Louise Brooks – Vintage 78 rpm Recordings

  Today, music is available in a variety of formats — via streaming, mp3s, compact discs, vinyl records, etc…. During the first few decades of the 20th century, music was likewise available in different formats including piano rolls, cylinders, shellac discs, and eventually vinyl records, or LPs. [For those not familiar with the history of various formats of recorded music, the Loudwire website has an illustrated summary which looks back to the early 1900s.] Against such a backdrop, it’s worth noting that the music associated with Louise Brooks’ stage and film career was also available in different formats  — either as printed sheet music, piano rolls, and as shellac discs, or what are colloquially known as 78s. These discs, which could be played at home on a hand crank Victrola, were called 78s because they were meant to spin at 78 rpms (revolutions per minute), whereas modern long playing vinyl records spin at 33 rpms.

The Louise Brooks Society archive has pages dedicated to Louise Brooks related sheet music, as well as one for related piano rolls. This page presents a selection of 78 rpm labels depicting various songs associated with the actress. As there were multiple recordings of most of these songs, I could not include them all – nor could I find images of them all: the works shown here were especially popular or significant, are my personal favorite, or have eye catching graphics. If you know of additional information or possess other examples of 78 rpms and would like to share a scan or recording of your vintage treasure, please CONTACT the Louise Brooks Society.

Thomas Gladysz
Director, Louise Brooks Society

GEORGE WHITE’S “SCANDALS” (1924 )

George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Isabelle & Tom Patricola Vocalion (listen here)	George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra Victor (listen here)	George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Cliff Edwards Perfect (listen here)
George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Ray Miller and His Orchestra Brunswick (listen here)	George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Marion Harris Brunswick (listen here)	George White’s “Scandals” “Somebody Loves Me” Aileen Stanley Victor (listen here)

For a few months, Louise Brooks had a role as a chorus dancer in the George White’s “Scandals” of 1924. It was during her brief time with the show, likely during rehearsals, that she met and flirted with composer George Gershwin. He wrote the music for the show, which included one of his most enduring songs, “Somebody Loves Me“. It proved to be a big hit, and would soon be recorded by a handful of artists including Cliff Edwards (aka Ukulele Ike), Aileen Stanley, Marion Harris, Paul Whiteman and others. (According to charts of the time, Whiteman had the biggest hit with the song.) “Somebody Loves Me” was also recorded by Isabelle Patricola, assisted by Tom Patricola. The two were brother and sister. Isabella was a huge Vaudeville star in the teens and twenties; Tom wasn’t as famous, but he does have the distinction of have been in the opening night cast of George White’s “Scandals” of 1924, which suggests Louise Brooks likely met him.

I  have run across three other recordings of “Somebody Loves Me” not shown here: they are by Nathan Glantz and His Orchestra on the Edison Record label, The Lanin Orchestra on the Okeh label, and Linda Keene with Henry Levine and His Strictly from Dixie Jazz Band on the Victor label. The  Cliff Edwards recording was also released on the Pathé label.

ZIEGFELD FOLLIES “LOUIE THE 14TH” (1925)

Louie the 14th “Little Peach” Vincent Lopez and His Hotel Penn. Orchestra Okeh (listen here)	Louie the 14th “Little Peach” Markel and His Orchestra Columbia (listen here)	Louie the 14th “Little Peach” Jack Stillman’s Orchestra Edison Record (listen here)
Louie the 14th “Homeland” Brunswick Male Chorus Brunswick (listen here)	Louie the 14th “Homeland” Shannon Four Columbia (listen here)	Louie the 14th “Homeland” Victor Male Chorus Victor (listen here)

For about as long as she was  in George White’s “Scandals”, Louise Brooks was in a Ziegfeld production titled “Louie the 14th”. Once again, she was a chorus dancer. Two songs featured in that musical production, “Little Peach” and “Homeland,” were recorded by a handful of artists and released on 78 rpm discs. Besides those shown here, “Little Peach” was also recorded by The Ambassadors and released on the Vocalion record label. Additionally, “Little Peach” was issued as a piano roll. A playing of that roll can be seen on the LBS archive page of Brooks related piano rolls.

BEGGARS OF LIFE (1928)

“Beggars of Life” The Troubadours Victor (listen here)	“Beggars of Life” The Troubadours Gramphone Co. LTD. (UK label)	“Beggars of Life” Scrappy Lambert Brunswick (listen here)
“Beggars of Life” Bar Harbor Society Orch. Harmony (watch & listen here)	“Beggars of Life” Bar Harbor Society Orch. Diva	“Beggars of Life” Bar Harbor Society Orch. Puritone
“Beggars of Life” Seger Ellis Okeh (listen here)	“Beggars of Life” Seger Ellis Okeh (record sleeve)	“Beggars of Life” Lew Gold’s Orchestra Parlophone (listen here)

“Beggars of Life” is the theme song to the Paramount film of the same name which featured Louise Brooks in a starring role. Originally shot as a silent, the film was released in 1928 as a part talkie. According to accounts of the time, the film featured a song (reportedly sung by Wallace Beery), as well as various sound effects such as train whistles. Today, the sound elements from Beggars of Life (link to LBS filmography page) are considered lost. More about film and its audio elements can be found in my 2017 book, Beggars of Life: A Companion to the 1928 Film.

Accompanying the release of the film was sheet music for film’s theme song, a piano roll recording, as well as a handful of 78 rpm recordings by the likes of Scrappy Lambert, Seger Ellis, and The Troubadours. (One of these three recordings, each a bit mournful, has been my favorite at various times.) The song was also recorded by the Bar Harbor Society Orchestra and released on four different labels. (Not shown above is the rare Velvet Tone label release.) The Bar Harbor Society Orchestra was the name for one of the many musical groups led by Ben Selvin, a prolific American musician, bandleader, and record producer who, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, recorded more musical sides on 78 rpm discs than any other person. If you enjoy popular music of the 1920s, you likely know his work.

Notably, the flip-side of the Victor and Gramaphone* label releases of “Beggars of Life” was the theme song from another hit film, “Sonny Boy,” from the Al Jolson film The Singing Fool (1928), as performed by George Olsen and His Orchestra. The flip-side of the Harmony label release of “Beggars of Life” was the theme song from another hit film, “I Loved You Then as I Love You Now,” from the Joan Crawford film Our Dancing Daughters (1928), as performed by Ernie Golden and His Orchestra. Almost all of the labels shown above credit the song as being “from Beggars of Life” or “Theme Song of the Motion Picture Production, Beggars of Life.”  It is also interesting to observe that the Victor label also notes the title of the film in Spanish, Mendigos de la Vida. Perhaps they were trying to appeal to Spanish-speaking Americans.

* The Gramaphone label was issued in the UK, as well as in Australia.

PRIX DE BEAUTE (1930)

Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Mlle Ristori w orchestre Salabert	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Mile Ristori w orchestre Salabert (w record sleeve)	Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” Mlle Ristori w orchestre Salabert
Prix de beauté (not indicated) “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Berthe Sylva w orchestre Odeon (listen here)	Odeon (record sleeve)	Prix de beauté (not indicated) “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” Berthe Sylva w orchestre Odeon (listen here)
Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Berthe Delny w Gaite Lyrique & Beal trio Allegro (listen here)	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Berthe Delny w Gaite Lyrique & Beal trio Allegro (variant label)	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Germaine de Moranne Homocord
Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Hélène Caron w orchestra Parlophone (listen here)	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Hélène Caron w orchestra Parlophone (w record sleeve)	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Odette Barencey de la Comedie Caumartin Ideal
Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” Jean Vaissade, Latorre et Viard Ideal	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Jean Vaissade, Latorre et Viard Ideal	Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” Louise Darty de la Gaite Lyrique Ideal
Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” Valentino w orchestre de ball musette Pagode	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Edmee Favart Pathe (listen here)	Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui” {Albert} Carrara w orchestre de ball musette Polydor
Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Orchestre de Danse Columbia Columbia	Prix de beauté / Miss Europe “Recuerdos” Orchestre de Danse Columbia Columbia (listen here)	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi“ Marthe Coiffier Columbia (listen here) or (listen here)
Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi“ Orchestre de Danse Alexander w Malloire Columbia	Prix de beauté “Mais quand le coeur dit oui“ Charles Richard w jazz orchestra Columbia	Prix de beauté “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” Lucien Quattrocchi (solo de violin) Omnia

Louise Brooks plays the starring role in Prix de beauté (link to LBS filmography page), a French production originally shot as a silent and quickly adapted for sound. (The film would be released in both formats.) As one of the very first French talkies, there was considerable promotion and publicity around the fact that it includes not only spoken dialogue, but also music. The sound version features three songs, two popular chanson, “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” and “Mais quand le coeur dit oui,” and a tango, “Recuerdos.” Each were released as sheet music (with each picturing Louise Brooks), and as 78 rpm discs (which reference the film). Even though Brooks is depicted on the covers of the sheet music and is seen singing in the film, she in fact did not record any music or dialogue. It was all dubbed. There is some debate over who exactly spoke her French dialogue, and who sang in the film.It is thought that different individuals performed each task.

Here is a brief excerpt from Prix de beauté which features the version of “Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” heard in the film. In my opinion, the closest any of the above cover versions come to the film version is the version by Hélène Caron. It is lovely.

For just one film, the Prix de beauté discography is long and complicated. It involves three songs and nearly two dozen recordings released in a few different countries (France, Germany, England, etc…) over a period of  two years. Shown above are a selection of recordings. In fact, there are so many recordings — not to mention variant labels, that I have put together a spread sheet of all of the recordings I either own or have come across in online discographies. I hope to post it on the LBS website at a later date. in the meantime, other versions of “Je nai quun amour Cest toi” not represented above include those by Jeffrey’s Jazz (Pathe), Fredo Gardoni, Puig Deur Ensemble (Pathe), and Renée Viala du Theatre des Deux-Anes avec accompagnement d’orchestre musette (Polydor). Another versions of “Mais Quand Le Coeur Dit Oui” not represented above include one by Germaine de Moranne (Homocord). Fred Bird Rhythmicans recorded both songs for Homocord, a German label.

“Je n’ai qu’un amour, c’est toi” is a truly lovely song. Versions of it still show-up on recent CDs of old French music, and, it continues to be recorded by contemporary artists. There is a video by a French accordionist named Didier Dumoutier which can be found on YouTube. It can be found HERE. Another version, which is something of an adaption renamed as “Chanson pour Louise Brooks : Je n’ai qu’un amour c’est toi,” can also be seen on YouTube. It is performed by a French group named Les Primitifs du Futur. Among the group’s members is the record collector and comix artist Robert Crumb.