RHAPSODY IN BLACK (1931)



Composer: Alberta Nichols
Lyricist: Mann Holiner

Opened: May 4, 1931, Sam H. Harris Theatre, N.Y.C.
Performances: 80


Chloe (originally used in AFRICANA (1927)):

1. 78/Parlophone F-1048 (Valaida) [reissued on Hot Snow: Queen Of Trumpet & Song, CD/DRGCD 8455]


Dark Eyes (Russian Folk Song) (M/L: A. Salama) (added for subsequent tour):

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


Eili Eili (M: Traditional):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this number beyond original cast member performances.
1. Live: Miss Ethel Waters, Garrafollo EW-1909 (Ethel Waters) (as "Eli Eli")


Papa Di-Da-Da (M/L: Spencer Williams; Clarence Williams; Clarence Todd) (added for subsequent tour; originally used in BLACKBIRDS OF 1930 and also used in RHYTHMANIA):

1. 78/Brunswick 6053 (King Oliver Orchestra with vocal refrain) [reissued on The Chronological King Oliver And His Orchestra 1930-1931, CD/Classics 594]
2. 78/Okeh 8215 (Eva Taylor with Clarence Williams' Blue Five) [reissued on The Chronological Clarence Williams 1930-1931, CD/Classics 832]
3. 78/Okeh 8842 (Clarence Williams Washboard Band) [reissued on The Chronological Clarence Williams 1930-1931, CD/Classics 832]
4. 78/Perfect 15387 (Clarence Williams and His Orchestra) [reissued on The Chronological Clarence Williams 1930-1931, CD/Classics 832]
5. 78/Columbia 349 D (St. Louis Rhythm Kings)
6. 78/M-G-M 11010 (Donald Forbes with The Rampart Street Paraders directed by Billy Maxted)
7. 78/Perfect 12235 (Original Bessie Brown) [reissued on Complete Recorded Works (1925-1929), CD/Document 5456]
8. 78/Okeh 8218 (Virginia Liston with Clarence Williams, piano) [reissued on Virginia Liston: Volume 2 (1921-1922)/Lavinia Turner (1923-1924), CD/Document 5447; The Chronological Clarence Williams 1924-1926, CD/Classics 695]
9. 78/Hot Jazz Club 604 (Louis Armstrong with Clarence Williams' Blue Five) [reissued on Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man 1923-1934, CD/Columbia/Legacy 57176]
10. Parlor Piano, 1917-27, Biograph BLP-100 1-Q (Clarence Williams, piano roll)
11. A Rare Batch Of Satch, RCA PM-2322 (Louis Armstrong) [reissued as CD/Castle Pulse 136]
12. Here Is Chris Barber, Atlantic 1292 (Chris Barber) [reissued as CD/Rhino Atlantic]
13. Legendary Eva Taylor With Maggie's Blue Five, CD/Kenneth 2042 (Eva Taylor with Maggie's Blue Five)
14. Live At The Pawnshop, CD/Opus 3 22071 (Eva Taylor)
15. Edison Laterals 4, CD/Diamond Cut 303 (Eva Taylor with Clarence Williams)
16. Stomp Miss Hannah, CD/Stomp Off 1354 (Milano Hot Jazz Orchestra)
17. Swinging Hamburg: Jazz Im Hamburg Von A-Z, CD/Documents (unknown performer)
18. Driving Hot, CD/Ghb 49 (Barrelhouse Jazz Band)
19. The Hottest Dixie Party In Town, Vol. 1, CD/Documents 201603 (unknown performer)
20. Die Grossen Bigbands, Vol. 3, CD/Bella 314127 (unknown performer)
21. Existentialism: Revival Jazz Of The 60's, CD/TBC 231762 (unknown performer)
22. The Chronological Buster Bailey 1925-1940, CD/Classics 904 (Buster Bailey)
23. Gulf Coast Blues, CD/Omega OCD-3009 (Dick Hyman, piano)
24. Let It Shine, CD/Lake 37 (Denise Lawrence & Storeyville Tickle)
25. Back From New Orleans, CD/Timeless (Midlife Revival Jazzband)
26. Original Indiana Five Volume 2, CD/Jazz Oracle 8030 (Original Indiana Five)
27. Dreamland Orchestra, CD/Documents 201618 (Peter Petrel)
28. Live At The BP Studienhaus, CD/Timeless 620 (Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band)
29. The Full Monty Sunshine Volume 2, CD/Upbeat Jazz 206 (Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band)
30. The Music Of Clarence Williams, CD/GHB 452 (West Jesmond Rhythm Kings with Bent Persson & Keith Nichols)
31. The Wolverines of Bern At 35, CD/Arbors 19196 (The Wolverines)


Rhapsody In Blue (inst.) (M: George Gershwin):

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


Rhythm In Rhapsody (added for subsequent tour):

An unverified radio transcription performed by the Allen Roth Orchestra is known to exist.


St. James Infirmary (M/L: Joe Primrose) (added for subsequent tour):

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


St. Louis Blues (M/L: W.C. Handy) (interpolated):

I have not attempted to compile discological information for this number beyond original cast member performances.
1. 78/Brusnwick 6521 (Ethel Waters and the Cecil Mack Choir) [reissued on The Chronological Ethel Waters 1931-1934, CD/Classics 735]
2. 78/Tono 21166 (Valaida) [reissued on Hot Snow: Queen Of Trumpet & Song, CD/DRGCD 8455]


Till The Real Thing Comes Along:

1. 78/M-G-M 10874 (Mel Torme with orchestral accompaniment)
2. 78/Columbia 37493 (Billie Holiday with music conducted by Teddy Wilson) [reissued on The Lady Billie Holiday: Complete Collection, CD/ CBS/Sony 570]
3. 78/ Roost 514 (Mary Ann McCall with orchestra conducted by Al Cohn)
4. 78/Columbia 37919 (Jane Russell with orchestra conducted by Lou Bring) [reissued on Let's Turn Out The Lights, CD/Sony 61324]
5. 78/Mercury 8290 (James Moody and His Orchestra)
6. 78/Mercury 8959 (Oscar Peterson Trio)
7. 78/Capitol 434 (Billy Butterfield, vocal, with Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra)
8. 78/Victor 20-4657 (Billy Bunn and His Buddies)
9. 78/Parlophone F-559 (Valaida) [reissued on Hot Snow: Queen Of Trumpet & Song, CD/DRGCD 8455]
10. 78/Decca 809 (Pha Terrell with Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds Of Joy) [reissued on The Music Goes Round And Round, New World (M) NW-248]
11. 45/Qwest 7-29223 (Frank Sinatra) 45/Coral 9-62133 (Romance Watson) with orchestra conducted by Dick Jacobs)
12. The Music Of Broadway: 1931, JJA (M) 19778 (The London Orchestra)
13. More Ralph Sutton At Café Des Copains, CD/Sackville 2036 (Ralph Sutton, piano)
14. This Time I'm Swingin'!, CD/Collectors' Choice Music CCM 06042 (Dean Martin)
15. The Anthology, CD/MCA 11728 (The Ink Spots)
16. The History Of Jackie Wilson, Vol. 2: Jackie Sets The Standards, CD/Edel Records 769 (Jackie Wilson)
17. Singin' And Swingin', CD/Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-1718-2 (Betty Roche)
18. Paper Moon, CD/El Records 170 (Django Reinhardt)
A radio transcription performed by Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra is known to exist.



What's Keeping My Prince Charming (Where's My Prince Charming):

1. 78/Victor 22710 (Welcome Lewis with Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra)
2. The Music Of Broadway: 1931, JJA (M) 19778 (The London Orchestra)
3. Say It With Music, Vol. 2, CD/Vocalion CDEA 6050 (Jack Payne and the BBC Dance Orchestra)


You Can't Stop Me From Loving You (originally used in CORNED BEEF AND ROSES):

1. 78/Victor 22710 (Welcome Lewis with Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra)
2. 78/Victor 23285 (Chicago Hot Five)
3. 78/Columbia 2481-D (Ethel Waters) [reissued on The Incomparable Ethel Waters, CD/Columbia/Legacy CK 65852 (Ethel Waters)]
4. The Music Of Broadway: 1931, JJA (M) 19778 (The London Orchestra with vocal refrain)


Unrecorded Material:

Ain't Gonna Rain
Dance Hall Hostess
Dream Of The Chocolate Soldier (M: Victor Herbert)
Eccentricity
Exhortation
Getting' Up Mornin'
Harlem Moon
Harlem Rhumbola (M: Jimmy McHugh; L: Dorothy Fields)
Heard Nobody Pray
I'm Feelin' Blue (M: Jimmy McHugh; L: Dorothy Fields) (cut from INTERNATIONAL REVUE)
Pullman Porter's Lament
Rhapsody In Black (M: Ken Macomber; Pat Carroll)
The Three Guitars
Wash Tub Rub-sody