RIO RITA



Composer: Harry Tierney
Lyricist: Joseph McCarthy

Opened:
February 2, 1927, Ziegfeld Theatre, N.Y.C.; April 3, 1930, Prince Edward’s Theatre, London
Performances: 494 (N.Y.C.); 59 (London)


Following The Sun Around:

1. 78/Victor 20557 (Jacques Renard and His Orchestra with vocal refrain) [also 78/Victor 22182]
2. 78/Columbia DB 115 (Geoffrey Gwyther with the Prince Edward Theatre Orchestra conducted by John Heuvel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]
3. 78/Victor 35816 (Victor Light Opera Company with orchestra directed by Rosario Bourdon) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085]
4. 78/Columbia 952-D (Muriel Pollock and Constance Mering, pianos)
5. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)
6. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
7. Rio Rita/The Great Waltz, World (S) S-7056 (Neil Williams and Rosalind Keene with orchestra conducted by Geoff Harvey)
8. Rio Rita/A Connecticut Yankee, RCA Victor (M) LK-1026 (Earl Wrightson and Elaine Malbin with Al Goodman and His Orchestra)


I’d Rather Have A Memory Of You (M/L: Geoffrey Gwyther) (added to the London production):

1. 78/Columbia DX 54 (Geoffrey Gwyther and Edith Day with orchestra conducted by John Heuvel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]


If You’re In Love, You’ll Waltz:

1. 78/Victor 35816 (Victor Light Opera Company with orchestra directed by Rosario Bourdon) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085]
2. 78/Victor 20557 (Henry Burr with Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra) [also 78/Victor 22182]
3. 78/Gramophone B 3211 (Bebe Daniels with orchestra directed by Victor Baravalli) [also 78/Victor 22132; reissued on Operetta Delights, CD/Operetta Archives OA 1008]
4. 78/Velvet Tone 1370 (Jack Wilson with the WMCA Broadcasters) [also 78/Velvet Tone 2031 V; 78/Harmony 1031 H]
5. 78/Columbia DX 55 (Edith Day and Geoffrey Gwyther with the Prince Edward’s Theatre Orchestra conducted by John Huevel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]
6. 78/Columbia 952-D (Muriel Pollock and Constance Mering, pianos)
7. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)
8. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
9. 78/Columbia 01303 (Gladys Moncrieff and John Valentine) [reissued on Gladys Moncrieff Sings Musical Comedy And Operetta, EMI EME-430062]
10. 78/Vocalion SA-60012 (Gladys Moncrieff)
11. Rio Rita/The Great Waltz, World (S) S-7056 (Neil Williams and Rosalind Keene with orchestra conducted by Geoff Harvey)


The Kinkajou:

1. 78/Victor 35816 (Victor Light Opera Company with orchestra directed by Rosario Bourdon) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085]
2. 78/Columbia 893 D (Johnny Marvin with The Knickerbockers) [also 78//Columbia 8943; 78/Columbia 5662]
3. 78/Perfect 14778 (Frank Gould with John Sylvester and His Orchestra)
4. 78/Lucky Strike (The Midnight Serenaders)
5. 78/Victor 20474 (Billy Murray with Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra)
6. 78/HMV B5733 (Sam Browne with Jack Hylton and His Orchestra) [reissued on Rio Rita/Rose-Marie/Show Boat, Monmouth-Evergreen MES/7058]
7. 78/Columbia 952-D (Muriel Pollock and Constance Mering, pianos)
8. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)
9. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
10. Stage Left – Stage Right, Columbia (M) CL 1662 (orchestra conducted by Jack Pleis)
11. Faintly Reminiscent, CD/Jasmine JASCD 647 (Jerry Fielding) (unverified)


March Of The Rangers (aka “The Rangers’ Song”):

1. 78/Columbia DX 54 (Geoffrey Gwyther and the Rangers with the Prince Edward’s Theatre Orchestra conducted by John Heuvel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]
2. 78/Victor 35816 (J. Harold Murray and the Victor Light Opera Company with orchestra directed by Rosario Bourdon) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085]
3. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)
4. Rio Rita/The Great Waltz, World (S) S-7056 (Neil Williams and Rosalind Keene with orchestra conducted by Geoff Harvey)
5. Rio Rita/A Connecticut Yankee, RCA Victor (M) LK-1026 (Earl Wrightson and The Guild Choristers with Al Goodman and His Orchestra)
6. Stage Left – Stage Right, Columbia (M) CL 1662 (orchestra conducted by Jack Pleis)
7. The Night They Invented Champagne, CD/Prosody Records CP 68806 (Craig Rubano, KT Sullivan, and Mark Nadler)


Montezuma’s Daughter (dance):

1. 78/Vocalion TA-8001 (Gladys Moncrieff) (as "Montezuma") [reissued on Gladys Moncrieff, Vol. 1: The Golden Years, CD/ABC Music 842-737]


Out On The Loose:

1. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)


Poor Whippoorwill (M: Harold Arlen; L: E.Y. Harburg) (cut from HOORAY FOR WHAT!; considered for but not used in 1942 film version):

1. E.Y. Harburg Revisited, Painted Smiles (S) PS-1372 (Blossom Dearie) [reissued on Hold On To Your Hats, CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-120]
A radio transcription is known to exist performed by the David Rose Orchestra (unverified).


Rio Rita:

1. 78/Victor 35816 (J. Harold Murray and the Victor Light Opera Company with orchestra directed by Rosario Bourdon) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone 1920-1929, CD/Pearl GEMS 0085]
2. 78/Harmony 1031 H (Frank Farrell and His Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra) [also 78/Velvet Tone 2031 V]
3. 78/Columbia DX 55 (Edith Day and Geoffrey Gwyther with the Prince Edward’s Theatre Orchestra conducted by John Huevel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]
4. 78/Columbia 893 D (Charles Kaley with The Knickerbockers) [also 78/Columbia 8943]
5. 78/Perfect 14778 (Frank Gould with John Sylvester and His Orchestra)
6. 78/Victor 20474 (Lewis James with Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra)
7. 78/Perfect 15224 (James Denton with the Ten Freshmen)
8. 78/Homestead 15987 A (Larry Holton with The University Boys) [also 78/Jewel 5708; 78/Oriole 1700]
9. 78/Jewel 5001 (Billy White with Lou Connor’s Dance Orchestra)
10. 78/Coral 60956 (Herbie Fields and Rudy Cafaro with Herbie Fields and His Orchestra)
11. 78/Harmony 380 H  (Sid Garry with piano accompaniment)  [78/Velvet Tone 1380 V]
12. 78/Crown 83015 (Matty Crawford’s Orchestra with vocal chorus)
13. 78/Romeo 353 (The Night Hawks with vocal refrain)
14. 78/Cameo 9283 (Willard Young and His Orchestra)
15. 78/Cameo 1130 (Society Night Club Orchestra)
16. 78/Banner 6516 (Ralph Haines with The Campus Boys)
17. 78/Victor 26213 (James Brown and Chorus with Swing And Sway with Sammy Kaye)  [also 78/Victor 27347]
18. 78/Victor 20-3994 (Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra) [reissued on Buddy Morrow On RCA, CD/DRG/Collectors’ Choice Music CCM 01002]
19. 78/Victor 1448 (Richard Crooks with orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret) [reissued A Richard Crooks Serenade, CD/Living Era/ASV CDAJA 5240]
20. 78/HMV B5733 (Sam Browne with Jack Hylton and His Orchestra)
21. 78/Edison 51947 (Duke Yellman’s Orchestra) [reissued on Songs From Broadway Musicals 1920’s, Volume 1, Mark 56 Records (M) 789]
22. 78/Columbia 50039 (Columbia Light Opera Company)
23. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
24. 78/Vocalion SA-60012 (Gladys Moncrieff and Frank Titterton)
25. 45/Golden Crest CD-102 (Jack Zimmerman)
26. Rio Rita/The Great Waltz, World (S) S-7056 (Neil Williams and Rosalind Keene with orchestra conducted by Geoff Harvey)
27. Rio Rita/A Connecticut Yankee, RCA Victor (M) LK-1026 (Earl Wrightson and The Guild Choristers with Al Goodman and His Orchestra)
28. Florenz Ziegfeld And The Ziegfeld Follies, Mark 56 Records (M) 737 (Chorus)
29. Show Stoppers From The Twenties, Pye (M) PLP 1022 (Edmund Hockridge with orchestra conducted by Alyn Ainsworth and Peter Knight)
30. Stage Left – Stage Right, Columbia (M) CL 1662 (orchestra conducted by Jack Pleis)
31. The Fantastic Sound Of Kai Warner, CD/Polydor 5322803 (Kai Warner)
32. Never Been Blue 1922-42, CD/Transatlantic Radio 21 (Ted Fiorito and His Orchestra)
33. Strictly Ballroom, CD/Marble Arch MACCD 143 (Victor Silvester)


River Song:

1. 78/Vocalion TA-8001 (Gladys Moncrieff) [reissued on Gladys Moncrieff, Vol. 1: The Golden Years, CD/ABC Music 842-737]


The Shadow Song (M/L: Giacomo Meyerbeer) (used in the 1942 film version; originally written for DINORAH):

I have not attempted to compile anything other than original film cast recordings of this number.
1. Make Believe, Azel AZ 101 (Kathryn Grayson)


Most Unusual Weather (aka “It’s Such Unusual Weather”) (M: Harold Arlen; L: E.Y. Harburg) (not used; written for the 1942 film version):

1. Harold Arlen And Vernon Duke Revisited Vol. II, Painted Smiles PS-1373 (Blossom Dearie and Arthur Siegel) [reissued as CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-127]


Sweetheart, We Need Each Other (written for the 1929 film version):

1. 78/Perfect 15224 (Ted Bancroft with La Palina Broadcasters)
2. 78/Diva 3068 G (Lester Cortes with Jerome Conrad and His Orchestra)
3. 78/Gramophone B 5729 (Burt Lorin with Ben Pollack and His Park Central Orchestra) [also 78/Victor 22101; reissued on Ben Pollack Vol. 3, 1929, CD/Jazz Oracle BDW 8017]
4. 78/Cameo 108 (Buddy Blue with Fred Rich and His Orchestra) [also 78//Oriole 1760]
5. 78/Brunswick 4567 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
6. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
7. The Indispensable 1928-1957, CD/RCA 66606 (Jack Teagarden)


Sweethearts:

1. 78/Vocalion TA-8001 (Gladys Moncrieff) [reissued on Gladys Moncrieff, Vol. 1: The Golden Years, CD/ABC Music 842-737]


You’re Always In My Arms (But Only In My Dreams) (written for the 1929 film version):

1. 78/Columbia DB 115 (Edith Day with the Prince Edward Theatre Orchestra conducted by John Heuvel) [reissued on Lilac Time/Rio Rita/A Southern Maid, CD/Pearl GEMM CD 9115]
2. 78/Gramophone B 3211 (Bebe Daniels with orchestra directed by Victor Baravalli) [also 78/Victor 22132; reissued on Star Spangled Rhythm, CD/Smithsonian RD 111]
3. 78/Diva 3068 G (Lester Cortes with Jerome Conrad and His Orchestra)
4. 78/Gramophone B 5729 (Burt Lorin with Ben Pollack and His Park Central Orchestra) [also 78/Victor 22101; reissued on Ben Pollack Vol. 3, 1929, CD/Jazz Oracle BDW 8017]
5. 78/Brunswick 4567 (Regent Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
6. 78/Van Dyke 71798 (Savoy Dance Orchestra)
7. 78/Oriole 1785 (Buddy Blue with Adrain Schubert’s Salon Orchestra)
8. 78/Brunswick 20094 (Colonial Club Orchestra with vocal chorus)
9. 78/Columbia 01818 (Gladys Moncrieff) [reissued on Gladys Moncrieff, Vol. 1: The Golden Years, CD/ABC Music 842-737]
10. Rio Rita/The Great Waltz, World (S) S-7056 (Neil Williams and Rosalind Keene with orchestra conducted by Geoff Harvey)
11. Rio Rita/A Connecticut Yankee, RCA Victor (M) LK-1026 (Earl Wrightson and Elaine Malbin with Al Goodman and His Orchestra)

Unrecorded Material:

Are You There?
The Best Little Lover In Town
Black And White (ballet)
Brazilian Dance (M/L: Nilo M. Barnet) (used in the 1942 film version)
The Charro Dance
Come Take A Trip (in the London vocal score only)
A Couple Of Caballeros (M: Harold Arlen; L: E.Y. Harburg) (not used; written for the 1942 film version)
Eight Little Gringitos (dance)
Finale (Act 1)
Finale (Act 2)
Grampomix (M: Traditional; L: Albert Mannheimer) (used in the 1942 film version)
I Can Speak Espagnol
Introduction To The Rangers’ Song (M: Herbert Stothart; L: Bob Wright; Chet Forrest) (written for the 1942 film version)
Jazz Toe Dance
The Jingle Dance
The Johnnies (dance)
The Jumping Bean
Long Before You Came Along (M: Harold Arlen; L: E.Y. Harburg) (written for the 1942 film version)
Moonlight Ballet
Moonshine
Opening Dance
Oro O Congo (M/L: Lacerda) (used in the 1942 film version)
The Pirates (Yo Ho And A Bottle Of Rum)
Siesta Time (In San Lucar)
The Spanish Shawl
The Tambourine Dance
Wedding Scene (in the London vocal score only)