Irving Berlin fans-what are your favorite lesser known gems?

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 3:26pm

I'm exploring the musicality of Irving Berlin, and thrilled listening to brilliantly crafted songs from his many stage and movie musicals that are beyond the standards  we are all familiar with like:

Cheek to Cheek        
Blue Skies        
White Christmas 
Puttin' On the Ritz  
Steppin' Out With My Baby 
They Say It's Wonderful        
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm       
I Got the Sun In the Morning     
Moonshine Lullaby        
God Bless America    
Anything You Can Do    
Let's Face the Music and Dance     
Heat Wave        
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails        
There's No Business Like Show Business       
Alexander's Ragtime Band 
Always           
No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)

Easter Parade  

 

Please share your Irving Berlin gems not on this list and why you love them so we can all better enjoy and appreciate this founding father of musical theatre!
 

Updated On: 11/1/16 at 03:26 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 3:47pm

The score to Miss Liberty has a lot of nice songs. They certainly surpass anything being written today. "Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" is a highlight.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 7:38pm

hi aftereight

i had never heard of miss liberty and it has some really great songs and the OBC with Eddie Albert is decent quality for that era- i like little fish in the big pond and fallin out of love can be fun....

[Harriet Craig]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 7:58pm

I'm not sure if a song that got an Oscar nomination as best song qualifies as lesser-known, but one of my favorite Berlin songs, which you don't often hear performed, is "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song", from the movie, Blue Skies.

 

Two more favorites, both from Louisiana Purchase, are "You're Lonely and I'm Lonely" and "It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow" (or "Tomorrow Is a Lovely Day"; I've seen the title written both ways).

 

 

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 8:40pm

I love "Moonshine Lullaby", but I wouldn't call it a standard. It wasn't even included on the original cast album. Admittedly, OBC albums were loose affairs in 1947, but apparently nobody even thought it was a hit. I've never heard it performed outside the show, though I'm sure somebody has done so.

A song that WAS included on that album, but isn't a standard either, is "Who Do You Love I Hope". I've always liked it.

 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 8:58pm

Does Mr. Monotony count?

As well as Judy's, I love the versions by Kim Criswell and Frances Ruffelle.

[persephone88]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 9:47pm

Happy Holidays

Sisters (from White Christmas)

I Love A Piano

Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 9:50pm

GavestonPS-youre correct to point out moonshine lullaby is not a berlin "classic" and in fact its one of the nuggets that are lesser known that im counting on our discerning board members to share

Moonshine has felt like a classic to me ever since Audra McDonald sang it to me (and about 1000 other people)  from about 10 feet away (sigh)

Who do you love i hope is a fun song, and one I never paid much attn to until you named it

thank you very much!

Any other berlin that you truly love?

 

[yfs]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 11:58pm

Two masterworks that don't get heard enough are "I Used to Be Color Blind" and "Isn't This a Lovely Day to Be Caught in the Rain." Perfect songs, sung by Astaire. Enjoy them! 

 

 

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 12:18am

"The Secret Service Makes Me Nervous" 

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 12:40am

Empty Pockets Filled With Love, also from Mr. President.  Is The Melody Lingers On considered a classic?  It should be. 

[Pit Monger]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 3:22am

Sinatra recorded nice versions of "Be Careful it's my Heart" and "Change Partners"(as a bossa nova)

"Let Yourself Go"

Sarah Vaughn recorded the waltz "All Alone" in an easy swing version.

 

[itsshowtime2]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 4:00am

Louisiana Purchase is one of my favorite Berlin scores.  Other than the 2 mentioned above, I like:

The Lord Done Fixed Up My Soul

Outside of That I Love You

What Chance Have I With Love

Louisiana Purchase

You Can't Brush Me Off

Wild About You

Latins Know How

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 8:17am

My favorite Berlin song of all time is, and likely always will be, "What'll I Do." So beautiful and sad- and I even love the way Bea Arthur sang it in an episode of The Golden Girls.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 8:24am

I adore Ebersole's "What'll I do". Knocks me out every time.  

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 9:59am

 

"Sadie Salome Go Home"--written for Fanny Brice and here sung by the indomitable Dorothy Loudon (audio only):

http://fscottivers.tumblr.com/post/90124536889/dorothy-loudon-sings-irvin-berlins-sadie-salome


Sadie Cohen left her happy home
To become an actress lady.
On the stage she soon became the rage
As "The Only Real Salomy Baby."

When she came to town, her sweetheart Mose
Brought for her around a pretty rose
But he got an awful fright
When his Sadie came to sight
He stood up and yelled with all his might:

Refrain:
"Don't do that dance, I tell you Sadie!
That's not a bus'ness for a lady!
'Most ev'rybody knows
That I'm your loving Mose--
Oy, Oy, Oy, Oy,
Vere is your clothes?

You better go and get your dresses.
Ev'ryone's got the op'ra glesses!
Oy! such a sad disgrace!
No one looks in your face!
Sadie Salome, go home!"

From the crowd Moses yelled out loud,
"Who put in your head such notions?
You look sweet, but jiggle with your feet--
Who put in your back such funny motions?
As a singer, you was always fine!
Sing to me, 'Because the World Is Mine."
Then the crowd began to roar
Sadie did a new encore.
Mose got mad and yelled at her once more:

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 11:07am

hey pal joey 

I knew youd have a gem in your irving berlin pocket! Nice photo too at the bottom-pretty risque for those times

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 12:41pm

Mildred, Ebersole's rendition is the one I have on my iPad.

For some reason, Fred Astaire singing "Drum Crazy" in Easter Parade becomes an earworm.

"You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" was my jam, post-City Center concert last year.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 12:50pm

You're Just in Love is an old favorite -- I liked the way Donald O'Connor and Ethel Merman sang it in Call Me Madam, especially since it let O'Connor show off his voice a little bit. I also have a soft spot for Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning. My college roommates and I would sing it to each other sometimes about early morning classes. (Yes, we were rather a weird lot. )

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 7:41pm

Shakin the Blues Way-wow Irving knew how to get em on the dance floor and move it back in 1927 when several orchestra leaders first recorded and had hits with this song(unfortunately with some racially tinged lyrics)

Ann Miller taps out her memorable (and pc) version from easter parade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rej2ta1j4Uoh

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 8:02pm

Daisy Eagan's "What'll I Do?" and her accompanying story is so heartbreaking and beautiful.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Avp7DrzhRUQ

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 8:54pm

I'll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new,

I'll be looking at the moon 

But I'll be seeing you.

 

 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 9:01pm

This medley performed by Bernadette Peters & Peter Allen at the 1982 Oscars is fun.

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 11:46pm

What'l i do is a fantastic addition to the collection 

i love Judy Garlands version too from her TV show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDf8bt2YIm8

Updated On: 11/1/16 at 11:46 PM

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/2/16 at 1:23am

Someone in a Tree2 said: "I'll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new,

I'll be looking at the moon 

But I'll be seeing you.
 

Beautiful song i think you may have the wrong irving

"I'll Be Seeing You" is a popular song, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal.[1] 
 

 

 

"