Blue Eyes

Author’s collection.

Music by Lawrence Wright as “Horatio Nicholls”, words by & Fred Godfrey [as “Godfrey Williams” according to British Library & Feldman/Lawrence Wright music sheets; ASCAP lists as Godfrey & Nicholls; EMI lists Godfrey as “Geoff Williams” & Wright as “Horatio Nicholls] — London: Lawrence Wright Music; Bert Feldman, 1915; [ASCAP lists publisher as EMI April Music Corp].

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Fred Godfrey’s youngest daughter Peggie (1912–2001), who had blue eyes, always claimed he wrote the song for her.

Listen to a 1915 recording by Stanley Kirkby.

Recordings

Black Diamonds Band, in “Camp Concert” (Zonophone Twin 1572, 1915)

The Bohemian Band (Edison Bell Winner 2912, 1915)

Stanley Kirkby (Clarion 915, 1915 [cylinder]; John Bull 554; Jumbo 1311, 1915; The Winner 2863, 1915; The Winner 2921 [reissue?], 1915; Clarion 109, 1916; Clarion 129, 1916)

The Mayfair Orch.; dir. by George W. Byng (HMV C-624, 1915)

Bert Feldman & Co. album cover

Murray Johnson (HMV B-549, 1915)

Will Thompson (Popular 596, 1915)

Dorothy Ward (Regal G-7170, 1915)

The New Mayfair Dance Orch., in “Memories Of Horatio Nicholls” (HMV B-280, 1935)

Debroy Somers Band, in “Memories of Horatio Nicholls” (Columbia DX-673, 1935)

Charlie Kunz, in “Charlie Kunz’ Twenties Waltz Medley” (Decca F-9904, 1952); reissued on LP “Charlie Kunz Piano Medley No. 4” (London LB 678, 1952?)

Clarence Wright, in 7-LP set “Palace Of Varieties — Old Time Music Hall” (BBC CN-1426, 1976)

Harry Davidson & His Orch. (Columbia SCD 2033)