Porgy and Bess (Selections): Original Cast and Other Early Recordings (Recorded 1935–1942)

~ Release by Gershwin; Anne Brown, Todd Duncan, Avon Long, Paul Robeson, Lawrence Tibbett, Jascha Heifetz (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

1.1–1.17: recordings by members of the original cast with Decca Symphony Orchestra (1940, 1942)
1.18–1.25: recordings by members of the original cast with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (1935, 1942)
2.1–2.20: first contemporary recordings (1935–1945)

Annotation last modified on 2023-12-10 04:52 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD: Original Cast Recordings
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene 1. Overture
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Overture (on 1940-05-15)
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess
Decca Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Smallens1:08
2Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene 1. Summertime
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I. “Summertime” (Clara) (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I
Anne Brown2:26
3Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene 1. Summertime and Crap Game
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I. “Roll them bones” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I
Harriet Jackson & Eva Jessye Choir1:04
4Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene 1. A Woman Is a Sometime Thing
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act Ⅰ, Scene Ⅰ. “Lissen to yo’ daddy warn you … A woman is a sometime thing” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I
Edward Matthews1:40
5Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene 2. My Man’s Gone Now
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
soprano vocals:
Anne Brown (American operatic soprano, later resettled in Norway) (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene II. “My Man’s Gone Now” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene II
Anne Brown & Eva Jessye Choir3:53
6Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 1. It Takes a Long Pull to Get There
baritone vocals:
Edward Matthews (African-American baritone opera singer) (on 1942-05-23)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I. “It take a long pull to get there” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I
Edward Matthews & Male Chorus2:07
7Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 1. I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1940-05-15)
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I. “Oh, I got plenty o’nuttin’” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I
Todd Duncan & Eva Jessye Choir2:41
8Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 1. Buzzard Song
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1940-05-15)
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I. “Buzzard keep on flyin’” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I
Todd Duncan & Eva Jessye Choir3:41
9Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 1. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1940-05-15)
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
soprano vocals:
Anne Brown (American operatic soprano, later resettled in Norway) (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I. “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene I
Todd Duncan & Anne Brown4:29
10Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 2. It Ain’t Necessarily So
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1940-05-15)
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene II. “It ain’t necessarily so” (Sportin’ Life) (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene II
Todd Duncan & Eva Jessye Choir2:45
11Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 2. What You Want Wid’ Bess
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1942-05-23)
soprano vocals:
Anne Brown (American operatic soprano, later resettled in Norway) (on 1942-05-23)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene II. “Oh, what you want wid Bess?” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene II
Anne Brown & Todd Duncan2:58
12Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 3. Street Cries: Strawberry Woman’s Call / Crab Man’s Call
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene III. “I’m talkin’ about devil crabs” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene III
Helen Dowdy & Gladys Goode3:04
13Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene 3. I Loves You, Porgy
baritone vocals:
Todd Duncan (baritone) (on 1942-05-23)
soprano vocals:
Anne Brown (American operatic soprano, later resettled in Norway) (on 1942-05-23)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene III. “I loves you, Porgy” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene III
Anne Brown & Todd Duncan3:21
14Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene 1. The Requiem
choir vocals:
Eva Jessye Choir (on 1940-05-15)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. “Clara, Clara, don’t you be downhearted” – “Crown, Crown, don’t you…” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I
Eva Jessye Choir3:52
15Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene 2. There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York
soprano vocals:
Anne Brown (American operatic soprano, later resettled in Norway) (on 1942-05-23)
tenor vocals:
Avon Long (Broadway actor, singer) (on 1942-05-23)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1942-05-23)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1942-05-23)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1942)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York” (on 1942-05-23)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II
Avon Long & Anne Brown3:00
16Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene 3. Porgy’s Lament (Where Is My Bess?)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Oh Bess, oh where’s my Bess” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
Todd Duncan1:56
17Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene 3. Finale (I’m on My Way)
orchestra:
Decca Symphony Orchestra (on 1940-05-15)
conductor:
Alexander Smallens (conductor) (on 1940-05-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1940)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Oh Lawd, I’m on My Way” (on 1940-05-15)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
Todd Duncan & Eva Jessye Choir1:21
18It Ain’t Necessarily So
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-03-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Avon Long2:42
19A Woman Is a Sometime Thing
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-03-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Avon Long2:35
20Summertime
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-03-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Helen Dowdy2:35
21There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-03-15)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Avon Long2:45
22I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-04-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Avon Long2:34
23Bess, You Is My Woman
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1942-04-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Avon Long & Helen Dowdy3:12
24I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1935-11-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Edward Matthews2:56
25It Ain’t Necessarily So
orchestra:
Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (on 1935-11-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2003)
Edward Matthews2:52
2▶CD: First Contemporary Recordings