Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise". Coward attended a dance academy in London as a child, making his professional stage début at the age of eleven. As a teenager he was introduced into the high society in which most of his plays would be set. Coward achieved enduring success as a playwright, publishing more than 50 plays from his teens onwards. Many of his works, such as Hay Fever, Private Lives, Design for Living, Present Laughter, and Blithe Spirit, have remained in the regular theatre repertoire. He composed hundreds of songs, in addition to well over a dozen musical theatre works (including the operetta Bitter Sweet and comic revues), screenplays, poetry, several volumes of short stories, the novel Pomp and Circumstance, and a three-volume autobiography. Coward's stage and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which he starred in many of his own works, as well as those of others. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Coward volunteered for war work, running the British propaganda office in Paris. He also worked with the Secret Service, seeking to use his influence to persuade the American public and government to help Britain. Coward won an Academy Honorary Award in 1943 for his naval film drama In Which We Serve and was knighted in 1970. In the 1950s he achieved fresh success as a cabaret performer, performing his own songs, such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", "London Pride", and "I Went to a Marvellous Party". Coward's plays and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work and style continue to influence popular culture. He did not publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, but it was discussed candidly after his death by biographers including Graham Payn, his long-time partner, and in Coward's diaries and letters, published posthumously. The former Albery Theatre (originally the New Theatre) in London was renamed the Noël Coward Theatre in his honour in 2006. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 16, 1899 (Teddington), Died March 26, 1973 (Firefly Estate)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1947
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, baritone vocal, speaker
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-34168 | 10-in. | 12/21/1925 | Poor little rich girl | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BVE-48407 | 10-in. | 11/28/1928 | A room with a view | Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-48408 | 10-in. | 11/28/1928 | Dance little lady | Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-57156 | 10-in. | 11/20/1929 | I'll see you again | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-57562 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | I'll see you again | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Orchestra, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-57589 | 10-in. | 12/9/1929 | If love were all | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BVE-57968 | 10-in. | 12/31/1929 | I'll see you again | Olga Albani | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-57969 | 10-in. | 12/31/1929 | Zigeuner | Olga Albani | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BRC-71206 | 10-in. | 12/28/1931 | Someday I'll find you | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-74968 | 10-in. | 1/23/1933 | Mary make-believe | Greta Keller | Female vocal solo, with orchestra (takes 1 and 2); with instrumental ensemble (takes 3 and 4) | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | CS-75778 | 12-in. | 4/11/1933 | Program of Noel Coward songs | Noel Coward ; Leo Reisman Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Victor | CS-75779 | 12-in. | 4/11/1933 | Program of Noel Coward songs | Noel Coward ; Leo Reisman Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-81993 | 10-in. | 3/31/1934 | Zigeuner | Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Salon Orchestra | Orchestra | composer | |
Victor | CS-82352 | 12-in. | 4/26/1934 | Three pieces by Noel Coward | Roger Stearns | Piano solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-011696 | 10-in. | 8/11/1937 | Mad dogs and Englishmen | Connecticut Yankees ; Gentlemen Songsters ; Rudy Vallée | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-030782 | 10-in. | 12/30/1938 | I'm so weary of it all | Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-030783 | 10-in. | 12/30/1938 | Never again | Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-031826 | 10-in. | 1/23/1939 | Zigeuner | Artie Shaw Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BS-037601 | 10-in. | 6/7/1939 | Poor little rich girl | Larry Clinton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BS-038273 | 10-in. | 7/14/1939 | Mad about the boy | Mary Dugan ; Larry Clinton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | PBS-061987 | 10-in. | 12/17/1941 | Mad about the boy | Lou Bring ; Lena Horne | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | BS-064011 | 10-in. | 4/3/1941 | I'll follow my secret heart | Joe Reichman | Piano solo, with instrumental trio | composer | |
Victor | PD6VB-3228 | 10-in. | 10/28/1946 | I'll follow my secret heart | Jimmy Carroll ; Dudley King Orchestra ; Frances Greer | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | PD6VB-3230 | 10-in. | 10/28/1946 | Zigeuner | Dudley King Orchestra ; Frances Greer | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | D7VB-1803 | 10-in. | 10/20/1947 | Mad about the boy | Andre Previn | Piano solo, with guitar, string bass, and drums | composer | |
Victor | D7VB-1951 | 10-in. | 10/30/1947 | Mad about the boy | Beryl Davis ; Russ Case Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer | |
Columbia | W141272 | 10-in. | 11/17/1925 | Poor little rich girl | Gertrude Lawrence | Female vocal solo, with piano | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W141273 | 10-in. | 11/17/1925 | Russian blues | Gertrude Lawrence | Female vocal solo, with piano | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W141274 | 10-in. | 11/17/1925 | Carrie | Gertrude Lawrence | Female vocal solo, with piano | lyricist, composer | |
Columbia | 147480 | 10-in. | 11/22/1928 | A room with a view | Arthur Ross and his Westerners [Georgians] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W147730 | 10-in. | 12/26/1928 | A room with a view | Ben Selvin and his Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W147731 | 10-in. | 12/26/1928 | Dance, little lady | Ben Selvin and his Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W149616 | 10-in. | 12/24/1929 | If love were all | Fred Rich Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W149617 | 10-in. | 12/24/1929 | I'll see you again | Fred Rich Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Columbia | H31 | 10-in. | approximately 1940 | Dear little café | Robert Armbruster ; Nelson Eddy | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | H32 | 10-in. | approximately 1940 | Tokay | Robert Armbruster ; Nelson Eddy | Baritone vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | H33 | 10-in. | approximately 1940 | I'll see you again | Robert Armbruster ; Nelson Eddy | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | H34 | 10-in. | approximately 1940 | The call of life | Robert Armbruster ; Nelson Eddy | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | 73730 | 10-in. | Oct. 1925 | If love were all | Bruce Wallace | Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | E28892 | 10-in. | 12/14/1928 | A room with a view | William Wirges Orchestra | Orchestra, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | E2016-E2018 | 10-in. | 12/31/1925 | Poor little rich girl | Selvin’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | E17756-E17759 | 10-in. | 2/1/1926 | Poor little rich girl | Gaiety Musical Comedy Chorus | Mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | 786W-788W | 10-in. | 5/13/1925 | Steppin' in society | Selvin’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | [Br (U.K.) cat 178-b] | 10-in. | May 1928 | A room with a view | Fred Elizalde Music | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | [Br (U.K.) cat 178-a] | 10-in. | May 1928 | Dance, little lady | Fred Elizalde Music | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Edison | 18910 | 10-in. | 11/30/1928 | Dance, little lady | B. A. Rolfe Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Edison | 18911 | 10-in. | 11/30/1928 | A room with a view | B. A. Rolfe Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Edison | N-604 | 10-in. | 11/30/1928 | Dance, little lady | B. A. Rolfe Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Edison | N-605 | 10-in. | 11/30/1928 | A room with a view | B. A. Rolfe Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA654 | 10-in. | 10/25/1934 | I travel alone | Alberta Hunter ; Jack Jackson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA655 | 10-in. | 10/25/1934 | Most of ev'ry day | Jack Jackson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA657 | 10-in. | 10/29/1934 | Most of ev'ry day | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA658 | 10-in. | 10/29/1934 | I travel alone | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0B1163 | 10-in. | 10/15/1931 | Lover of my dreams | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | 0EA1956 | 10-in. | On or before 8/15/1935 | Mrs. Worthington | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | 0EA1957 | 10-in. | 8/15/1935 | We were so young | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | 0B2231 | 10-in. | 11/14/1931 | Twentieth century blues | New Mayfair Novelty Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA2652 | 10-in. | On or before 12/20/1935 | You were there | New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA2655 | 10-in. | On or before 12/20/1935 | The family album | New Mayfair Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal | composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA2686 | 10-in. | 2/13/1936 | Parisian Pierrot | Noel Coward ; Clifford Greenwood ; Phoenix Theatre Company | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA2687 | 10-in. | 2/13/1936 | We were dancing | Noel Coward ; Clifford Greenwood ; Phoenix Theatre Company | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA2888 | 10-in. | 6/26/1936 | Play, orchestra, play | Roy Fox Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0B3183 | 10-in. | 9/1/1932 | The younger generation | Al Bowlly ; New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Gramophone | 0B3184 | 10-in. | 9/1/1932 | Mad about the boy | New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Gramophone | 0B4207 | 10-in. | 1932 | Let's say goodbye | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0B4208 | 10-in. | 9/20/1932 | The party's over now | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0B4209 | 10-in. | 9/20/1932 | Something to do with spring | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer | |
Gramophone | 0B4210 | 10-in. | 9/19/1932 | Mad dogs and Englishmen | Noel Coward ; Ray Noble | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | 0B5913 | 10-in. | 2/27/1934 | I'll follow my secret heart | Ray Noble Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Gramophone | 0B5914 | 10-in. | 2/27/1934 | Nevermore | Ray Noble Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Gramophone | 0EA6282 | 10-in. | 3/25/1938 | The stately homes of England | Ken Carter ; Hugh French ; John Gatrell ; His Majesty’s Theatre Orchestra (London, England) ; Ross Landon | Male vocal quartet, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA6428 | 10-in. | 3/24/1938 | Dearest love | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA6429 | 10-in. | 3/24/1938 | I'll see you again | Noel Coward | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 0EA8121 | 10-in. | 10/19/1939 | I'll see you again | Webster Booth ; Clifford Greenwood ; Anne Ziegler | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | Cc17229 | 12-in. | 7/24/1929 | Bitter sweet : Selection | Jack Hylton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal soloist | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | Cc17230 | 12-in. | 7/24/1929 | Bitter sweet : Selection | Jack Hylton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal soloist | composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | Cc20202 | 12-in. | 9/15/1930 | Private lives : Scene (Act 2) | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male vocal duet, with instrumental | composer, lyricist, vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | Cc20203 | 12-in. | 9/15/1930 | Private lives : Love scene (Act 1) | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male vocal duet, with piano and violin | vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist | |
Gramophone | 2EA2667 | 12-in. | 1/15/1936 | Scene from "Shadow play," part 1 | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer | |
Gramophone | 2EA2667 | 12-in. | 5/25/1940 | Scene from "Shadow play," concluded | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer | |
Gramophone | 2EA2668 | 12-in. | 1/15/1936 | Scene from "Red peppers," part 1 | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer | |
Gramophone | 2EA2669 | 12-in. | 1/15/1936 | Scene from "Red peppers," concluded | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer | |
Gramophone | 2EA2670 | 12-in. | 1/16/1936 | Scene from "Family album," part 1 | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | composer, lyricist, vocalist, baritone vocal | |
Gramophone | 2EA2673 | 12-in. | 1/16/1936 | Scene from "Family album," part 2 | Noel Coward ; Gertrude Lawrence | Dramatic scene and female-male duet, with orchestra | vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer | |
Gramophone | 2B5925 | 12-in. | 2/27/1934 | Conversation piece : Selection, part 1 | Reginald Burston ; His Majesty’s Theatre Orchestra (London, England) | Orchestra | composer | |
Gramophone | 2B5926 | 12-in. | 2/27/1934 | Conversation piece : Selection, part 2 | Reginald Burston ; His Majesty’s Theatre Orchestra (London, England) | Orchestra | composer | |
Victor (Canada) | 8633 | 10-in. | before 7/26/1940 | I'll see you again | Art Hallman ; Mart Kenney Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2165 | 10-in. | 4/7/1930 | Ne serait-ce pas l'amour? | Jane Marnac ; Fred Mélé | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2166 | 10-in. | 4/7/1930 | Je vous reverrai | Max Bussy ; Jane Marnac ; Fred Mélé | Vocal duet, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2167 | 10-in. | 4/7/1930 | Le petit café | Max Bussy ; Jane Marnac ; Fred Mélé | Vocal duet, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2168 | 10-in. | 4/7/1930 | Tzigane | Jane Marnac ; Fred Mélé | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Coward, Noël," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102403.
Coward, Noël. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102403.
"Coward, Noël." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Noël Coward
Discogs: Noël Coward
Allmusic: Noël Coward
Grove: Noël Coward
RILM: Noël Coward
IMDb: Noël Coward
Britannica: Noël Coward
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Coward, Noel, 1899-1973 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79071142
Wikidata: Noël Coward - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q298388
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/39375533
MusicBrainz: Noël Coward - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/6aa4bb26-36f8-4a96-8328-4810a4e9a617
Getty ULAN: Coward, Noël - http://vocab.getty.edu/ulan/500073529
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