120827bk Kern 8/7/05 4:12 PM Page 8 The Naxos Historical labels aim to make available the greatest recordings of the history of recorded music, in the best and truest sound that contemporary technology can provide. To achieve this aim, Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings. Also available from Naxos Nostalgia … 8.120586 8.120627 8.120664 8.120718 8.120721 8.120781 These titles are not for retail sale in the USA 8 8.120827 120827bk Kern 8/7/05 4:11 PM Page 2 11. I Won’t Dance 2:56 16. The Last Time I Saw Paris 3:12 ‘THE SONG IS YOU’ (Jerome Kern–Dorothy Fields) (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein) From Roberta, film Hildegarde, with Harry Sosnik’s Orchestra; Songs of JEROME KERN Fred Astaire with Ginger Rogers and RKO Hildegarde at the piano Original 1925–1945 Recordings Studio Orchestra; Max Steiner, musical Decca 23183, mx 68256-A director Recorded 16 October 1940, New York RKO Radio Preview, 1935 17. Dearly Beloved 2:36 The world-renowned creator of stage-music, way into the score of the 1905 Ivan Caryll 12. A Fine Romance 3:03 (Jerome Kern–Johnny Mercer) film scores and time-honoured melodies that Broadway musical The Earl And The Girl and (Jerome Kern–Dorothy Fields) From You were Never Lovelier rank among the treasures of popular music by 1912, the year of his own first Broadway From Swing Time Fred Astaire with John Scott Trotter’s culture, Jerome David Kern was born in New production The Red Petticoat, he had already Bing Crosby & Dixie Lee Crosby; orchestra Orchestra York on 27 January 1885. His youthful talent penned around 100 songs, most with a conducted by Victor Young Decca 18491, mx L 3139-A was fostered by his mother (who taught him forward-looking ragtime feel, tailored for shows Decca 907, mx DLA 588-A Recorded 26 July 1942, Los Angeles piano) and at seventeen, having enrolled at the by other writers. The Girl From Utah (1914) Recorded 19 August 1936, Los Angeles 18. Long Ago (And Far Away) 2:54 New York College of Music, he was steeped in delighted audiences on both sides of the 13. The Way You Look Tonight 3:07 (Jerome Kern–Ira Gershwin) the classical idiom and had already written his Atlantic and although Paul Rubens and Sydney (Jerome Kern–Dorothy Fields) From Cover Girl first songs. In 1902, during the first of many Jones were its accredited composers, its score From Swing Time Jo Stafford with Paul Weston’s Orchestra Fred Astaire with Johnny Green’s Orchestra, Capitol 153, mx 190-2 visits to England, he contributed extra material was dominated by Kern’s own contributions. Johnny Green at the piano Recorded 21 January 1944, Hollywood to Leslie Stuart’s show The Silver Slipper and After an average Broadway run of 120 Brunswick 7717, mx LA 1134-A for the next few years (despite his father’s performances it was imported to the UK and 19. All Through The Day 3:14 Recorded 26 July 1936, Los Angeles (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein II) insistence that he should help him run the contained, among other numbers, the oft- 14. The Folks Who Live On The Hill 2:56 From Centennial Summer family’s New York furniture showroom) revived hit They Didn’t Believe Me (words by (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein II) Perry Como; orchestra conducted by followed his instincts and opted for music P. Herbert Reynolds), sung here by its creator, From High, Wide and Handsome Russ Case instead. Returning to New York in 1904, he Julia Sanderson, alias Mrs. Frank Crumit. Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra; Ozzie Nelson Victor 20-1814, mx D5-VB-990-1 worked as a pianist and song-plugger in Tin Pan In December 1915 his next London show & Harriet Hilliard, vocals Recorded 18 December 1945, New York Alley (in this capacity, on occasions, he played Very Good Eddie opened at the Princess Bluebird B 7050, mx BS 010595-1 20. Ol’ Man River 4:03 for various leading entertainers of the day) and Theatre. With libretto by the English-born Recorded 17 June 1937, New York (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein II) also as an editor, principally for Charles American Guy Bolton (1884-1979) its first night 15. All The Things You Are 2:16 From Show Boat Frohman’s organisation. was favourably reviewed by the English (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein) Frank Sinatra; orchestra conducted by Kern quickly became a familiar figure in novelist and man-of-letters P.G. Wodehouse From Very Warm for May Axel Stordahl Tony Martin; orchestra conducted by Columbia 55037, mx XCO 33934-1 theatrical circles in both New York and (1881-1975). At once, the three men began a Eugene Hayes; Jerome Kern at the piano Recorded 3 December 1944, New York London, where he wrote additional material for Broadway and London partnership which ASCAP Cavalcade of Music Concert, shows and often doubled as a repetiteur. His lasted, intermittently, until 1924 and, by 24 September 1940, San Francisco Transfers & Production: David Lennick own first hit, “How’d You Like To Spoon With updating the stale traditional forms of musical Digital Restoration: Graham Newton Me?” (written with Edward Laska) found its comedy, laid the foundations of the modern 2 8.120827 8.120827 7 120827bk Kern 8/7/05 4:11 PM Page 6 1. Who? 3:18 6. She Didn’t Say Yes 3:05 musical. Their contributions to the Emmerich benchmark Sunny. With book and lyrics by (Jerome Kern–Otto Harbach–Oscar (Jerome Kern–Otto Harbach) Kálmán operettas Miss Springtime (1916) and Otto Harbach (1873-1963) and Oscar Hammerstein II) From The Cat and the Fiddle The Riviera Girl (1917) and other minor Hammerstein II (1895-1960), this ran for 517 From Sunny Leo Reisman & His Orchestra; Frank Luther, George Olsen & His Music, with vocal trio vocal Broadway shows were followed by Oh Boy performances at the New York Amsterdam Victor 19840, mx BVE 33856-3 Victor 22869, mx BS 70939-3 (1917). Revived as Oh, Joy (1919) this later ran from September 1925. Its cast included Clifton Recorded 6 November 1925, New York Recorded 24 December 1931, New York at the Princess for over a year and presented the Webb, Cliff ‘Ukelele Ike’ Edwards and George 2. They Didn’t Believe Me 3:15 7. The Song Is You 3:22 world with one lasting hit, “Till The Clouds Roll Olsen and his orchestra, who had a six-week (Jerome Kern–Herbert Reynolds) (Jerome Kern–Oscar Hammerstein II) By”, a song which in 1946 was chosen as the US No.1 hit with their commercial recording From The Girl From Utah From Music in the Air title for the MGM biopic starring Robert Walker for Victor of Who? Julia Sanderson; orchestra conducted by Frank Sinatra; orchestra conducted by which featured 22 best-known Kern songs. Kern’s Broadway career continued with Harry Sosnik Axel Stordahl Prolific and durable, by the early 1920s The City Chap (1925) and Criss Cross (1926), Decca 18157, mx 69051-A Bluebird B 11515, mx PBS 072044-1 Kern already ranked among the most but his biggest coup came in 1927 with his Recorded 25 April 1941, New York Recorded 19 January 1942, Hollywood internationally respected of Broadway masterpiece Show Boat. Based on the 1926 3. Bill 3:22 8. Yesterdays 3:17 composers. In 1920 he scored The Night Boat, novel by Edna Ferber and with book and lyrics (Jerome Kern–P.G.Wodehouse–Oscar (Jerome Kern–Otto Harbach) Hitchy Koo Of 1920 and, most notably (with by Hammerstein and a cast that included Helen Hammerstein II) From Roberta book by Bolton and lyrics by Clifford Grey and Morgan as Julie and Jules Bledsoe as Joe (the From Show Boat Artie Shaw & His Orchestra Helen Morgan; orchestra conducted by Bluebird B 10001, mx BS 027231-1 the New York-born Buddy G. De Sylva 1895- part later so associated with Paul Robeson) this Victor Arden Recorded 27 September 1938, New York 1950) Sally – with an initial Broadway much-acclaimed musical has remained a firm production of 570 performances and a favourite.* After 572 performances at the Chevrolet Musical Moments Program 427, 9. Lovely To Look At 3:30 World Program Service mx BB 15352A (Jerome Kern–Dorothy Fields) significant London run of 387 a year later, it Ziegfeld Theatre, it toured for ten months Recorded 1938, New York From Roberta, film was filmed in 1929. The show’s most lasting before opening at Drury Lane, London, in 1928. 4. Look For The Silver Lining 3:11 Irene Dunne; orchestra conducted by song, Look For The Silver Lining would later Frequently resurrected (lately on Broadway in (Jerome Kern–Buddy deSylva) Nat Shilkret prove almost a Kern anthem (it was revived in the 1994 Howard Prince revival which won From Sally Brunswick 7420, mx B 17248-1 1942, by Jessie Matthews (1907-1981), in a five Tony Awards) it was filmed three times, Jessie Matthews; orchestra conducted by Recorded 4 April 1935, New York London revision by Frank Eyton and Richard most recently by MGM in 1951, with Kathryn Debroy Somers 10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 1:28 Hearne, re-christened Wild Rose). Grayson and Howard Keel. Its score boasts Columbia DB 2094, mx CA 19057-1 (Jerome Kern–Otto Harbach) Recorded 15 September 1942, London The firmly established Kern wrote many two undisputed Jerome Kern mega-hits: Ol’ From Roberta other (now forgotten) shows including, in Man River and the poignant Bill, sung here by 5.