THE DESERT SONG



Composer: Sigmund Romberg
Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II; Otto Harbach

Opened: November 30, 1926, Casino Theatre, N.Y.C.; moved on October 10, 1297 to the Century Theatre; move on November 2, 1927 to the Imperial Theatre and closed on January 7, 1928; April 7, 1927, Drury Lane Theatre, London
Performances: 471 (N.Y.C.); 432 (London)

Note: This musical was called LADY FAIR prior to New York.  Only recordings of songs not otherwise found on the 1952 studio cast album The Desert Song, Columbia ML 4636 [reissued as CD/Flare ROYCD 308] are noted below.


Dreaming In Paradise (Love’s Dear Yearning) (cut):

1. The Desert Song, 78/RCA Victor K 12 (Earl Wrightson and Frances Greer with orchestra conducted by Al Goodman) [reissued on RCA Camden (M) CAL 423]


Gay Parisienne (M: Serge Walters; L: Jack Scholl) (written for the 1943 film version):

1. The Desert Song, 10”/RCA (M) LPM 3105 (Kathryn Grayson and Tony Martin with orchestra conducted by Lehman Engel) [reissued on Favourite Ballads And Movie Songs, CD/Delta BYD 77003]


It:

1. 78/Columbia 4389 (Gene Gerrard and Chorus with orchestra conducted by Herman Finck) [reissued on The Desert Song/The New Moon/The Blue Train, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9100]
2. The Desert Song, Angel S 35905 (Bruce Forsyth and Chorus with orchestra conducted by Michael Collins) [reissued on The Desert Song Highlights/Songs From The New Moon/The Firefly, CD/EMI Classics For Pleasure 3 35987 2]
3. Selections From The Desert Song And The Merry Widow, Wing WL1072 (Mary Thomas and John McNally with orchestra conducted by Alan Braden)
4. The Desert Song, World (M) LM 7022 (John Hewer and Girls with orchestra conducted by Bobby Richards)
5. Billy Mayerl Vol. 1, CD/Naxos Nostalgia 8.120653 (Billy Mayerl, piano)
6. The Broadway Musicals Of 1926, CD/Bayview RNBW031 (Sutton Foster with the Ross Patterson Little Big Band)
7. Deep In My Heart, CD/Sony AK 47703 (Ann Miller & Chorus)
8. When I Grow Too Old To Dream, CD/Arabesque Z6540 (Eastmand-Dryden Orchestra conducted by Donald Hunsberger)
9. Great Hits From Sigmund Romberg, CD/Pearl Flapper PAST CD 9761 (Jack Hylton and His Orchestra)


Long Live The Night (M: Sigmund Romberg; L: Jack Scholl; Mario Silva) (written for the 1943 film version):

1. The Desert Song, 10”/RCA (M) LPM 3105 (Tony Martin with orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler) [reissued on Favourite Ballads And Movie Songs, CD/Delta BYD 77003]


The Night Is Young (M: Sigmund Romberg; L: Oscar Hammerstein II) (used in the 1943 film version; originally used in the film THE NIGHT IS YOUNG):

1. 78/HMV B-8297 (Evelyn Laye with Carroll Gibbons and the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra) [also 78/Gramophone B.D. 243; reissued on The Ultimate Sigmund Romberg - Volume II, CD/Pearl GEM 0119]
2. 78/HMV C-2778 (Ramon Novarro with orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Gramophone C 2778; reissued on The Ultimate Sigmund Romberg - Volume II, CD/Pearl GEM 0119]
3. 78/Perfect 16059 (Smith Ballew, vocal, with Smith Ballew and his Orchestra) [also 78/Royal 91935; 78/Melotone M 13285]
4. 78/Decca 349 (Ken Sargent with Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra) [reissued on Jazz In The Charts: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 1935(2), CD/Membran 223720]
5. 78/Bluebird B 5781 (Lorretta Lee with George Hall and His Hotel Taft Orchestra)
6. 78/Brunswick 7356 (Freddy Martin and His Orchestra)
7. 78/Victor 24844 (Bob Lawrence with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra) [reissued on Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra Volume 2: Makin' Whoopee, CD/Dutton Vocalion 6137]
8. All Time Favorites, 45/Seeburg 2005 (unknown performer) (unverified)
9. The Desert Song, 10”/RCA (M) LPM 3105 (Tony Martin with orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler)
10. The Columbia Album Of Sigmund Romberg, Columbia (M) C2L 14 (Paul Weston and His Orchestra)
11. Pertinent Percussion Cha Chas, Grand Command RS-814-SD (Enoch Light & The Light Brigade) (unverified)
12. There's Love & There's Love & There's Love, Kapp 3435 (Jack Jones with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra)
13. Make A Wish, CD/Sepia 1036, (Stephen Douglass with Philip Green and His Orchestra)
14. Beautiful Rhythm, CD/Montpellier 029 (George Williams Orchestra) (unverified)
15. This Is The Moment, CD/Montpellier 17 (Mark Porter) (unverified)
16. Famous Piano Selections, CD/Grace Girdwain (Grace Girdwain, piano) (unverified)
17. The Night Is Young, CD/In the Vines (Frankye Kelly)


O Pretty Maids Of France (not in program):

1. The Desert Song, RCA Victor (S) LSO-1000 (Warrem Galjour and Chorus with orchestra conducted by Lehman Engel)


One Good Man Gone Wrong (aka “One Good Boy Gone Wrong”):

1. The Desert Song, Angel S 35905 (Bruce Forsyth and Chorus with orchestra conducted by Michael Collins) [reissued on The Desert Song Highlights/Songs From The New Moon/The Firefly, CD/EMI Classics For Pleasure 3 35987 2]
2. The Desert Song, World (M) LM 7022 (John Hewer and Diana Landor with orchestra conducted by Bobby Richards)
3. The Desert Song, RCA Victor (S) LSC 2440 (Mario Lanza and Judith Raskin with orchestra conducted by Constantine Callinicos) [reissued on Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince And The Desert Song, CD/RCA Victor 60048-2-RG]


Song Of The Brass Key:

1. The Desert Song, Angel S 35905 (Julie Dawn with orchestra conducted by Michael Collins) [reissued on The Desert Song Highlights/Songs From The New Moon/The Firefly, CD/EMI Classics For Pleasure 3 35987 2]
2. The Desert Song, World (M) LM 7022 (Diana Landor and Girls with orchestra conducted by Bobby Richards)


The One I’m Looking For:

1. 78/Victor 35809 (Victor Light Opera Company) [reissued on Kalman On Broadway: The Music Of Emmerich Kalman Volume 3, CD/Operetta Archives OA 1002]
2. 78/Edison 51817 (B.A. Rolfe and His Palais D’Or Orchestra)
3. 78/Brunswick 3281 (Carl Fenton’s Orchestra with vocal chorus)
4. Treasury Of Great Operettas, Reader’s Digest 46-N3 (Jeanette Scovotti and Neil Howlett with orchestra conducted by Lehman Engel)
5. Vienna So Gay, Decca (M) DL 8810 (Hans Carste and his Orchestra)
6. Thanks For The Memory, CD/Pavilion PASTCD 7024 (Hubert Gregg)
7. Kalman On Broadway: The Music Of Emmerich Kalman Volume 3, CD/Operetta Archives OA 1002 (Nancy Carr and Chorus)


Overture:

1. Treasury Of Great Operettas, Reader’s Digest 46-N3 (orchestra conducted by Lehman Engel)
2. Operetta: Hot & Romantic, CD/Capriccio 10 849 (WDR Rundfunkorchester Koln conducted by Michail Jurowski)
3. Countess Maritza, CD/Operetta Archives OA-1006 (Ohio
4. Countess Martiza, CD/JAY CDJAY 1258 (Sadler’s Wells
5. The Magical World Of Operetta, CD/Reader’s Digest RDCD1191-6 (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eric Hammerstein)
6. Kalman On Broadway: The Music Of Emmerich Kalman Volume 3, CD/Operetta Archives OA 1002 (radio orchestra)


Unrecorded Material:

Act Two, Scene 3 Finaletto
Ali-Up (cut)
The Banishment
Captive Maids Of War (precursor of “My Little Castagnette”)
Farewell
Fifi’s Song (M: Sigmund Romberg; L: Jack Scholl) (written for the 1943 film version)
Has Anybody Seen My Bennie (L: Oscar Hammerstein II; Otto Harbach; Harry B. Smith) (ASCAP/Library Of Congress only)
I’ll Be A Buoyant Girl
Let’s Have A Love Affair (cut after opening)
Not For Him (cut)
Tropics (not in program)