ABOARD):

1. 78/Victor 35769 (Victor Light Opera Company conducted by Rosario Bourdon) [also 78/HMV C1460; reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone Vol. IV: 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085)
2. 78/Victor 19934 (Busse’s Buzzards) [reissued on Up And At ‘Em: Early Victor Electric Hot Dance Bands, CD/Timeless CBC 1072]
3. 78/Perfect 14540 (Boyd Senter)
4. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (Mary Eaton)
5. Quiet On The Set: A Tribute To The First Hollywood Musicals, CD/Nick Langdon (Nick Langdon)
6. Wallowitch & Ross, CD/Miranda Music MMCD1004 (John Wallowitch and Bertram Ross with John Wallowitch, piano)
7. Crazy Rhythm, CD/Sin-Drome Records 8951 (Mary Cleere Haran with Richard Rodney Bennett, piano)
8. The Melody Lingers On, CD/Barbara Lea BL6613 (Barbara Lea)

The Tale Of A Shirt (aka “I Lost My Shirt”) (music based on Bizet’s “Habanera” from CARMEN):

1. Duck Soup/The Cocoanuts, CD/Soundtrack Factory SFCD 33501 (Basile Ruysdael)
2. The Complete Hit Of The Week Recordings, Vol. 4, CD/Archeophone ARCH 3005 (Ted Husing) (unverified)

Tango Melody (also used in the film THE BAD ONE):

1. Crazy Rhythm, CD/Sin-Drome Records 8951 (Mary Cleere Haran with Richard Rodney Bennett, piano)

Ting-A-Ling (The Bells’ll Ring) (added to the “New Summer Edition”):

1. 78/Path 36500 (Majestic Dance Orchestra)
2. 78/Victor 20116 (George Olsen and His Music)
3. 78/Columbia 720 D (Ray Stillwell with Fred Rich and His Hotel Astor Orchestra)
4. 78/HMV B5424 (Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra)

Too Many Sweethearts (sheet music only; possibly same song as used in MARX BROTHERS REVUE OF 1923; also used in THE MUSIC BOX REVUE):

1. Everybody Step: Irving Berlin’s Music Box Revues And Other Songs From 1921-1925, CD/Original Cast 399 (Benjamin Sears with Bradford Connor, piano)

When My Dreams Come True (written for the film version):

1. 78/Regal 8781 (Rodman Lewis with The Rounders)
2. 78/Columbia 1841 D (Ford and Glenn)
3. 78/Columbia 1822 D (Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra) [also 78/Columbia 5484; reissued on The Best Of Paul Whiteman: The Columbia Years, CD/Collectors’ Choice Music CCM 03322]
4. 78/Jewel 5601 (Larry Holton with The University Boys)
5. 78/Path 36997 (Irving Kaufman with La Palina Broadcasters)
6. 78/Broadway 1275 (Roland Lance with The Midnight Ramblers)
7. 78/Romeo 968 (Freddie Rich and His Orchestra with vocal refrain) [also 78/Cameo 9166]
8. 78/Velvet Tone 1925 V (The Harmonians)
9. 78/Velvet Tone 1931 V (The Four Aces with Hawaiian guitar)
10. 78/ Banner 6386 (Ralph Haines with The Campus Boys)
11. 78/Brunswick 4388 (Hal Kemp and His Orchestra with vocal chorus)
12. 78/Brunswick 4390 (Nick Lucas with guitar)
13. 78/Oriole 1585 (Larry Holton with The University Boys)
14. 78/Victor 21977 (Waring’s Pennsylvanians)
15. 78/Victor 21989 (Franklyn Baur with orchestra)
16. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw)
17. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (Harpo Marx) (two versions)
18. The Cocoanuts/Monkey Business, CD/Soundtrack Factory 33548 (Mary Eaton)
19. Song For Sisyphus, CD/DCC Jazz 632 (Phil Woods Quartet)
20. Maria Del Escorpion, CD/Left Handed Entertainment (Silbin Sandovar)
21. Australia’s Queen Of Song, CD/EMI 8146512 (Gladys Moncrieff)

Why Do You Want To Know Why? (added to the “New Summer Edition”):

1. 78/Victor 20116 (George Olsen and His Music)
2. 78/Columbia 696 D (Franklyn Baur with the Ipana Troubadours conducted by S.C. Lanin)
3. 78/Path 36491 (Arthur Hall with John Sylvester and His Orchestra)
4. 78/Harmony 213 H (Irving Kaufman with The Astorites) [also 78/Velvet Tone 1213 V]
5. 78/Okeh 40663 (Raderman’s Radio Orchestra)

Unrecorded Material:

Can’t You Tell (sheet music only; possibly intended for the show)
Everyone In The World Is Doing The Charleston (added to the “New Summer Edition”)
Finale (Act I)
Finale (Act II)
The Guests
Minstrel Days
Take ‘Im Away (He’s Breakin’ My Heart) (cut)
We Should Care (Let The Lazy Sun Refuse To Care) (not used)
We Should Care (Let The Sky Start To Cry) (cut after opening)
What’s There About Me? (cut)
When We’re Running A Little Hotel Of Our Own (aka “A Hotel Of Our Own”) (cut)
Why Am I A Hit With The Ladies (cut after opening)