WATCH YOUR STEP
Composer: Irving
Berlin
Lyricist: Irving Berlin
Opened: December 8, 1914, New Amsterdam Theatre, N.Y.C.;
May 4, 1915, Empire Theatre, London
Performances: 175 (N.Y.C.); 275 (London)
Note: An unidentified medley appears on 78/Little Wonder 158 (unidentified orchestra).
Around The Town (aka “Let’s Go ‘Round The Town” and “Let’s Go Around The Town”):
1. 78/HMV C610 (Light
Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone –
Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/HMV
C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch
Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
3. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with
musical direction by Mark Hartman)
4. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Patrick Wang, Brett
Conner, Bradford Connor, Benjamin Sears, Mary Ann Lanier, and
Brent Reno with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Chatter Chatter (aka “Chatter Chorus”):
1. 78/HMV B622 (Joseph
Coyne and George Graves with the Empire Theatre Orchestra
conducted by Jacques Heuvel) (as “Conversation (Extemperaneous
Repartee)”) [reissued on Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Ensemble with
Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Come To The Land Of The Argentine
(cut):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Rebecca Spencer with musical
direction by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Andrew Alexander with
Margaret Ulmer, piano)
3. Chip Deffaa’s An Irving Berlin Travelogue, CD/Garrett
Mountain CDP AD 0604 (Ellis Gage with musical direction by
Richard Danley) (two renditions)
The Dancing Teacher (aka “I’m A
Dancing Teacher Now” and “Since I Became A Dancing
Teacher”):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Julian Brightman with musical
direction by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Brent Reno with
Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Entr’acte (Act II):
1. Watch Your Step,
CDr/American Classics (Margaret Ulmer and Bradford Conner,
pianos)
Entr’acte (Act III):
1. Watch Your Step,
CDr/American Classics (Margaret Ulmer and Bradford Conner,
pianos)
He’s A Ragpicker (not used;
subsequently used in 5064
GERRARD):
Note: Although I have
found no evidence to suggest that this song was written for this
show, Ben Bagley’s liner notes for Irving Berlin Revisited
state that it was “removed” from the score for “some
inexplicable reason.”
1. CYL/Edison Amberol 2513 (Peerless Quartet)
2. CYL/U.S. Everlasting (Peerless Quartet
3. 78/Victor 17655 (Peerless Quartet)
4. 78/Columbia A-1628 (Peerless Quartet)
5. 78/Parlophone F-338 (Harry Roy and His Orchestra)
6. 78/Decca F5435 (Embassy Rhythm Eight)
7. 78/Zonophone 1528 (unknown band)
8. 78/Columbia 2553 (Jack Morrison)
9. 78/HMV B289 (Mayfair Orchestra conducted by C.B. Yearsley)
(as “She’s A Ragpicker”)
10. The Phonographic Yearbook 1915: They’d Sooner Sleep On
Thistles, CD/Archeophone 9011 (Peerless Quaret) (likely the
Victor version)
11. Irving Berlin Revisited, CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-118 (Arthur
Siegel)
12. The Complete Sets, CD/Retrieval Recordings RTR 79051 (Danny
Polo and His Swing Stars)
13. Alexander's Ragtime Band,
CD/Screen Archives Entertainment SAE-CSR-0007 (orchestra
conducted by Alfred Newman)
Homeward Bound (added after
opening and for the subsequent tour):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Ensemble with musical direction
by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Ensemble with
Margaret Ulmer, piano)
3. Chip Deffaa’s An Irving Berlin Travelogue, CD/Garrett
Mountain CDP AD 0604 (Seth Sikes with musical direction by
Richard Danley)
I Hate You (cut):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Alison Walla and Daniel Frank
Kelley with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American
Classics (Mary Ann Lanier and Brent Reno with Margaret Ulmer,
piano)
3. Chip Deffaa's Irving Berlin Songbook: Rare And Unrecorded
Songs, CD/Garret Mountain Records GMRD CDP 0729 (Emily Bordonaro
and Giuseppe Bausillio with musical direction by Richard Danley)
4. Gay Love, CD/Garret Mountain Records CDP ES0804 (Seth Sikes
and Clark Kinkade with musical direction by Richard Danley)
I Love To Have The Boys Around Me:
1. 78/Columbia 549
(Gertrude Lang with orchestral accompaniment) [reissued on Watch
Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
2. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra)
[also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch Your Step,
CD/Palaeophonics 111]
3. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Rebecca
Spencer with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
4. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Valerie
Anastasio and Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
5. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Paragon
Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick Benjamin)
Lead Me To Love (M: Ted Snyder) (added
after opening and used in the subsequent tour):
1. 78/HMV C610 (Light
Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway Through The Gramophone –
Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
2. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra)
[also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch Your Step,
CD/Palaeophonics 111]
3. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Alison Walla
and Daniel Frank Kelley with Company with musical direction by
Mark Hartman)
4. Irving Berlin Revisited, CD/Painted Smiles PSCD-118 (Sandy
Stewart and Arthur Siegel)
Lock Me In Your Harem And Throw Away The Key (cut):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (David Sabella with musical
direction by Mark Hartman)
Look At Them Doing It (Look At ‘Em
Doing It; also known as Finale Act III):
This is a reprise of “The
Syncopated Walk” with new lyrics. See entry below.
Metropolitan Nights:
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with musical direction
by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Ensemble with
Margaret Ulmer, piano)
The Minstrel Parade:
1. 78/HMV C611 (Ethel
Levey with Joseph Coyne, drums, and the Empire Theatre Orchestra
conducted by Jacques Heuvel) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving
Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/Victor 17783 (Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harlan with
orchestra)
3. 78/Zonophone 1499 (The
Peerless Orchestra) [also 78/Zonophone X-40871; reissued
on Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics
111]
4. 78/HMV
C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra) [also 78/HMV
2-0537; reissued on Watch Your Step,
CD/Palaeophonics 111]
5. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Roberta Gilbert
and Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
6. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Paragon
Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick Benjamin)
Move Over (cut after opening):
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Jennifer Miller, Julian
Brightman, and Ensemble with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Patrick Wang, Brett
Conner, Bradford Conner, and Benjamin Sears with Margaret Ulmer,
piano)
3. Come On And Hear!: Early Songs By Irving Berlin 1909-1915,
CD/Oakton ORCD0001 (Benjamin Sears with Bradford Conner, piano)
My Bird Of Paradise (added for the
London production; also used in SAMPLES
and DID YOU EVER?):
1. 78/HMV C612 (Ethel
Levey with the Empire Theatre Orchestra conducted by
Jacques Heuvel) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving Berlin
Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/Victor 17770 (Peerless Quartet with orchestra)
[reissued on The Phonographic Yearbook 1915: They’d Sooner
Sleep On Thistles, CD/Archeophone 9011]
3. 78/Victor 21424 (Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra) [reissued on
An Irving Berlin Showcase, CD/Flapper PAST CD 9733]
4. 78/HMV C649 (Mayfair Orchestra
conducted by Arthur Crudge)
5. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009
(Honolulu Girls with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
6. Rara Avis (CD/Hat Hut HATO 523 (Clusone Trio)
7. An Hour With…, CD/Hatology HATO 554 (Clusone Trio)
(part of medley)
8. Irving Berlin Revisited: Rare Songs Of Love, Loss, And
Revenge, CD/Garret Mountain Records CDP 0928 (Jenn Spottz
with musical direction by Richard Danley)
Office Hours (Opening Chorus; aka “Typewriter Song” and
“Entrance Of Relatives”):
1. Watch Your Step,
CDr/American Classics (Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Old Operas In A New Way (Ragtime Opera
Medley):
1. 78/Columbia 550
(Columbia Revue Company)
2. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with
musical direction by Mark Hartman)
3. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Principals and
Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
4. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Bernadette
Boerckel, Heather Hill, Daniel Marcus, Thomas Carle, and Edward
Pleasant with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick
Benjamin) ("as Finale To Act II (“Opera Melody”)")
Overture:
1. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with musical direction
by Mark Hartman)
2. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Margaret Ulmer and
Bradford Connor, pianos)
Play A Simple Melody (Simple Melody)/Musical Demon:
I have not attempted to
compile discographical information for this Berlin standard
beyond cast member performances.
1. 78/HMV C611 (Ethel Levey and Blanche Tomlin with the Empire
Theatre Orchestra conducted by Jacques Heuvel) [reissued on The
Ultimate Irving Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with
musical direction by Mark Hartman)
3. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Company with
musical direction by Mark Hartman) (encore)
4. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Mary Ann Lanier, Eric
Bronner, Roberta Gilbert, and Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer,
piano)
Polka:
1. Watch Your Step,
CDr/American Classics (Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Settle Down In A One-Horse Town:
1. 78/HMV C612 (Ethel
Levey with the Empire Theatre Orchestra conducted by Jacques
Heuvel) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving Berlin Volume I,
CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/Oxford 37168 (Unknown band)
3. 78/Victor 35432-B (Victor Military
Band) [reissued on Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
4. 78/HMV
C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch
Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
5. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (David
Sabella and Rebecca Spencer with musical direction by Mark
Hartman)
6. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Valerie Anastasio and
Eric Bronner with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
7. Ian Whitcomb’s Ragtime America, CD/ITW ITW-009 (Ian Whitcomb)
8. Come On And Hear!: Early Songs By Irving Berlin 1909-1915,
CD/Oakton ORCD0001 (Bradford Conner, piano)
9. Irving Berlin & Co., CD/Garrett Mountain Records GMRD CDP
715 (Michael Townsend Wright and Casie Pepe-Winshell with music
direction by Richard Danley)
10. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Paragon
Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick Benjamin)
11. Irving Berlin Revisited: Rare Songs Of Love, Loss, And
Revenge, CD/Garret Mountain Records CDP 0928 (John Brady and
Amanda Andrews with musical direction by Richard Danley)
Show Us How To Do The Fox-Trot:
1. 78/HMV C624 (Billie
Carlton and George Graves with the Empire Theatre Orchestra
conducted by Jacques Heuvel) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving
Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/HMV C610 (Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway
Through The Gramophone – Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS 0084]
3. 78/HMV C-406
(Mayfair Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch Your
Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
4. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Jennifer
Miller and Ensemble with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
5. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Roberta Gilbert and
Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
6. Teasin’, CD/Helicon
Records HE-1001 (Julianne Baird)
Stay Down Here Where You Belong
(intended for but not used in show):
1. 78/Little Wonder
(unknown baritone) (unverified)
2. Brooks Kerr Salutes Irving Berlin,
Bluewail (S) BWLP 1002 (Brooks Kerr, piano and vocals, Sonny
Greer, drums)
3. God Bless Tiny Tim: The Complete Reprise Recordings, CD/Rhino
7866 (Tiny Tim)
4. Henry Burr Anthology: The Original King Of Pop,
CD/Archeophone ARCH 5502 (Henry Burr)
5 . An Evening With Groucho, CD/A&M 6010 (Groucho Marx)
The Story Of The Gazeka (M/L: George
Graves):
1. 78/Edison Bell 6819 (George
Graves) [reissued on Watch Your
Step, CD/Palaeophonics
111]
The Syncopated Walk (subsequently used with a new lyric as "Look At Them Doing It" in
the London production of STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!):
1. 78/HMV C610 (Joseph
Coyne, Ethel Levey, and Blanche Tomlin with the Empire Theatre
Orchestra conducted by Jacques Heuvel) [reissued on The Ultimate
Irving Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/HMV C691 (Light Opera Company with
orchestra conducted by Arthur Crudge) [reissued on The Young
Irving Berlin, World (M) SH 275]
3. 78/Columbia A-5632 (Prince’s Orchestra)
4. 78/Zonophone
1499 (The Peerless Orchestra) [also 78/Zonophone X-40871;
reissued on Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
5. 78/Victor 35432-B (Victor
Military Band) [reissued on Watch Your
Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
6. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair Orchestra) (two
renditions) [also
78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch Your Step,
CD/Palaeophonics 111]
7. The Young Irving Berlin, World (M) SH 275 (The
Light Opera Company conducted by A. Wood) (as
“Look At Them Doing It”)
8. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast
OC-6009 (Ensemble with musical direction by Mark
Hartman)
9. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics
(Principals and Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
10. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Ensemble
with Margaret Ulmer, piano) (reprise)
11. Irving Berlin’s Ragtime Revue, CD/Chip Deffaa
Productions CDP 330 (Emily Bordonaro, Michael
Kasper, Jonah Barricklo, and Missy Drier with
musical direction by Richard Danley)
12. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2
(Paragon Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick
Benjamin)
13. Chip Deffaa’s Irving Berlin: Ragtime Rarities,
CD/Garret Mountain Records CDP MJ 0314 (Matthew
Nardozzi and Emily Bordonaro with musical direction
by Richard Danley)
(I’ve Gotta Go Back To)
Texas (added for the national tour):
1.
78/Columbia A-1944 (Charles King and Elizabeth
Brice with orchestra directed by Charles A.
Price) [reissued on Music From The New York
Stage Vol. 3: 1913-1917, CD/Pearl GEMM CDS
9056-8]
2. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast
OC-6009 (Lownesome Cowboys with musical
direction by Mark Hartman)
3. Chip Deffaa’s An Irving Berlin Travelogue,
CD/Garrett Mountain CDP AD 0604 (Seth Sikes
with musical direction by Richard Danley)
They (Always) Follow Me Around:
1. 78/HMV
B536 (Joseph Coyne with the Empire Theatre
Orchestra conducted by Jacques Heuvel) [reissued
on The Ultimate Irving Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl
GEM 0116]
2. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009
(David Sabella with musical direction by Mark
Hartman)
3. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Eric
Bronner and Girls with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
Watch Your Step (added
after opening):
1. 78/HMV
C610 (Light Opera Company) [reissued on Broadway
Through The Gramophone – Volume III, CD/Pearl GEMS
0084]
2. 78/Victor 35432 (Victor Military Band)
3. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair
Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch
Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
4. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009
(Company with musical direction by Mark Hartman)
What Is Love? (cut after
opening but reinstated for the national tour):
1. CYL/Edison B.A. 2628 (Elizabeth Spencer
and Chorus) [reissued on Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics
111]
2. 78/HMV B571 (Bessie Jones (as Aimee Maxwell) with
orchestra conducted by Henry Gibson)
3. 78/Columbia 548
(Dorothy Russell with orchestra) [also 78/Columbia 6503; reissued on Watch
Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
4. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair
Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on
Watch Your Step, CD/Palaeophonics 111]
5. Watch Your Step,
CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (Alison Walla with musical
direction by Mark Hartman)
6. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Mary Ann Lanier and
Ensemble with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
7. Top Hat, CD/First Night CASTCD115 (Kay Murphy and
Female Ensemble with orchestra directed by Dan Jackson)
8. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Paragon
Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick Benjamin)
When I Discovered You (M/L: Irving
Berlin; E. Ray Goetz):
1.
78/HMV B536 (Ethel Levey and Joseph Coyne with the
Empire Theatre Orchestra conducted by Jacques Heuvel)
(as “Discoveries”) [reissued on The Ultimate Irving
Berlin Volume I, CD/Pearl GEM 0116]
2. 78/HMV C-406 (Mayfair
Orchestra) [also 78/HMV 2-0537; reissued on Watch Your Step,
CD/Palaeophonics 111]
3. Watch Your Step, CD/Original Cast OC-6009 (David
Sabella and Rebecca Spencer with musical direction by Mark
Hartman)
4. Watch Your Step, CDr/American Classics (Valerie Anastasio and
Eric Bronner with Margaret Ulmer, piano)
5. This Is The Life!, CD/New World Records 80773-2 (Paragon
Ragtime Orchestra directed by Rick Benjamin)
6. Irving Berlin Revisited: Rare Songs Of Love, Loss, And
Revenge, CD/Garret Mountain Records CDP 0928 (Matthew Nardozzi
and Emily Bordonaro with musical direction by Richard
Danley)
When It’s Nighttime In Dixieland (cut):
1. The Road We’ve
Traveled, CD/Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus (Kalamazoo Barbershop
Chorus) (unverified)
Unrecorded Material:
Caruso Song (unused; no
music survives)
Evening Exercise (unused; no music survives)
Husbands - Wives - Sweethearts (unused)
I’m Getting Strong For You (unused)
I’m Going Back To The Farm (added after opening then cut)
I’m Sober (M/L: Unknown) (added for the national tour)
If They Were All Like You (unused)
There’s A Fire Burning Down In My Heart (Put It Out - Put It Out
- Put It Out) (unused)
There’s A Girl On My Mind (unused)
They’re Dancing Teachers (unused; no music survives)
Watch Your Step (early version; cut)
When I Get Back To My Hometown (unused)
When I’m In Love (unused)