DISCOGRAPHY
Jimmy Durante's long-playing recordings can be divided into raucous comedy and sentimental songs. Most of the comedy is on the MGM label and the sentimental songs on Warner Brothers. Between the two are Decca releases that transition, using a gentler humor and sweet songs. The only live recording of Durante's nightclub act is on the Roulette label. For more information about these major label releases and more obscure releases see the book JIMMY DURANTE: HIS SHOW BUSINESS CAREER by David Bakish, throughout the various chapters and Appendix E.
JIMMY DURANTE
MGM 10" LP E-542. Eight songs reissued from MGM 78 rpm singles recorded from 1947. Numbers include "I'll Do the Strut-Away in My Cutaway," "I'm the Guy Who Found the Lost Chord," and "It's My Nose's Birthday." An enlarged, 12" LP, issue in 1958, JIMMY DURANTE IN PERSON, LION 70053, added 4 more MGM 78 rpm singles, including recordings made in 1950. Also, with the same album title, the 12 songs are on MGM E-3256, and under the title THE SPECIAL MAGIC OF JIMMY DURANTE on the British issue, MGM Select 2353.083. These twelve MGM songs were so popular they were again reissued in 1964 as THE VERY BEST OF JIMMY DURANTE, MGM E-4207.
THE ONE AND ONLY JIMMY DURANTE
Decca 10" LP DL-5116. 1949. Eight songs. Also available on a British 10" LP, Brunswick LA-8582, JIMMY DURANTE SINGS. In 1962, six of the eight songs were reissued on one side of a British 12" LP, Ace of Hearts (Decca) 25, JIMMY DURANTE SINGS/EDDIE CANTOR SINGS.
CLUB DURANT
Decca DL-9049 and Coral CP-45. 12" LP. 1957. Mono. Also issued in England on Brunswick LAT-8218. These are excepts from Durante's radio and TV shows. All numbers performed as duets with guest stars. Nine numbers including one medley with Durante's vaudeville partners Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson as Clayton, Jackson and Durante. Guest stars: Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker, Ethel Barrymore, Bing Crosby, Helen Traubel, Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, Peter Lawford.
JIMMY DURANTE (IN PERSON) AT THE PIANO
Decca DL-8884. 12" LP. 1959. Mono and stereo. Twelve numbers, mostly old chestnuts, sentimental songs like "I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)" and "Shine on Harvest Moon," but also Durante favorites "Start Off Each Day with a Song," "Inka Dinka Doo," and "Good Night."
JIMMY DURANTE AT THE COPACABANA
Roulette 25123. 12" LP. 1961. Mono and stereo. Also issued in England on Columbia SCX-3395. Recorded live at the famous New York nightclub. Features Eddie Jackson and introducing Durante "find," "my junior partner" Sonny King. Six medleys, long on comedy, short on sentimentality, mostly what constituted Durante's long-standing nightclub routine, including "Bill Bailey," "It's My Nose's Birthday," "Inka Dinka Doo," and "Goodnight."
SEPTEMBER SONG
Warner Bros. 1506. 12" LP. 1963. Mono and stereo. Cover reads "Jackie Barnett Presents The New Jimmy Durante." All ten selections are sentimental songs, such as the title song as well as "I Believe" and "Young at Heart."
HELLO YOUNG LOVERS
Warner Bros. 1531. 12" LP. 1964. Mono and stereo. The ten selections, all sentimental, include "Try a Little Tenderness," "Smile, " "This Is All I Ask" and "The Glory of Love."
JIMMY DURANTE'S WAY OF LIFE
Warner Bros. 1577. 12" LP. 1965. Mono and stereo. Included among the ten selections "As Time Goes By" and "Make Someone Happy."
ONE OF THOSE SONGS
Warner Bros. 1655. 12" LP. 1967. Mono and stereo. With special guest Eddie Jackson (who had not been on the earlier Warner Brothers LPs). Among the ten songs is the title track plus "Margie," "Old Man Time," and with Eddie Jackson, the only one from Durante's earlier days, "Bill Bailey (Won't You Please Come Home)."
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Warner Bros. 1713. 12" LP. 1967. Mono and stereo. All devoutly religious songs, with no clowning around. Among the ten tracks, "Precious Lord," "Amen," and "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." This LP was so emotionally effective that it was reissued on Light Records, Waco, Texas, LS-5565, with the same Warner LP title, and liner notes shortened. The number "One of These Days" from the album also appeared on Light Records 45 rpm three-record set FESTIVAL: MUSIC FROM THE ORAL ROBERTS SUMMER TV SPECIAL.
COMPACT DISC REISSUES
Hopefully, more of the Durante material from 78s and LPs will be reissued by the copyright holders and with thorough liner notes. The compact disc reissues listed here are in the order of the original release dates, not according to CD release dates.
THE GREAT SCHNOZZLE
ASV Living Era AJA-5271. 1998. Original mono recordings from 1929-1949. Twenty-three tracks all taken from 78 rpm recordings and remastered in England. This is the most comprehensive collection of the early Durante sides, with full information about each side.
INKA DINKA DOO
MCA Special Products. MCAD-20338. 1986. Reissue of the eight tracks from Decca 10" LP, THE ONE AND ONLY JIMMY DURANTE, plus two tracks from two different 1951 Decca 78s: "Black Strap Molasses," with Groucho Marx, Danny Kaye and Jane Wyman; "A Husband—A Wife," with Ethel Merman. No liner notes.
CLUB DURANT
MCA Special Products. MCAD-20889. 1995. No liner notes.
JIMMY DURANTE AT THE COPACABANA
Collectables 6516. 2004. Copyright controlled by Rhino Entertainment. Originally a Roulette LP.
SEPTEMBER SONG
Collectors' Choice 197. 2001. Under license from Warner Bros.
HELLO YOUNG LOVERS/ONE OF THOSE SONGS
Collectibles 7683. 2004. Under license from Warner Bros.
JIMMY DURANTE'S WAY OF LIFE
Warner Archives 1577. 1998.
AS TIME GOES BY: THE BEST OF JIMMY DURANTE
Warner Archives 45456. 1993. Twelve selections from Warner Bros. LPs, WAY OF LIFE, SEPTEMBER SONG, and HELLO YOUNG LOVERS.
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