SHOW GIRL (1929)
Composer: George
Gershwin
Lyricists: Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn
Opened: July 2, 1929, Ziegfeld Theatre, N.Y.C.
Performances: 111
An American In Paris Blues Ballet (inst.):
I have not attempted compile a discography for symphonic recordings of Gershwin's "An American In Paris." Recordings of the "Blues" portion of the piece (upon which the ballet appears to have been based) are listed below under the entry for "Home Blues." The 1950 film AN AMERICAN IN PARIS also contained "An American In Paris Ballet," although I suspect it is similar only with respect to its source material and certainly employed a different orchestration. For a recording of that ballet, see:
1. An American In Paris,
MGM (M) E-93 (M-G-M Studio Orchestra conducted by Johnny Green)
[reissued on CD/Rhino Movie Music R2 71961]
Because They All Love You (M: J.
Little; L: T. Malie) (not in programs):
1. 78/Brunswick 2803 (Nick
Lucas, guitar and vocal)
2. 78/Globe 1260 (University Dance Orchestra) [also 78/Amco
1260]
3. 78/Lincoln 2278 (Lincoln Dance Orchestra)
4. 78/Everybodys 1032 (Chic Winter and His Orchestra)
5. 78/Cameo 627 (Bob Haring and His Orchestra)
6. 78/Edison 51439 (George Wilton Ballard with Kaplan's
Melodists)
7. 78/Oriole 316 (Oriole Dance Orchestra)
8. 78/Banner 1460 (Hollywood Dance Orchestra)
9. 78/Victor 19497 (Barney Rapp and His Orchestra)
10. 78/Columbia 242 D (Leo F. Reisman and His Orchestra)
11. 78/Victor 19598 (Franklyn Baur with orchestra)
12. 45/Cardinal 1007 (Don Roth Trio)
13. Club Durant, Decca (M) DL-9049 (Jimmy Durante with Lou
Clayton and Eddie Jackson with orchestra directed by Roy Bargy)
[also Those Wonderful Thirties, Decca (M) DEA 7-2]
14. Those Fabulous Gennetts, Vol. 1: 1923-1925, CD/Timeless 63
(Chubb-Steinberg Orchestra)
Broadway My Street (M: Jimmy Durante;
L: Sidney Skolsky)::
1. September Song,
CD/Natasha Imports 4026 (Jimmy Durante)
Do What You Do!:
1. 78/Columbia 1903 D
(Smith Ballew with the Ipana Troubadours directed by S.C. Lanin)
[reissued on From Gershwin's Time, CD/Sony Classical MH2K 60648]
2. 78/Brunswick 4476 (Zelma O'Neal with Al Goodman and His
Orchestra) [reissued on The Song Is…George Gershwin, CD/ASV
Living Era CD AJA 5048]
3. 78/Brunswick 4479 (Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra with
vocal chorus) [reissued on 1925-1932, CD/Jazz Oracle 8013]
4. 78/Victor 22069 (Leo Reisman and His Orchestra)
5. 78/Edison 52640 (J. Donald Parker with B.A. Rolfe and His
Lucky Strike Dance Orchestra) [reissued on Mark 56 Records (M)
800]
6. The Gershwin Years, Decca (M) DXZ 160 (Lynn Roberts with
orchestra conducted by George Bassman)
7. Bobby Short Is K-ra-zy For Gershwin, Atlantic (S) SD2-608
(Bobby Short, piano and voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and
Richard Sheridan, drums) [reissued as CD/Atlantic 608-2]
8. Mitzi, Verve (S) MG VS-6014 (Mitzi Gaynor with orchestra
conducted by Pete King) [reissued as CD/Universal/Verve 2660]
9. The Glory Of Gershwin, CD/Mercury 522 727-2 (Chris De Burgh)
10. George & Ira Gershwin: A Musical Celebration, CD/MCA
MCAD2-10865 (Mariette Hartley with the S.T.A.G.E. Orchestra
conducted by Ron Abel)
11. We Like A Gershwin Tune, Monmouth-Evergreen MES 7061 (Travis
Hudson with Ronny Whyte, piano, Alan Cary, banjo, Lisle
Atkinson, bass, and Al Harewood, drums) [reissued on
CD/Audiophile ACD-54]
12. Embraceable You: Jane Rutter Plays The Gershwin Songbook,
CD/ABC Classics 4766964 (Jane Rutter, flute, with the Adelaide
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sean O'Boyle)
13. Crazy For Gershwin, CD/Memoir (unknown performer)
14. You're The Cats, CD/Audiophile 252 (Barbara Lea and the
Legendary Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band)
Feeling Sentimental (cut):
1. Bobby Short Is K-ra-zy
For Gershwin, Atlantic (S) SD2-608 (Bobby Short, piano and
voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and Richard Sheridan, drums)
[reissued as CD/Atlantic 608-2]
2. George Gershwin Revisited, MGM E-4375 (Elaine Stritch with
musical direction by Norman Paris) [reissued as CD/Painted
Smiles PSCD-101]
Home Blues (music for refrain used as
part of "An American In Paris"; music for verse is missing):
1. For You, For Me,
CD/Angel CD/EMI 31553 (Bruce Hubbard and the Orchestra of St.
Luke's conducted by Dennis Russell Davies)
2. Voices of Concord Jazz: Live at Montreux, CD/Concord Jazz
2246 (Patti Austin with the WDR Big Band)
3. George Gershwin 100, CD/Concord Jazz 4797 (Matt Catingub and
Michael Feinstein)
4. The Essential George Gershwin, CD/Sony Classical/Legacy J2K
89913 (Michael Feinstein, piano and vocal)
5. Browns In Blue, CD/RCA Red Seal 17052 (The 5 Browns)
See also:
1. 45/Mercury 5756-X45
(Jerry Murad's Harmonicats) (as "Blues From An American In
Paris")
2. 45/Top Rank International RA-2031 (The Knightsbridge Strings)
(as "Blues From An American In Paris)
3. 45/Victor 47-4247 (Ralph Flanagan and His Orchestra) (as "The
Blues From An American In Paris) [reissued as Big Band Sounds Of
Ralph Flanagan, CD/Collectors' Choice Music 49]
4. Sound Of The Italian Saxophone Quartet, CD/Delos 3333 (The
Italian Saxophone Quartet) (as "An American In Paris - Blues")
5. That's My Band, CD/MDL (Thilo Wolf Big Band) (as "Blues: An
American In Paris")
6. Famous Composers: George Gershwin/Lerner & Loewe,
CD/Compose 9003 (London Philharmonic Orchestra) (as "Blues Theme
From American In Paris")
7. Moonlight Serenade, CD/Verve 1709291 (Kurt Edelhagen) (as
"Blues Aus 'Ein Amerikaner In Paris")
8. Fine And Dandy, CD/Montpellier 15 (The Kurt Edelhagen
Orchestra) (as "Blues (from An American In Paris)")
9. In Person/The Hi-Fi Sounds Of Harry James, CD/Avid 918 (Harry
James) (as "Blues From 'An American In Paris'")
I Can Do Without Broadway (M/L: Jimmy
Durante):
1. 78/Columbia 1860 D
(Clayton, Jackson & Durante) [also 78/Columbia DB 153;
7"/Columbia 4-PE 3; reissued on The Great Stars of Vaudeville,
CD/Sony Music Special Products A 01509]
2. Club Durant, Decca (M) DL-9049 (Jimmy Durante with Lou
Clayton and Eddie Jackson with orchestra directed by Roy Bargy)
[also Those Wonderful Thirties, Decca (M) DEA 7-2]
3. Show Biz: From Vaude To Video, RCA Victor (M) LOC-1011 (Jimmy
Durante)
4. Here It Is! : Sincerely Yours, Jim, Don, Bill & Dick,
CAS/Ster-Art Recording SY001 (Jim Bush, Don Derr, Dick
Carptenter, and Bill Ilsey, Barbershop Quartet)
5. Jimmy Durante: The Ultimate Collection, CD/Prism PLATCD 430
(Jimmy Durante with Eddie Cantor and Arthur Treacher)
6. Durante: Patron Of The Arts, CD/Viper's Nest VN-151 (Jimmy
Durante)
I Just Looked At You (not used; music
of refrain originally intended for "Lady Of The Moon" in
EAST IS WEST/MING TOY and later used for "Blah, Blah, Blah"
in the film DELICIOUS).
For recordings of "Blah, Blah, Blah," see:
1. George And Ira Gershwin
Specials, 78/General 4013 (George Byron with Bobby Tucker,
piano)
2. Rediscovering Gershwin, 10"/Desto (M) D 502 (George Byron
with piano accompaniment by Dick Hyman)
3. Lyrics By Ira Gershwin, Walden (M) 300 (David Craig with
David Baker and John Morris, pianos) [reissued as CD/Harbinger
HCD 2502]
4. Riot In Rhythm, RCA Victor (S) LSP-2002 (Henri Rene and his
Orchestra)
5. Georgie Brown Loves Gershwin, London LL 3331 (Georgia Brown
with the Mike Sammes Singers and orchestra conducted by Ian
Fraser) [reissued on Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown,
CD/Dutton Vocalion 4171]
6. Fun Life, Atlantic (S) SD-8048 (Diahann Carroll with
orchestra conducted by Peter Matz) [reissued as CD/Collectables
6192]
7. Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song,
Atlantic 601 (Chris Connor with orchestra conducted by Ralph
Burns) [reissued as CD/WEA/Warner 251645]
8. Bistro Ballads, RCA X (M) NL-46043 (Audrey Morris, piano and
voice, with Johnny Rate, bass, and Charles Walton, cymbals)
[reissued as CD/Cloud 9 74407]
9. Broadway Ditties, 45EP/Capitol EBF-517 (Dorothy Shay with
orchestra conducted by Billy May) [reissued on Here's Dorothy
Shay, CD/Sepia 1078]
10. Snowbound, Roulette (S) SR-52091 (Sarah Vaughan with
orchestra conducted by Don Costa) [reissued on Snowbound/The
Lonely Hours, CD/EMI 855394]
11. Blue Monday-Piano Improvisations-Delicious, CD/Ermitage ERM
167S-2 (El Brendel and Manya Roberti) [soundtrack rendition also
appears on George Gershwin, CD/Documents 223491-321/J]
12. My One And Only , CD/Altantic 7 80110-2 (Tommy Tune with
orchestra conducted by Jack Lee)
13. George Gershwin Songs 1919-1949, Vol. 1, CD/Walden II (Jack
Brent, piano)
14. American Dreamer: Heart Songs, CD/Troy 319 (Jean Danton with
Thomas Stumpf, piano)
15. Everything I Love, CD/Blue Note 20827 (Elaine Elias, piano
and voice, with rhythm accompaniment)
16. Gershwin, CD/Metronome 1060 (Nicola Hodges, piano)
17. Not A Care In The World, CD/Arbors 19169 (Rebecca Kilgore
with Dave Frishberg, piano)
18. Classical Cabaret, CD/Rosa Lamoreaux no number (Rosa
Lamoreaux)
19. Biding My Time, CD/Vivid Sound 097 (John Miller, guitar and
voice)
20. Marni Nixon Sings Gershwin, CD/Reference RR-19CD (Marni
Nixon with Lincoln Mayorga, piano)
21. Solo Flight, CD/Stash 573 (Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar)
22. Solos And Duets, CD/Jazz Classics JZCL-5007 (Bucky &
John Pizzazelli)
23. Delishious, CD/Original Cast 9523 (Benjamin Sears with
Bradford Connor, piano)
24. Delishious, CD/Original Cast 9523 (Benjamin Sears and
Bradford Connor with Bradford Connor, piano) (Russian version)
25. Blah Blah Blah And Other Trifles, CD/Hyperion 66289 (Sarah
Walker with Roger Vignoles)
26. Ladies Sing Gershwin, CD/Blue Moon 99907 (Jerri Winters)
27. George And Ira Gershwin: A Musical Celebration, CD/MCA
MCAD2-10865 (Christine Ebersole with orchestra conducted by Ron
Abel)
28. The Men In My Life, CD/RCA Victor 09026-62647-2 (Marilyn
Horne with the American Theatre Orchestra conducted by Paul
Gemignani)
29. Tell Me The Truth About Love, CD/ASV CDWHL 2124 (Mary
Carewe)
30. American Rhapsody, CD/Jessisaraly Music JSD-001 (KT Sullivan
and Mark Nadler with Mark Nadler, piano)
31. The Me Nobody Knows: A Tribute To New York, CD/RCA Victor
74321 957552 (H.R.H. Princess Christina of The Netherlands with
Nico van der Linden, piano, and the Netherlands Promenade
Orchestra conducted by Jurre Haanstra)
32. Nice Work If You Can Get It, CD/Shout! Factory 826663-13740
(Chris Sullivan and Robyn Hunter with orchestra conducted by Tom
Murray)
I Must Be Home By Twelve O'Clock:
1. Bobby Short Is K-ra-zy
For Gershwin, Atlantic (S) SD2-608 (Bobby Short, piano and
voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and Richard Sheridan, drums)
[reissued as CD/Atlantic 608-2]
2. We Like A Gershwin Tune, Monmouth-Evergreen MES 7061 (Ronny
Whyte and Travis Hudson with Ronny Whyte, piano, Alan Cary,
banjo, Lisle Atkinson, bass, and Al Harewood, drums) [reissued
as CD/Audiophile ACD-54]
3. William Bolcom, Joan Morris, Max Morath & Robert White
Sing Gus Kahn, CD/Original Cast 051809-13 (William Bolcom, Joan
Morris, Max Morath, and Robert White)
Jimmy The Well Dressed Man (M/L: Jimmy
Durante):
1. 78/Decca 23568 (Jimmy
Durante with Eddie Jackson and Orchestra directed by Roy Bargy)
[also Jimmy Durante, 78/Decca album 442; reissued on Inka Dinka
Doo, CD/MCA MCAD-20338]
2. Club Durant, Decca (M) DL-9049 (Jimmy Durante with Lou
Clayton and Eddie Jackson with orchestra directed by Roy Bargy)
[also Those Wonderful Thirties, Decca (M) DEA 7-2]
3. Show Biz: From Vaude To Video, RCA Victor (M) LOC-1011 (Jimmy
Durante)
4. Jimmy Durante: The Ultimate Collection, CD/Prism PLATCD 430
(Jimmy Durante with Bing Crosby) (as "Crosby The Well-Dressed
Man")
Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away):
1. No attempt has been
made to compile discological information for this Gershwin
standard.
Mississippi Dry (M: Vincent Youmans; L: J. Russel
Robinson) (added after opening):
1. The Indispensable Duke
Ellington, Vol. 1-2 (1927-1929), CD/RCA 74321226192 (Duke
Ellington)
My Sunday Fella:
1. The Lost Gershwin,
CD/Specific Jazz 011 (Victoria Hart)
So Are You!:
1. George Gershwin Songs,
Vol. 1, CD/Walden II Records 94981-2 (Jack Brent, piano)
So I Ups To Him (M/L: Jimmy Durante):
1. 78/Columbia 1860 D
(Clayton, Jackson & Durante) [also 78/Columbia DB 153]
2. 78/Decca 23567 (Jimmy Durante and Eddie Jackson with
orchestra conducted by Roy Bargy) [also 78/Decca album 442;
reissued on Inka Dinka Doo, CD/MCA MCAD-20338]
3. Club Durant, Decca (M) DL-9049 (Jimmy Durante with Lou
Clayton and Eddie Jackson with orchestra directed by Roy Bargy)
[also Those Wonderful Thirties, Decca (M) DEA 7-2]
4. Show Biz: From Vaude To Video, RCA Victor (M) LOC-1011 (Jimmy
Durante)
5. A Night with Stars Hosted by Bob Hope: The 1945 "Command
Performance," CD/Jasmine 607 (Jimmy Durante) [also Bob Hope's
Christmas Party, CD/VintageJazz Classic VJC-1031-2]
Somebody Stole My Heart Away (not
used):
1. Nice Work If You Can
Get It, CD/Atlantic 82833-2 (Michael Feinstein, piano and voice,
with orchestra conducted by Mort Lindsey)
Tonight's The Night (not used; later
used in CRAZY FOR YOU):
1. Crazy For You, CD/Angel
CDC 7 54618-2 (Company with orchestra directed by Paul
Gemignani)
2. Crazy For You, CD/RCA Victor 09026-61993-2 (Company with
orchestra directed by Jae Alexander)
3. Crazy For You, CD/Universal Stage Music 986 903-0 (Girls
& Cowboys with orchestra conducted by Rene Op den Camp)
4. Crazy For You, CD/Pony Canyon PCCH-00068 (Japanese cast)
5. The Lost Gershwin, CD/Specific Jazz 011 (Victoria Hart)
Who Will Be With You When I'm Far
Away (M/L: W.H. Farrell) (not in programs):
1. 78/Decca 23567 (Jimmy
Durante with orchestra conducted by Roy Bargy) [also 78/Decca
album 442; reissued on Inka Dinka Doo, CD/MCA MCAD-20338]
2. Club Durante, Decca 9049 (Jimmy Durante and Ethel Barrymore)
3. Here It Is! : Sincerely Yours, Jim, Don, Bill & Dick,
CAS/Ster-Art Recording SY001 (Jim Bush, Don Derr, Dick
Carptenter, and Bill Ilsey, Barbershop Quartet)
4. Radio Stars Of America, CD/ASV/Living Era 5591 (Jimmy
Durante)
Unrecorded Numbers:
Adored One (not used)
African Daises (dance?)
At Mrs. Simpkin's Finishing School (not used)
Black And White
Bye Bye For Baby (M: Joseph Meyer; L: Irving Caesar) (ASCAP
only)
Casanova, Romeo, And Don Juan (not used; no music survives)
Finaletto, Act 1, Scene 1
Follow The Minstrel Band (cut after opening)
Happy Birthday
Harlem Serenade
Home Lovin' Gal (not used; no music survives)
Home Lovin' Man (not used; no music survives)
How Could I Forget? (cut as a separate number, although
apparently included in "Finaletto, Act I, Scene 1")
I'm Just A Bundle Of Sunshine (not used; no music survives)
I'm Out For No Good Reason Tonight (not used; no music survives)
Lolita, My Love (cut after opening)
Magnolia Finale (possibly cut prior to opening)
Minstrel Show (not used; no music survives)
One Man Someone's Always Calling A Rehearsal (not used; no music
survives)
Spain (M/L: ?) (cut after opening) [Note: There is a song
entitled "Spain" by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones, but it is not
known if this is the song used in this song.]
Stage Door Scene (consists largely of musical reprises with new
lyrics and probably not used)