TONIGHT AT 8:30

TONIGHT AT 8:30

Composer: Noel Coward
Lyricist: Noel Coward

Opened: January 9, 1936, Phoenix Theatre, London; November 24, 1936, National Theatre, N.Y.C.
Performances: 157 (London); 118 (N.Y.C.)

Note: "Tonight At 8:30" was the collective title to nine one-act Coward plays performed in three separate programs. Four of the plays (FAMILY ALBUM, RED PEPPERS, SHADOW PLAY, and WE WERE DANCING) featured one or more songs.

FAMILY ALBUM

Hearts And Flowers:

1. 78/HMV C2817 (Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence and Company with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36192; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
2. Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward, Atlantic (S) SD 2-607 (Bobby Short, piano and voice, with Beverly Peer, bass ) [reissued as CD/Collectables COL-CD-6769]

Drinking Song (Here's A Toast):

Princes And Princesses

Note: Unspecified material also appears on:
1. 78/HMV BD5019 (Sam Browne with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
2. 78/Victor 25437 (New Mayfair Dance Orchestra)

RED PEPPERS

Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?:

1. 78/HMV C2815 (Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36193; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
2. Cowardy Custard, RCA (S) LSO-6010 (Anna Sharkey and Geoffrey Burridge) [reissued as CD/Masterworks Broadway 88883 72394 2]
3. Star!, Fox 11009 (Julie Andrews and Daniel Massey) [reissued as CD/Fox 11009-2]
4. If Love Were All, CD/Varese Sarabande 302 066 083-2 (Twiggy and Harry Groener with musical direction by Tom Fay)
5. Noel Coward and Ivor Novello: Glamorous Nights, CD/Reader's Digest 245-0007 (Patricia Hodge and Lewis Flander with William Blezard, piano)
6. Noel And Gertie, CD/JAY CDJAY 1249 (Lewis Fiander and Patricia Hodge with musical direction by William Blezard)

Men About Town:

1. 78/HMV C2815 (Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36193; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
2. Cowardy Custard, RCA (S) LSO-6010 (Geoffrey Burridge, Tudor Davies, and Peter Gale) [reissued as CD/Masterworks Broadway 88883 72394 2]
3. If Love Were All, CD/Varese Sarabande 302 066 083-2 (Twiggy and Harry Groener with musical direction by Tom Fay)
4. Noel And Gertie, CD/JAY CDJAY 1249 (Patricia Hodge and Lewis Fiander with musical direction by William Blezard)

SHADOW PLAY

Play, Orchestra, Play!:

1. 78/HMV BD-5019 (Sam Browne with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
2. 78/HMV C2816 (Noel Coward and Getrude Lawrence with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36191; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
3. 78/HMV rejected take (Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
4. 78/Brunswick 7798 (Clark Ross with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra)
5. 78/Victor 25438 (Roy Fox and His Orchestra)
6. 78/Columbia DB-3078 (Noel Coward with the Café de Paris Orchestra conducted by Syd Simone with Norman Hackforth at the piano) [reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
7. The Songwriters (Vol. 1), BBC (M) REB 325 (Avril Angers, Richard Denning, Peter Gale, Angela Richards, Marti Webb, Sheila White, and Aubrey Woods with music direction by Ken Moule)
8. Volume 1 (1931-1936), JJA (M) 1980-1 (Larry Stewart with Leo Reisman and his Orchestra)
9. Conversation Piece, Proscenium (M) CD 4003 (Dick Hyman, piano)
10. Cowardy Custard, RCA (S) LSO-6010 (Olivia Breeze, Geoffrey Burridge, Jonathan Cecil, Tudor Davies, Elaine Delmar, Laurel Ford, Peter Gale, John Moffat, Patricia Routledge, Anna Sharkey, Una Stubbs, and Derek Waring) [reissued as CD/Masterworks Broadway 88883 72394 2]
11. Noel/Cole "Let's Do It!," CD/Silva Screen SONGCD 910 (David Kernan, Liz Robertson, and Louise Gold with Jason Carr and Paul Bateman, pianos, Steve McManus, bass, and Richard Cole, drums)
12. Noel And Gertie, CD/JAY CDJAY 1249 (Patricia Hodge and Lewis Fiander with musical direction by William Blezard)
13. Barbara Lea And Keith Ingham Are Mad About The Boy: The Songs Of Noel Coward, CD/Challenge CHR 70073 (Barbara Lea with Keith Ingham, piano, and rhythm accompaniment)
14. Noel Coward At Las Vegas, CD/DRG 19037 (Noel Coward with Peter Matz, piano, and Carlton Davis and His Orchestra)
15. An English Songbook, CD/Chiaroscuro 377 (John Bunch)
16. The Dance Bands Play Noel Coward, CD/Pearl Flapper 9758 (Carroll Gibbons)
17. Together With Music, CD/DRG CDXP1103 (Mary Martin and Noel Coward with musical direction by Tutti Camarata)
18. A Talent To Amuse, CD/Silva Treasury SILVAD 3009 (Peter Greenwell)

Then:

1. 78/HMV rejected take (Sam Browne with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
2. 78/HMV C2816 (Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36191; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
3. 78/HMV rejected take (Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
4. Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward, Atlantic (S) SD 2-607 (Bobby Short, piano and voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and Richard Sheridan, drums) [reissued as CD/Collectables COL-CD-6769]

You Were There:

1. 78/HMV BD-5019 (Sam Browne with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
2. 78/HMV C2816 (Noel Coward and Getrude Lawrence with the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood) [also 78/Victor 36191; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
3. 78/HMV BD5019 (Phoenix Theatre Orchestra conducted by Clifford Greenwood)
4. 78/Victor 25437 (New Mayfair Dance Orchestra)
5. 78/Brunswick 7798 (Clark Ross with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra) [reissued on Volume 1 (1931-1936), JJA (M) 1980-1]
6. 78/Liberty Music Shop L 242 (Emile Petti and His Savoy-Plaza Orchestra) [reissued on The Melody Of Broadway, AEI (M) 1154]
7. 78/Columbia DB-3078 (Noel Coward with the Café de Paris Orchestra conducted by Syd Simone with Norman Hackforth at the piano) [reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
8. Conversation Piece, Proscenium (M) CD 4003 (Dick Hyman, piano)
9. Noel Coward Revisited, Painted Smiles PS-1355 (Laurence Harvey with music direction by Norman Paris) [reissued as CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-110]
10. Cowardy Custard, RCA (S) LSO-6010 (Patricia Routledge and Derek Waring) [reissued as CD/Masterworks Broadway 88883 72394 2]
11. Noel Coward In New York, Columbia ML 5163 (Noel Coward with orchestra direction and piano accompaniment by Peter Matz) [reissued as CD/DRG 19038]
12. Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward, Atlantic (S) SD 2-607 (Bobby Short, piano and voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and Richard Sheridan, drums) [reissued as CD/Collectables COL-CD-6769]
13. If Love Were All, CD/Varese Sarabande 302 066 083-2 (Twiggy and Harry Groener with musical direction by Tom Fay)
14. Noel And Gertie, CD/JAY CDJAY 1249 (Lewis Fiander and Patricia Hodge with musical direction by William Blezard)
15. Bitter Sweet/A Cavalcade Of Coward, CD/EMI Classics For Pleasure 3 35956 2 (June Bronhill with Brian Fahey & His Orchestra)
16. Noel Coward Songs: A Room With A View, CD/Newport Classic NPD 85647 (Richard Conrad with William Merrill, piano)
17. Barbara Lea And Keith Ingham Are Mad About The Boy: The Songs Of Noel Coward, CD/Challenge CHR 70073 (Barbara Lea with Keith Ingham, piano, and rhythm accompaniment)
18. You Are There, CD/Audiophile Records 299 (Irene Kral)
19. Mad About The Boy, CD/Castle Pulse PBXCD 367 (Carroll Gibbons)
20. Christine Ebersole Sings Noel Coward, CD/Ghostlight 83310 (Christine Ebersole with Lawrence Yurman, piano)
21. Bright Young People: The Songs Of Noel Coward, CD/Writers' Theatre (John Sanders with Doug Peck, piano)
22. A Changing World, CD/Reynolds Ensemble REYNOLDSCD02 (Simon Green with David Shrubsole, piano)
23. A Talent To Amuse, CD/Must Close Saturday Records MCSR 3048 (Susan Hampshire and Denis Quilley with musical direction by Grant Hossack)
24. An Evening With Sheridan Morley & Michael Law, CD/Piccadilly Dance Orchestra PICCD 101 (Michael Law, piano and voice)
25. Live At The Algonquin, CD/Stolen Moments SMCD 1939 (Steve Ross, piano and voice)
A radio transcription performed by the Nathaniel Shilkret Orchestra is also known to exist.

WE WERE DANCING

We Were Dancing:

1. 78/HMV B8414 (Noel Coward) [also 78/Victor 25439; reissued on The Master's Voice: Noel Coward, CD/Angel CDP 7 54919 2]
2. 78/Capitol 57-555 (Georges Tzipine)
3. Songs Of Noel Coward, 10"/Capitol (M) H161 (Georges Tzipine and his Concert Orchestra)
4. Conversation Piece, Proscenium (M) CD 4003 (Dick Hyman, piano)
5. Noel Coward In New York, Columbia ML 5163 (Noel Coward with orchestra direction and piano accompaniment by Peter Matz) [reissued as CD/DRG 19038]
6. Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward, Atlantic (S) SD 2-607 (Bobby Short, piano and voice, with Beverly Peer, bass, and Richard Sheridan, drums) [reissued as CD/Collectables COL-CD-6769]
7. Noel And Gertie, CD/JAY CDJAY 1249 (Patricia Hodge and Lewis Fiander with musical direction by William Blezard)
8. Noel & Cole: Together With Music, CD/Oakton ORCD1001 (Valerie Anastasio with Tim Harbold, piano)
9. Just Around The Corner, CD/Two E Music TEM001 (Elaine St. George)
A radio transcription performed by the Nathaniel Shilkret Orchestra is also known to exist.