Anything Goes
Donald Macleod focuses on a succession of Porter triumphs, including the smash-hit Gay Divorce.
He was one of the most famous Broadway composers of his time, and many of his songs still live on in our consciousness today, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Cole Porter.
By the 1930s, Cole Porter had achieved international success. His show, Gay Divorce, staring Fred Astaire was a smash hit, and included the famous song, Night and Day. After that he worked on the racy story of Nymph Errant, which premiered in London and featured Gertrude Lawrence singing the show stopper, The Physician.
Porter and his wife moved into the Waldorf Hotel, in an apartment above a former American President. The hotel presented porter with a Steinway Grand Piano, and Linda's apartment was festooned daily with fresh white flowers: roses, gardenias and orchids.
Porter was on a roll and his next musical would produce some of his most enduring music. Anything Goes showcased one of his all-time favourite singers, Ethel Merman; he once said of Merman, "she sounds like a band going by".
Night and Day (Gay Divorce)
Fred Astaire, voice
Columbia Studio Orchestra
Solomon (Nymph Errant)
Elizabeth Welch, voice
Ray Noble Orchestra
The Physician (Nymph Errant)
Gertrude Lawrence, voice
Ray Noble Orchestra
I Get a Kick Out of You (Anything Goes)
Ethel Merman, voice
Johnny Green orchestra
Blow Gabriel, Blow (Anything Goes)
Ethel Merman, voice
Studio Orchestra
Jay Blackton, conductor
You're the Top (Anything Goes)
Ella Fitzgerald, voice
Buddy Bergman's Orchestra
Begin the Beguine (Jubilee)
Frank Sinatra, voice
Studio Orchestra
Why Shouldn't I? (Jubilee)
Frank Sinatra, voice
Studio Orchestra
Just One of Those Things (Jubilee)
Frank Sinatra, voice
Studio Orchestra
Rap Tap on Wood (Born to Dance)
Francis Langford, voice
Studio Orchestra
Victor Young, director
Easy to Love (Born to Dance)
Billie Holiday, voice
Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra
I've Got You Under My Skin (Born to Dance)
Virginia Bruce, voice
Studio Orchestra
Eddie Ward, director
In the Still of the Night (Rosalie)
Vaughan Monroe, voice
Jack Marshard and His Orchestra
Rosalie
Lee Sullivan, voice
Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
Get Out of Town (Leave It to Me)
Dolly Elsie, voice
Jack Hylton and His Orchestra
My Heart Belongs to Daddy (Leave It to Me)
Evelyn Dall, voice
Ambrose and His Orchestra
Producer Luke Whitlock.
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Music Played
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Cole Porter
Night and Day, from The Gay Divorce
Singer: Fred Astaire. Orchestra: Columbia Studio Orchestra.- ASV: CDAJA5044.
- ASV.
- 10.
-
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Cole Porter
Solomon, from Nymph Errant
Singer: Elisabeth Welch. Orchestra: Ray Noble Orchestra.- Pearl: GEM0111.
- Pearl:.
- 22.
-
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Cole Porter
The Physician, from Nymph Errant
Singer: Gertrude Lawrence. Orchestra: Ray Noble and His Orchestra.- Pearl: GEM0111.
- Pearl:.
- 23.
-
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Frank Sinatra
Begin the Beguine
- Columbia : 5078772.
- Columbia.
- 2.
-
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Ethel Merman
Blow Gabriel, Blow
- Pearl: GEM0115.
- Pearl:.
- 5.
-
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Cole Porter
You're The Top, from Anything Goes
Singer: Ella Fitzgerald. Orchestra: Buddy Bergman Orchestra.- Verve: 5372572.
- Pearl:.
- 8.
-
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Frank Sinatra
Begin the Beguine
- Columbia : 5078772.
- Columbia.
- 2.
-
![]()
Frank Sinatra
Why Shouldn't I?
- Columbia: 5078772.
- Columbia.
- 8.
-
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Frank Sinatra
Just one of those things
- Columbia: 5078772.
- Columbia.
- 9.
-
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Cole Porter
Rap Tap On Wood, from Born to Dance
Singer: Frances Langford. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Director: Victor Young.- Conifer : CDHD181.
- Conifer.
- 13.
-
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Billie Holiday
Easy To Love
- Conifer: CDHD181.
- Conifer.
- 14.
-
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Cole Porter
I've Got You Under My Skin, from Born to Dance
Singer: Virginia Bruce. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Director: Eddie Ward.- Conifer: CDHD181.
- Conifer.
- 15.
-
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Cole Porter
In The Still Of The Night, from Rosalie
Singer: Vaughn Monroe. Orchestra: Jack Marshard Orchestra.- CONIFER : CDHD-181.
- CONIFER.
- 17.
-
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Cole Porter
Rosalie, from Rosalie
Singer: Lee Sullivan. Orchestra: Leo Reisman Orchestra.- Conifer: CDHD181.
- Conifer.
- 18.
-
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Cole Porter
Get Out Of Town, from Leave It To Me
Singer: Dolly Elsie. Orchestra: Jack Hylton & His Orchestra.- Old Bean: COLC15.
- Old Bean.
- 17.
-
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Cole Porter
My Heart Belongs To Daddy, from Leave It To Me
Singer: Evelyn Dall. Orchestra: Ambrose and His Orchestra.- Old Bean: COLC15.
- Old Bean.
- 16.
Broadcasts
- Wed 30 Jul 2014 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 30 Jul 2014 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 27 Dec 2017 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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