Lady of Spain

"Lady of Spain" is a popular song composed in 1931 by Tolchard Evans with lyrics by "Erell Reaves", a pseudonym of Stanley J. Damerell[1] and Robert Hargreaves (1894–1934)I,[2] and by Henry Tilsley.[3] The sheet music was published in London by the Peter Maurice Music Company and in New York by the Sam Fox Publishing Company.[4]

For other uses, see Lady of Spain (disambiguation).

Performance

The earliest recordings of this song were sung by Al Bowlly and Tino Folgar, recorded in 1931 (the year the song was written). Bowlly made recordings with both Ray Noble's and Roy Fox's orchestras. In 1949, Noble's 1931 recording was reissued, with Bowlly's original vocal replaced by a dubbed-in vocal trio, and the record reached No. 19 in the Billboard charts.[5][6] Bowlly had died in the intervening period.[7]

A recording by Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra was made at Manhattan Center, New York City, on July 18, 1952. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4953 (in USA)[8] and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10362. It was a hit in the US, reaching the No. 6 position in the Billboard charts.[9]

Les Paul's guitar instrumental on Capitol Records also reached the Billboard charts, with a peak position of No. 8.[10]

The song was also covered by Bing Crosby[11]

The song is often played on the accordion. Starting in 1947, Dick Contino popularized the song in a Horace Heidt–Philip Morris series of talent contests. This was the theme song of Myron Floren, the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show.

Accordionist and composer William Schimmel performs his own concert version (Reality) of "Lady of Spain" with a series of far-fetched variations on his solo CD Lady of Spain and Other Realities (Newport Classic Records).

The song was also featured in the TV version of Jeeves and Wooster as one of the few songs that the band, featuring some of the members of the Drones Club, actually know. They went on to perform this in several locations as negro minstrels; in one scene, Hugh Laurie (as Bertie Wooster, hiding from the father of an erstwhile fiancée), performed as their vocalist.

In his novel Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon references the song. It is mentioned briefly in the description of a party being held by Lieutenant Slothrop.

In the season 3 episode of I Love Lucy titled "Ricky's 'Life' Story" (1953), "Lady of Spain" is sung by Ricky Ricardo (played by Desi Arnaz).

The song was also featured in the 1977 film Slap Shot, where player/coach Reggie Dunlop (played by Paul Newman) tears up the organist's music and tells him "Don't ever play 'Lady Of Spain' again!" This line is still popular today in several teams' arenas, where the fans will respond with Newman's line if "Lady Of Spain" is played during the game.[12]

"Lady of Spain" was performed by Marvin Suggs on his Muppaphone on The Muppet Show and appears on the Muppet Show 25th anniversary compilation The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More.

In the popular British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!, in the episode "All in Disgeese", M. Alfonse plays "Lady of Spain" on the accordion.[13]

The appearance of a reigning Lady of Spain is part of Cotati, California's, annual Cotati Accordion Festival since 1990.[lower-alpha 1]

Bibliography

Annotations
  1. But what’s an accordion festival without the Lady of Spain? 2008 "At 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:25 p.m. Sunday she’ll make her appearance along with the release of 50 white doves." [Scott] Goree said that many people have worried about the doves these past years. "They all are trained to fly home, so people shouldn’t worry, it’s not a cruel act, just part of the show." Last year reigning Lady of Spain Ruth Edwards performed a mock-death on stage followed by a resurrection of a new Lady, Big Lou Seekins who will take over as the Lady of Spain this year. "The Lady of Spain is definitely one of the festival favorites," said Goree.

Notes
  1. Whitcomb, 2007, pp. 6–11.
  2. Baker, 2011, p. 229.
  3. SecondHandSongs.
  4. Copyright, 1931, p. 343.
  5. Re-Issue (Discogs), 1949.
  6. Re-Issue (Internet Archive), 1949.
  7. Whitburn, 1986, p. 338.
  8. "RCA Victor", December 30, 2009.
  9. Whitburn, 1986, p. 158.
  10. Whitburn, 1986, p. 349.
  11. Bing, Discography.
  12. Tribune-Democrat, February 22, 2009.
  13. 'Allo 'Allo!, February 25, 1989.

References
  • "All in Disgeese". 'Allo 'Allo!. Season 5; Episode 25; aired February 25, 1989.
    1. "Lady of Spain" (©4 February 1931; 1 copy (unpublished) March 11, 1931; Class E (musical composition) for. 17297; Cecil Lennox, Ltd., London). Spanish quick-step or fox-trot, lyrics by Erell Reaves; music by Tolchard Evans of Great Britain; with ukulele arrangement [staff and tonic sol-fa notations]. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1931. p. 343 – via Internet Archive icon of an open green padlock.
      Al Bowlly, vocalist on side A.
      Howard Phillips, vocalist on side B.
      1. RCA Victor Catalog Nos → 25507–A / 25507–B. 11 October 2020.
      2. Matrix Nos. (label) 20-3302-A / 20-3302-B.
      3. Matrix Nos. (runout, stamped, etched) 20-3302 A 2S 39 246 32 / 20-3302 B 2S 3 28. Indianapolis Pressing.
    1. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "The Artists" → "Eddie Fischer". Record Research. p. 158. ISBN 9780898200836.
    2. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "The Artists" → "Ray Noble". Record Research. p. 336. ISBN 9780898200836.
    3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "The Artists" → "Ray Noble". Record Research. p. 338. ISBN 9780898200836.
    4. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "The Artists" → "Les Paul". Record Research. p. 349. ISBN 9780898200836.
    5. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "The Songs" → "Lady of Spain". Record Research. p. 525. ISBN 9780898200836.
    6. Whitburn, Joel (1986). "Billboard Discjockey Polls" (1953). Record Research. p. 639. ISBN 9780898200836.
Web version: "My Uncle Wrote 'Lady of Spain'". www.picklehead.com. Website of the late Ian Whitcomb. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
The author, Ian Whitcomb, by way of his mother, Eileen Whitcomb (née Eileen Mary Burningham; 1913–1998), is a grand nephew-in-law of John Edward Stanley Damerell Stevens. Put another way, he is a grand nephew of J.E.S.D. Stevens' second wife, Irene Victoria Stevens (aka Noel Damerell; aka Irenie Damerell; né Irene Victoria Burningham; 1887–1969).
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