Notes and Editorial Reviews
MOONLIGHT BAY is a celebration of the popular song's first golden era, which might be called its age of innocence. Written for the most part between 1890 and 1920, these are tunes which had their origins in American vaudeville or English music hall. As they were disseminated through the populace via word of mouth or sheet music, it was important that they be accessible, easy to remember and not too difficult to sing or play, popular music in the truest possible sense. And they do their magic: a century later it is still hard not to get hooked by the sneaky return of the marching chorus of "The Man That Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo" or the blustery reprise of "The Road to Mandalay," just as it is hard to resist the nostalgic comforts of
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"School Days" or "Daisy Bell."
Mezzo-soprano Joan Morris and her accompanist/accomplice, composer-pianist William Bolcom have been working this turf for a while. This collection lives up to the team's usual high standards of scholarship, musicianship and taste. Most importantly, they are straight-up and sincere in their approach, as 78 rpm evidence shows the original performers were. This is swell stuff. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
On the Road to Mandalay by Oley Speaks
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 46 Secs.
Language: English
2.
Moonlight Bay by Percy Wenrich
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1912; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 46 Secs.
Language: English
3.
Hello! Ma Baby by Joseph Edgar Howard
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1889; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 29 Secs.
Language: English
4.
Little Annie Roonie by Michael Nolan
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1890; England
Length: 3 Minutes 37 Secs.
Language: English
5.
My Gal Sal by Paul Dresser
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1905; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: English
6.
Daisy Bell by Harry Dacre
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1892; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 6 Secs.
Language: English
7.
Forty-five minutes from Broadway by George M. Cohan
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1906; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 11 Secs.
Language: English
8.
Asleep in the Deep by Henry W. Petrie
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1897; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 47 Secs.
Language: English
9.
Life's a funny proposition after all by George M. Cohan
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1904; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 2 Secs.
Language: English
10.
Can't You Heah Me Callin', Caroline? by Caro Roma
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: English
12.
Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl by A. Baldwin Sloane
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1910; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 31 Secs.
Language: English
13.
Some Little Bug is Going to Find You by Silvio Hein
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1915; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: English
15.
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles by John W. Kellette
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 40 Secs.
Language: English
16.
The Big Show: Poor butterfly by Raymond Hubbell
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1916; USA
Length: 4 Minutes 38 Secs.
Language: English
17.
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! by Abe Olman
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1917; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: English
18.
School Days by Gus Edwards
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; USA
Length: 2 Minutes 18 Secs.
Language: English
20.
Nobody's Lookin' But de Owl an' De Moon by James Weldon Johnson
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1901; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 44 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: This work was written in collaboration with J. Rosamond Johnson and Bob Cole.
21.
Mirandy by James Reese Europe
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 1 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.
22.
Billy by Joe Goodwin
Performer:
William Bolcom (Piano),
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 3 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: This composition was written in collaboration with James Kendis and Herman Paley.
23.
Beale Street Blues by W.C. Handy
Performer:
Joan Morris (Mezzo Soprano),
William Bolcom (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Length: 3 Minutes 9 Secs.
Language: English
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