At the Devil's Ball

"At the Devil's Ball",[2][3] also spelled "At the Devils Ball",[4] is a song composed by Irving Berlin. There are three published editions of the song's lyrics[5]—the first was registered for copyright on November 14, 1912;[6] the second and third editions were registered on December 17, 1912,[7] and January 8, 1913,[8] respectively. The song's lyrics are written in first person,[9] and convey a dream about a visit to a formal dance party in Hell, hosted by the Devil.

"At the Devil's Ball"
Cover of the song's sheet music
Song
Released1913
LabelColumbia Records[1]
Songwriter(s)Irving Berlin

"At the Devil's Ball" has been recorded several times by different artists, most notably the version by the Peerless Quartet and Maurice Burkhart, which was recorded and released in 1913.[5][10]

Recordings

Several recordings of the song were produced in 1913.[10] These include a version by the vocal group Peerless Quartet and singer Maurice Burkhart recorded in January 1913 and released in April, as well as a version by Victor Military Band also recorded in January and released in April; the latter recording was performed as part of a medley with another Berlin tune, "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam".[10]

Reception

Biographer James Kaplan referred to "At the Devil's Ball" as "sheer, surrealistic genius," and wrote that the song "[derives] its great good humor from the brilliantly homely details: a coat check at the entrance to hell; the cute Mrs. Devil in her beautiful fireman's hat; and the masterstroke, the mother-in-law dancing with Old Nick himself."[9]

The recording of the song featuring vocals by Maurice Burkhart was included on the soundtrack of the 2019 horror film Candy Corn.[11]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to At the Devil's Ball.
  1. Rust, Brian (1999). The Columbia Master Book Discography, Volume II: Principal U.S. Matrix Series, 1910–1924. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 530. ISBN 978-0313308222.
  2. CPO 1912, p. 3818, 4205.
  3. "At the devil's ball". DigitalCollections.NYPL.org. New York Public Library. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  4. "At the devils ball". LOC.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  5. Kimball, Robert; Emmet, Linda, eds. (2001). The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 62. ISBN 978-0679419433.
  6. CPO 1912, p. 3818.
  7. CPO 1912, p. 4205.
  8. Catalog of Copyright Entries. Library of Congress Copyright Office. 1913. p. 6. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  9. Kaplan, James (2019). Irving Berlin: New York Genius. Yale University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0300180480.
  10. Hamm, Charles (1997). Irving Berlin: Songs from the Melting Pot: The Formative Years, 1907–1914. Oxford University Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0195071887.
  11. "Candy Corn – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Bandcamp. Burning Witches Records. Retrieved June 6, 2022.

Bibliography
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