“Elizabeth“ (Wenn die Elisabeth...“) / “Wonder Bar“... Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Orchestra (1930)

Robert Katscher (1894-1942) composed the music for the revue operetta “Die Wunder-Bar“ which premiered in Vienna in 1930. The song “Wenn die Elisabeth nicht so schöne Beine hätt’ “ (Lit. If only Elizabeth did not have such beautiful legs) became an enormous hit. The revue was also successfully produced in London as “The Wonder Bar“ and Paris where it was provocatively called “Nudist’ Bar“. In 1931 the show premiered on Broadway and later on it was adapted into the 1934 movie “Wonder Bar“ starring Al Jolson, Dolores Del Rio, Kay Francis and Dick Powell - albeit with music by Al Dubin and Harry Warren. Robert Katscher fled Austria in 1938 and settled in the USA where he died in 1942. Another famous Robert Katscher song is “When day is done“ which was originally called “Madonna, du bist schöner als der Sonnenschein“ (Lit. Madonna you are more beautiful than sunshine itself) and featured in the 1924 revue “Küsse um Mitternacht“. Buddy DeSylva wrote the lyrics of “When day is done“ to Katscher’s melody. The song was a hit and has since become an evergreen. Today’s video features both English versions of “Wenn die Elisabeth“ and “Das Lied von der Wunder-Bar“ by Ray Noble and his New Mayfair Orchestra. This record is in great condition yet it crackles like wood in a fireplace - as is very common with these English HMV pressings from the early 1930s. About the record : “Elizabeth“ (Wenn die Elisabeth...“) / “Wonder Bar“ (Das Lied von der Wunder-Bar) Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Orchestra Vocals: Jack Plant His Master’s Voice B 5938 / mx. BB21003 -III / BB21004-I London, 20-11-1930