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Ivor Novello

Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century.

He was born into a musical family, and his first successes were as a songwriter. His first big hit was "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (1914), which was enormously popular during the First World War. His 1917 show, Theodore & Co, was a wartime hit. After the war, Novello contributed numbers to several successful musical comedies and was eventually commissioned to write the scores of complete shows. He wrote his musicals in the style of operetta and often composed his music to the libretti of Christopher Hassall.

In the 1920s he turned to acting, first in British films and then on stage, with considerable success in both. He starred in two silent films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Lodger and Downhill (both 1927). On stage, he played the title character in the first London production of Liliom (1926). Novello briefly went to Hollywood but soon returned to Britain, where he had more successes, especially on stage, appearing in his own lavish West End productions of musicals. The best-known of these were Glamorous Night (1935) and The Dancing Years (1939).

From the 1930s he often performed with Zena Dare, writing parts for her in his works. He continued to write for film, but in his later career his biggest successes were with stage musicals: Perchance to Dream (1945), King's Rhapsody (1949) and Gay's the Word (1951).

The Ivor Novello Awards were named after him in 1955.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 15, 1893 (Cardiff), Died March 6, 1951 (London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, piano

= 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 B-16626 10-in. 10/8/1915 Keep the home-fires burning till the boys come home Frederick J. Wheeler Male vocal solo, with drum and orchestra composer  
Victor B-17627 10-in. 5/8/1916 Laddie in khaki Lewis J. Howell Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-18017 10-in. 6/23/1916 Laddie in khaki James F. Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-18709 10-in. 11/14/1916 Good luck to the boys of the Allies medley Victor Band Band composer  
Victor B-18864 10-in. 12/21/1916 Guardons notre amour, pour le retour des vainqueurs Torcom Bézazian Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-19994 10-in. 6/8/1917 Naar jeg kommer hjem Inga Örner Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-20017 10-in. 6/7/1917 Keep the home-fires burning ('Til the boys come home) John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-21615 10-in. 3/19/1918 The radiance in your eyes Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-21772 10-in. 4/16/1918 Laddie in khaki Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-22087 10-in. 8/12/1918 Camp songs medley, part 2 National Camps Song Leaders Vocal chorus, with cornet and piano composer  
Victor B-22210 10-in. 8/13/1918 Keep the home fires burning Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-22416 10-in. 11/13/1918 Až se vrátís zaš František A. Pangrác Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-23507 10-in. 12/1/1919 Thoughts of you Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with piano and orchestra composer  
Victor B-25570 10-in. 9/23/1921 Every bit of loving in the world Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra composer  
Victor B-25901 10-in. 12/13/1921 Bless you Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra composer  
Victor B-27084 10-in. 11/20/1922 The land of the might-have-been John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with harp and orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-33478 10-in. 10/16/1925 The little damozel Lucrezia Bori Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BS-074381 10-in. 5/27/1942 Keep the home-fires burning Bob Chester Orchestra ; Rhythm Aires Jazz/dance band, with female and male solos and mixed vocal ensemble composer  
Victor D6VB-1569 10-in. 1/17/1946 We'll gather lilacs Stuart Foster ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor [Trial 1918-05-15-01] Not documented 5/15/1918 My laddie in khaki Helen Clark Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor [Trial 1918-11-29-01] Not documented 11/29/1918 Laddie in khaki Edward Doyle Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 46135 10-in. 10/21/1915 Keep the home fires burning till the boys come home Reed Miller ; Frederick J. Wheeler Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 46408 10-in. 2/14/1916 Canadian medley one-step Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 46794 10-in. 5/19/1916 Laddie in khaki Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 77409 10-in. 10/4/1917 War song hits Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77873 10-in. 6/4/1918 Keep the home fires burning Howard Kopp Bells solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77894 10-in. 6/18/1918 The radiance in your eyes Vernon Stiles Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 78204 10-in. 12/14/1918 The radiance in your eyes Wheeler Wadsworth Saxophone solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 48820 12-in. 6/14/1916 Keep the home fires burning Maggie Teyte Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49297 12-in. 1/5/1918 War song medley one step Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49300 12-in. 1/23/1918 Keep the home fires burning Columbia Stellar Quartette ; Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49585 12-in. 1/31/1919 Keep the home fires burning (till the boys come home) Columbia Stellar Quartette ; Rosa Ponselle Soprano vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 35720 10-in. approximately 1915 Till the boys come home Geo. F. Murray Male vocal solo and vocal chorus, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 74127 12-in. approximately 7/3/1920 I want the sun and the moon José Collins ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Claude Flemming ; Merlin Morgan Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 75050 12-in. 1/31/1922 The golden moth, selection, part 1 Herman Finck ; Herman Finck's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75051 12-in. 1/31/1922 The golden moth, selection, part 2 Herman Finck ; Herman Finck's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75262 12-in. approximately 1916 Theodore & Co., selection, pt. 1 London Repertoire Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75263 12-in. approximately 1916 Theodore & Co., selection, pt. 2 London Repertoire Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76079 12-in. approximately 1918 Arlette, selection, part 1 Albert W. Ketelbey ; London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76094 12-in. approximately 1918 Arlette, selection, part 2 Albert W. Ketelbey ; London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76106 12-in. approximately 1918 Arlette, vocal gems, part 1 Columbia Vocal Gem Comapny Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76107 12-in. approximately 1918 Arlette, vocal gems, part 2 Columbia Vocal Gem Comapny Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76159 12-in. approximately 1918 Tabs, selection, part 1 Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76160 12-in. approximately 1918 Tabs, selection, part 2 Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76161 12-in. approximately June 1918 Something doing over the way Ethel Baird ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76163 12-in. approximately June 1918 Goblin gollywog trees Margaret Campbell ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Female vocal solo, with vocal quartet and orchestra composer  
Columbia 76164 12-in. approximately June 1918 I hate to give trouble Margaret Campbell ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Beatrice Lillie ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76165 12-in. approximately June 1918 My river girl Alfred Austin ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Beatrice Lillie ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76167 12-in. approximately June 1918 I said goodbye Albert W. Ketelbey ; Beatrice Lillie ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Female vocal solo, with vocal trio and orchestra composer  
Columbia 76168 12-in. approximately June 1918 Mr. Pau Puk Kiwis Harry Glenn ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra composer  
Columbia 76182 12-in. approximately July 1918 Any little things Philip Braham ; Jack Buchanan ; Comedy Theatre Orchestra ; Phyllis Monkman Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76637 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Wonderful love Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76638 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Wedding jazz Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus composer  
Columbia 76639 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 My London Town Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Paul Plunket ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus composer  
Columbia 76641 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 There's an angel watching Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Paul Plunket ; Howard Talbot Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76644 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Come landlord Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Alfred Beers ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76645 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 Each day in passing Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Howard Talbot Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76646 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 A ladies man Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76648 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 When no-one's looking Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76649 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Garden of our dreams Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76650 12-in. approximately 1919 Who's Hooper?, selection, part 1 Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76651 12-in. approximately 1919 Pierrot dance Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76652 12-in. approximately 1919 Who's Hooper?, selection, part 2 Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76654 12-in. approximately 1919 Barcarolle, day dreams Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76820 12-in. approximately 3/18/1920 Every bit of loving José Collins ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh 128 10-in. ca. May 1918 Keep the home fires burning Joseph A. Phillips Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 919 10-in. approximately mid-1917 Keep the home fires burning Joseph A. Phillips Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5126-a] 10-in. approximately Aug. 1917 Laddie in khaki Joseph Philips Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Brunswick 10657-10659 10-in. 5/15/1923 The land of Might-have-been Theo Karle Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 4170 10-in. 10/5/1915 Keep the home fires burning Frederick J. Wheeler Baritone vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Edison 5525 10-in. 4/25/1917 The little damozel Marion Evelyn Cox Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 5628 10-in. 6/18/1917 Laddie in khaki Glen Ellison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 5951 10-in. between 1/1/1918 and 1/7/1918 Keep the home fires burning (Till the boys come home) Christine Miller Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6189 10-in. between 5/21/1918 and 5/24/1918 The radiance in your eyes A. C. Lichty Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 6227 10-in. between 6/13/1918 and 6/14/1918 Keep the home-fires burning Ida Gardner Contralto vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6309 10-in. between 8/4/1918 and 8/12/1918 Keep the home fires burning Homestead Trio Female vocal trio, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6335 10-in. Aug. 1918 or later Laddie in khaki Homestead Trio Female vocal trio, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 6368 10-in. 9/18/1918 Keep the home fires burning Carolina Lazzari Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6460 10-in. between 11/12/1918 and 11/27/1918 The radiance in your eyes Marie Rappold Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Novello, Ivor," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103013.

Novello, Ivor. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103013.

"Novello, Ivor." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103013

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