VERY GOOD EDDIE
Composer: Jerome
Kern
Lyricists: Schuyler Greene; Herbert Reynolds
Opened: December 23, 1915, Princess Theatre, N.Y.C.,
transferred on May 29, 1915 to the Casino Theatre, transferred
on September 11, 1916 to the 39th Street Theatre, and moved on
October 2, 1916 back to the Princess Theatre.
Performances: 341
Alone At Last (L: Herbert Reynolds) (cut):
1. 45/Columbia 4-41127
(Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon with Ralph Sharon and His
Orchestra)
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Dennis
Eagle and Lynn Bishop with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
Babes In The Wood (L: Schuyler Greene;
Jerome Kern):
1. 78/Vic 35529 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/Decca 40018 (Irene Dunne with Victor Young and His
Orchestra) [reissued on Musical Ladies & The Music Of Jerome
Kern, CD/Encore's Box Office ENBO-CD #4/92]
3. Gems From Jerome Kern Musical Shows, 78/Vic 12" album C-31
[78/Victor 12413] (Victor Light Opera Company with Dorothy
Chapman, Marie Louise Quevli, Felix Knight, Alan Holt and
orchestra conducted by Leonard Joy) [reissued on The Music Of
Jerome Kern, Camden (M) CAL 243]
4. 78/Victor 18172 (Anna Howard and Harry Macdonough with
orchestra)
5. 78/Edison 50344 (Jaudas' Society Orchestra)
6. 45/Victor 47-4564 (Al Goodman and His Orchestra) [also
45/Victor WP 346]
7. 45/Victor 47-3807 (Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra and Chorus)
8. Keith Ingham Plays The Music Of Jerome Kern, World (S) WRS
1003 (Keith Ingham)
9. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Virginia Seidel and Charles
Repole with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as
CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
10. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Mitch
Gillett and Lynn Bishiop with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
11. Jerome Kern Treasury, CD/Angel CDC 7 54883 2 (Hugh Panaro
and Rebecca Luker with the London Sinfonietta conducted by John
McGlinn)
12. More Candy, CD/Rialto 6003 (Paragon Ragtime Orchestra)
13. Irene Dunne Sings Kern And Other Rarities, CD/Sepia 1171
(Irene Dunne with studio orchestra)
14. Irene Dunne Sings Kern And Other Rarities, CD/Sepia 1171
(Irene Dunne with Victor Young and His Orchestra) (alternate
take)
A radio transcription performed by the Norman Cloutier Orchestra
is also known to exist.
Buffo Dance (inst.):
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
Bungalow In Quogue (L: P.G.
Wodehouse) (added to the 1975 revival) (from THE RIVERIA
GIRL):
1. 78/Edison 80381
(Rachael Grant and Billy Murray with orchestra) [reissued on
Theater Lyrics Of P.G. Wodehouse, CDr/Folkways F-RF601]
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Virginia Seidel and Nicholas
Wyman with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as
CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
3. Silver Linings: Songs By Jerome Kern, CD/Arabesque Z6515
(Joan Morris with William Bolcom, piano)
Dance Trio (inst.):
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
Finale Act I:
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (The Ensemble with Adam Aceto
and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Finale:
1. 78/Vic 35529 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Company with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
3. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Ensemble
with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Good Night Boat (L: Anne Caldwell)
(added to the 1975 revival; originally used in THE NIGHT
BOAT):
1. 78/Vic 35702 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/Victor 18661 (Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra)
3. 78/Puritan 11013 (Newport Society Orchestra)
4. 78/Columbia A 6148 (Yerkes Jazzarimba Orchestra) [reissued on
Ragtime to Jazz, Vol. 2: 1916-1922, CD/Timeless 1045]
5. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Company with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
6. Keith Ingham Plays The Music Of Jerome Kern, World (S) WRS
1003 (Keith Ingham)
Honeymoon Inn (L: P.G. Wodehouse)
(added to the 1975 revival) (from HAVE A HEART):
1. 78/Vic 35624 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Cynthia Wells and Company with
orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG
6100]
3. Have A Heart, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CHH04P-2C (Suzanne Galer
and Chorus with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Hot Dog! (L: Anne Caldwell) (added to
the 1975 revival; cut from THE BUNCH AND JUDY SHOW):
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (Company with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler)
[reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
I'd Like To Have A Million In The Bank
(aka "I Wish I Had A Million") (L: Herbert Reynolds):
1. 78/Victor 35528 (Victor
Military Band)
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Tom Petiet
and Girls with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
I've Got To Dance (L: Schuyler Greene) (cut):
1. Keith Ingham Plays The
Music Of Jerome Kern, World (S) WRS 1003 (Keith Ingham)
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Hal Shane, vocal and banjo,
with Company and orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued
as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
3. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Milena
Grubor and Girls with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
If I Find The Girl (L: John E. Hazzard;
Herbert Reynolds):
1. 78/Vic 35529 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/Victor 35528 (Victor Military Band)
3. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Michael
Parr and Chorus with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Note: Although this song was not performed in the 1975 revival,
the music does appear in the third section of the show's
overture.
If I Find The Girl (reprise) (L: John
E. Hazzard; Herbert Reynolds):
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Michael Parr and Tom Petiet
with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
If You're A Friend Of Mine (L: Harry
Graham) (added to the 1975 revival; originally used in LADY
MARY):
1. 78/Columbia 9418
(London Theatre Orchestra conducted by Charles Prentice)
2. 78/Columbia 9420 (Helen Gilliland and Chorus with the London
Theatre Orchestra conducted by Charles Prentice) [reissued on
British Musical Comedies By American Composers (1912-35), JJA
(M) 19794]
3. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Virginia Seidel and Charles
Repole with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as
CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
Intermezzo:
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
Isn't It Great To Be Married (L:
Schuyler Greene) (same music as "Can't You See I Mean You"
from 90 IN THE SHADE and "All That I Want Is Somebody To
Love Me" from 90 IN THE SHADE):
1. 78/Victor 35528 (Victor
Military Band)
2. 78/HMV C-765 (Light Opera Company with orchestra conducted by
George Ison) (as "All That I Want Is Somebody To Love Me")
3. Gems From Jerome Kern Musical Shows, 78/Vic 12" album C-31
[78/Victor 12413] (Victor Light Opera Company with Dorothy
Chapman, Marie Louise Quevli, Felix Knight, Alan Holt and
orchestra conducted by Leonard Joy) [reissued on The Music Of
Jerome Kern, Camden (M) CAL 243]
4. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Virginia Seidel, Spring
Fairbank, Charles Repole, and Nicholas Wyman with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
5. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Mitch
Gillett, Kim Dolanski, Dennis Eagle, and Kristin Walukas with
Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
6. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanksi and Michael Parr with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos) (as "Can't You See I Mean You")
7. Musicals Lost And Found Broadway Sampler: 1915, CD/Operetta
Archives OA 1040 (Emily Hagens, Ryan Reithmeier, Todd Strange,
and Elyse Willis with Adam Aceto and Jan Roper, pianos)
Katy-Did (L: Harry B. Smith) (added to
the 1975 revival; originally used in OH, I SAY!; chorus
later used with new lyrics for "Every Day In Every Way" in
THE BUNCH AND JUDY SHOW):
1. 78/Victor 35363 (Victor
Light Opera Company) (two renditions) [reissued on Broadway
Through The Gramophone - Volume II, CD/Pearl GEMS 0083]
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Travis Hudson with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
3. Jerome Kern Revisited Vol. III, Painted Smiles PS-1379
(Arthur Siegel and Chorus) (as "Every Day In Every Way")
[reissued as CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-134]
Left All Alone Again Blues (L: Anne
Caldwell) (added to the 1975 revival; originally used in
THE NIGHT BOAT):
1. 78/Vic 35702 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/Emerson 10163 (Plantation Jazz Orchestra)
3. 78/Columbia A 2939 (Marion Harris with orchestra
accompaniment) [reissued on Look For The Silver Lining,
CD/Living Era 5330]
4. 78/Victor 18661 (Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra)
5. 78/Puritan 11013 (Newport Society Orchestra)
6. 78/Columbia A 6148 (Yerkes Jazzarimba Orchestra) [reissued on
Ragtime to Jazz, Vol. 2: 1916-1922, CD/Timeless 1045]
7. The Music Of Jerome Kern, Camden (M) CAL 243 (Victor Light
Opera Company conducted by Leonard Joy)
8. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Virginia Seidel with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
9. Keith Ingham Plays The Music Of Jerome Kern, World (S) WRS
1003 (Keith Ingham)
10. Jerome Kern Revisited, Vol. IV, Painted Smiles PS 1380
(Armelia McQueen) [reissued on Jerome Kern Revisited, Vol. III,
CD/Painted Smiles PS-134]
11. Gershwin . . . From Tin Pan Alley To Broadway, Mark 56
Records (M) 680 (George Gershwin, piano) [reissued on George
Gershwin Plays Gershwin and Kern, CD/Klavier 122]
12. The Girl I Knew: The Music Of Novello & Kern,
CD/Harbinger HCD- 1501 (Lorna Dallas with musical direction by
Christopher Denny)
13. Jerome Kern Collection, CD/Silva Screen 3006 (Eric Parkin,
piano)
14. Lowe Stokes, Vol. 1: 1927-1930, CD/Documents 8045 (Lowe
Stokes) (unverified)
Moon Of Love (L: Anne Caldwell; Glen MacDonough) (added to
the 1975 revival; originally used in HITCHY-KOO OF 1920):
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (Travis Hudson and Company with orchestra directed by
Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
Nodding Roses (L: Schuyler Greene;
Herbert Reynolds):
1. Very Good Eddie,
CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim Dolanski and Michael Parr
with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Old Bill Baker (Undertaker) (L: Ring
Lardner) (added after opening; originally written for
ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1915):
1. 78/Victor 18125 (M.J.
O'Connell with orchestra)
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Greg
Wakefield with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Old Boy Neutral (That's Me, I Love Them
All) (L: Schuyler Greene) (same music as "A Little Love"
from MISS INFORMATION):
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (Cynthia Wells and David Christmas with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanski and Michael Parr with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
3. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanski with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos) (as "A
Little Love")
On The Shore At Le Lei Wi (M: Henry
Kailimai; Jerome Kern; L: Herbert Reynolds) (adaptation of
"Sands Of Wah-ki-ki used in MISS INFORMATION):
1. 78/Vic 35529 (Victor
Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/Columbia A 1966 (Grace Kerns and Reed Miller with
orchestra)
3. Gems From Jerome Kern Musical Shows, 78/Vic 12" album C-31
[78/Victor 12413] (Victor Light Opera Company with Dorothy
Chapman, Marie Louise Quevli, Felix Knight, Alan Holt and
orchestra conducted by Leonard Joy) [reissued on The Music Of
Jerome Kern, Camden (M) CAL 243]
4. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanski, Michael Parr, and Chorus with Adam Aceto and Patrick
Johnson, pianos)
5. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanski and Michael Parr with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos) (as "Sand Of Wah-ki-ki")
6. The Earliest Black String Bands, Vol.1: Dan Kildare,
CD/Document 5622 (Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra)
Overture:
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as
CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Adam Aceto
and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
The Same Old Game:
1. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild
CVE05P-2C (Michael Parr and Chorus with Adam Aceto and
Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Some Sort Of Somebody (All The Time) (L: Elsie Janis) (originally used in MISS INFORMATION and featured in VANITY FAIR):
1. 78/HMV C767 (Palace
Orchestra conducted by Herman Finck)
2. 78/HMV 04190 (Regine Flory and Nelson Keys) [also 78/HMV
D423; reissued on Jerome Kern In London 1914-23, World (M)
SHB-34]
3. 78/HMV B788 (Palace Orchestra conducted by Herman Finck)
4. 78/Victor 17992 (Edna Brown and Billy Murray with orchestra)
5. 78/Victor 35533 (Victor Military Band)
6. 78/HMV C791 (Light Opera Company with Peter Dawson, Bessie
Jones, Violet Oppenshaw, Ernest Pike and orchestra conducted by
George W. Byng)
7. 78/Vic 35529 (Victor Light Opera Company) [reissued on
Broadway Through The Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
8. Gems From Jerome Kern Musical Shows, 78/Vic 12" album C-31
[78/Victor 12413] (Victor Light Opera Company with Dorothy
Chapman, Marie Louise Quevli, Felix Knight, Alan Holt and
orchestra conducted by Leonard Joy) [reissued on The Music Of
Jerome Kern, Camden (M) CAL 243]
9. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Cynthia Wells and David
Christmas with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as
CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
10. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Kim
Dolanski and Michael Parr with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson,
pianos)
11. Jerome Kern Revisited, Columbia (S) OS-2840 (Nancy Andrews
and Harold Lang) [reissued as CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-113]
12. The Earliest Black String Bands, Vol.1: Dan Kildare,
CD/Document 5622 (Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra)
The Triangle (scene) (L: Guy Bolton)
(originally used in 90 IN THE SHADE and published in the
score but may not have been in the actual production):
1. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Suzanne Galer and Tom Petiet with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
We're On Our Way (L: Schuyler Greene):
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (Company with orchestra directed by Lynn Crigler)
[reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Milena
Grubor and Chorus with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Wedding Bells Are Calling Me (L: Harry
B. Smith) (originally used in NOBODY HOME):
1. 78/Vic 35529
(Victor Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The
Gramophone - Vol. III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. Very Good Eddie, DRG (S) 6100 (Company with orchestra
directed by Lynn Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
3. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Mitch
Gillett, Lynn Bishop, and Chorus with Adam Aceto and Patrick
Johnson, pianos)
When You Wear A 13 Collar (L: Schuyler Greene):
1. Very Good Eddie, DRG
(S) 6100 (Charles Repole with orchestra directed by Lynn
Crigler) [reissued as CD/DRG CDRG 6100]
2. Very Good Eddie, CDr/Comic Opera Guild CVE05P-2C (Mitch
Gillett with Adam Aceto and Patrick Johnson, pianos)
Unrecorded Material:
Alone With You (aka "All
Alone") (M: Cole Porter; L: Melville Gideon) (added to the
London production)
The Fashion Show (presumed lost)
Heads Up (cut)
Oceans Of Love (cut)