Molly O’Morgan (The Irish-Italian Girl)

Listen to a 1910 recording by Ella Retford (the label shown here is her 1930 reprise).

Nat Starr & His Dance Orchestra play Molly O’Morgan in a medley of old hits in this 1931 recording.

Fred Godfrey & Will Letters — London: Bert Feldman Melbourne: Stanley Mullen, 1909.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The “hook” of this huge success, for Ella Retford above all, was combining the popular fads for Irish and Italian “ethnic” songs in one multicultural mix — and throwing in the inevitable organ for good measure. Not very PC now, but no one minded at the time.

Molly O’Morgan is included in this medley of Music Hall songs.

Recordings

Florrie Forde (Amberol 12155, 1909) [cylinder]

——— (Zonophone X-43201, 1909)

Ella Retford (Pathé 8204, 1910; Jumbo 503, 1910; Jumbo A-28096); reissued on LP “Music Hall — Top Of The Bill” (EMI SHB-22, 1980)

———, in “Ella Retford Songs Medley” (Regal Zonophone MR-205, 1930); reissued on LP “The Greatest Music Hall Bill Ever Assembled” (Music For Pleasure MFP-1146, ca. early 1960s); reissued on cassette “Playing The Halls 1” (Evergreen Melodies EVR9, 1991); reissued on compact disc “Top Of The Bill” (Pearl PAST CD 9753, 1992)

Harry Fay (The Twin 223, 1910; Columbia-Rena 1254, 1910)

——— as “Fred Vernon” (Clarion 382, 1910) [cylinder]

Band Of H.M. King Edward’s Horse, in “Pick Of The Basket: Popular Songs Of The Day” (Bell Disc 229, ca. 1910; reissued on Edison Bell Velvet Face 1030, ca. 1922)

Radio Concert Orchestra & Chorus, in “Old Time Music Hall Songs” (Mayfair G223, 1931)

Charles “Nat” Star & His Dance Orchestra, in “Communityland” (Sterno 639, 1931)

Arthur Lally & The Million-Aires; Maurice Elwin, vocal, in “Communityland” (Decca F-2570,1931)

The London Orch.; dir. by John Firman; Maurice Elwin, vocal, in “Memoryland” (Zonophone5850, 1931)

International Novelty Orch. (Zonophone 5901, 1931)

Reginald Dixon, in “Communityland” (Regal Zonophone T-6218, 1932)

Selma Mouth-Organ Band, in “Medley Of Old Songs” (Zonophone 6118, 1932)

Sydney Thompson & His Old-Tyme Dance Orchestra, on LP “Take Your Partners, no. 2” (Parlophone PMD-1037, early 1950s)

Glen Daly, on LP “Mr. Glasgow” (Pye NSPL-15062, 1973)

Pasquale & Co. 44-Note Street Piano, on LP “Music Of The Streets: Mechanical Street Entertainment” (Saydisc SDL-340, 1983)