Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Al Dubin song)

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a 1933 hit song by Al Dubin (lyrics) and Harry Warren (music), set in Paris. The narrator says "I walk along the street of sorrow/The Boulevard of Broken Dreams/Where gigolo and gigolette/Can take a kiss without regret/So they forget their broken dreams."

The song appeared in the 1934 film Moulin Rouge and was sung in the film by Constance Bennett. However, Bennett never made a recording of the song. It was originally recorded by Deane Janis with Hal Kemp's Orchestra on October 31, 1933 in Chicago before the release of the film and was issued on the Brunswick label as catalog number 6734.^[1]

Covers

• Ted Weems and His Orchestra recorded the song with vocals by Elmo Tanner on December 5, 1933 in Chicago on the Bluebird label as catalog number 5288.^[2][3]
• Jan Garber and His Orchestra recorded the song with vocals by Lee Bennett on December 14, 1933 on the Victor label as catalog number 24498.^[4] Their recording remained on the U.S. Billboard chart for 11 weeks and reached number six in 1934.^[5]
• Ed Lloyd's Rhythm Boys recorded the song with vocals by Helen Ward on February 2, 1934 on Conqueror Records as catalog number 8261.^[6]
• Bing Crosby sang the song with Jimmie Grier and His Orchestra on April 16, 1934 on his radio show Bing Crosby Entertains (the Woodbury series).^[7]
• Connee Boswell recorded the song on April 27, 1934 on the Brunswick label as catalog number 6871^[8] and as catalog number 01783 with the flip side "Carioca."^[9]
• Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra recorded the song with vocals by Sam Browne in 1934 on the Brunswick label as catalog number 01721.^[10]
• It was one of the first records for Tony Bennett in 1950; Bennett made a more Latin sounding recording of the song in 1952 and it was a hit. He recorded it again in 1990 and 2007. Bennett recorded a duet of the song with Sting for his 2006 Duets: An American Classic album.
• It was covered by No Wave artist James White on his 1983 album Flaming Demonics.
• Marianne Faithfull also covered it in her Hal Willner produced weary/lush album Strange Weather.
• Monsieur Camembert featured it one their ARIA award-winning self-titled album, Monsieur Camembert, sung by Jacqi Stoddard.
• It was performed by Diana Krall on her All For You album devoted to the music of Nat King Cole. It was also re-arranged and covered by Diana Krall for her 2006 album From This Moment On and released as a bonus track on iTunes.
• This song was featured on a BBC Apprentice advertisement in 2010. It also feature all of the five concerts for Amy Winehouse's return tour in 2011, in Brazil.
• It was covered by the Progressive Rock group Cafe Jacques on their 1978 album International.
• The song was sung live on the ABC show Dancing with the Stars in 2010 (Season 11, episode 4) by the show's band during an Argentine Tango dance featuring Anna Demidova & Andrey Begunov.

References

1. ^ Liner notes from the album Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? American Song During the Great Depression (PDF). newworldrecords.org. New World Records, p. 12
2. ^ Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone BLUEBIRD numerical listings 5000 - 5500 Online Discographical Project. Retrieved June 1, 2011
3. ^ Ted Weems and his Orchestra: Discography redhotjazz.com
4. ^ Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone Victor 24000 - 24500 Numerical Listing 1932 - 1933 Online Discographical Project. Retrieved June 1, 2011
5. ^ Song artist 629 - Jan Garber
6. ^ Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone Conqueror records 8000 - 8500 Online Discographical Project. Retrieved June 1, 2011
7. ^ Van der Kolff, Frans.Bing Crosby: A Sonography bingmagazine.co.uk
8. ^ Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone Brunswick 6000 Series Numerical Listing Online Discographical Project. Retrieved June 1, 2011
9. ^ Acoustic Recordings: Connie Boswell - Br 01783 (PDF). 78rpm.com. Nauck's Vintage Records #49, p.54
10. ^ Great Songs from 1934 Brunswick 01721

• Boulevard of Broken Dreams at artgrok.org
• "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Al Dubin Detailed Song List at Songwriters Hall of Fame
• "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Harren Warren Detailed Song List at Songwriters Hall of Fame