Harry Richman was a colorful
Broadway and Movie
musical star. He
made his talking debut in the 1930 movie "Puttin' on the Ritz"
and with a title song written
by Irving Berlin he could not go wrong!
The title song he
sang well (even did a bit of tap dancing!) and he also co-wrote
all the other songs in
the movie. With apologies to Fred Astaire, I think I
like
Harry's version better.
It is a rather non-descript movie and Harry does not have
the talented good looks
to have become a matinee idol, he did a rather good
job with this number.
It was successful enough to become a number one hit. The
movie also had an "Alice
In Wonderland" two strip technicolor which in the height
of the depression was a
big thing. Obviously, United Artists thought the talents
of Harry Richman could
pull in the box office receipts! This movie is occasionally
played on Turner Classic
Movies.
Listed below are some of his songs:
| Song | Recording Date |
| The Birth of the Blues
(from George White's Scandals of 1926") Also recorded by Dorsey Brother Orhcestra with Bing Crosby doing the vocals. |
October 23, 1926 |
| Muddy Water (also recorded by Bing Crosby the same year) | April 30, 1927 |
| Blues Skies (also recorded by Bing Crosby the same year) | May 14, 1927 |
| I'm On the Crest of a Wave
(from George White's Scandals of 1927) Also recorded by Bing Crosby and the Rythym Boys the same year. |
October 27, 1928 |
| Puttin' On the Ritz (from the film by the same name) also recorded by Fred Astaire | February 15, 1930 |
| There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie
(from the film Puttin' on the Ritz) co-wrote with Jack Meskill |
March 1, 1930 |
| Sing a Vagabond Song (from the film Puttin' on the Ritz) co-wrote with Sam Messenheimer and Val Burton | March 8, 1930 |
| On the Sunny Side of the Street (from the Broadway Musical "International Revue") | April 19, 1930 |
| Exactly Like You
(from the Broadway Musical "International Revue") |
May 10, 1930 |
| It Was So Beautiful
(from the film "The Big Broadcast") |
August 27, 1932 |
| I'm Betting on You (co-wrote with Lew Brown-Harry Akst, and Victor Schertzinger for film "The Music Goes Round") | August , 1936 |
| Life Begins When You're in Love (from the film "The Music Goes Round") | August, 1936 |
| Susannah (from the film "The Musics Goes Round") | August, 1936 |
| There Ought to Be A Moonlight Saving Time (written by Irving Kahal and Harry Richman | 1931 |
| One Little Raindrop (written by Harry Richman, Jack Meskill and Jean Schwartz) | 1930 |
| With Every Breathe I Take (from the Bing Crosby movie "Here is My Heart") | 1934 |
This list is by no means
exhaustive. These are just some of the songs that I have come across
in my research and I will
add more as I find them.