Limehouse Blues (song)

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A 1920s sheet music cover
Limehouse Blues melody - by Beachcomber on alto saxophone

"Limehouse Blues" is a popular 1922 song written by Douglas Furber (lyrics) and Philip Braham (music). It was made famous by Gertrude Lawrence.[1] It has been recorded hundreds of times since, and remains in the standard jazz repertory. Some of the most notable recordings include those by Sidney Bechet, Django Reinhardt, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring Gerry Mulligan, and The Mills Brothers. Outside of jazz, it has been recorded by a number of bluegrass artists, most notably a by Reno and Smiley.

The song has been performed in such films as Ziegfeld Follies (by Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer in Asian makeup), and Star (by Julie Andrews, again, in Asian makeup). The song's title was used for the 1934 film Limehouse Blues.

The song was inspired by the Limehouse district of east London, which housed the London Chinatown of the late 19th early 20th century (until the west end Chinatown was established). The Chinese references can be heard in both the lyrics and the melody.

References

  1. ↑ Hischak, Thomas (1993). Stage It with Music: An Encyclopedic Guide to the American Musical Theatre. Greenwood Press  – via Questia (subscription required) . p. 143. 
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