Prisoner of Love

Music by Russ Columbo and Clarence Gaskill with lyrics by Leo Robin, 1931

Edwin H. Morris & Co. & Colgems-EMI Music Inc. ~ ASCAP

1st recording 1945 ~

With Russ Case and His Orchestra

Produced by Eli Oberstein and Herb Hendler

Recorded at RCA Victor Studio 2, New York City

Recording Time 3:25

Recorded December 18, 1945 ~ Matrix No. D5VB - 991 Take 1 - 1A

SESSION MUSICIANS

December 18, 1945

A&R Production Eli Oberstein

Orchestra

AFTERNOON 1:30 TO 4:45 PM

NO OVERTIME

Leader: Russ Case

Contractor: Union Musicians

Viola ~ Howard Kay

Viola ~ Henry Pakaln

Cello ~ Maurice Brown

Harp ~ Zepp Moscher

Guitar ~ Danny Perri

Piano ~ Sam Liner

Drums ~ John Williams

Violin ~ Jacques Gasselin

Violin ~ Bertrand Hirsch

Violin ~ Harry Hoffman

Violin ~ Samuel Rand

Violin ~ Kurt Dieterle

Violin ~ Les Kruczek

Sax ~ Frank Trumbaur

Sax ~ Russell Banser

Sax ~ Murray Cohen

Sax ~ Jess Carneel

Sax ~ Paul Ricci

Trumpet ~ George Erwin

Trumpet ~ John Lausen

Trumpet ~ Anthony Natoli

Trombone ~ William C. Rank

Trombone ~ Will Bradley

Bass ~ Robert Haggart

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-1814-B

Single Flip Side: "All Through the Day"

US Chart Position No. 1 ( 3 Weeks ) Chart Debut: March 30, 1946

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-3298-A ( P-237 )

Single release: RCA-45RPM 47-2886 ( 1949 )

Single Flip Side: "Temptation"

RCA Gold Standard Series 78/45-RPM-420/447-0105

Single Flip Side: "Temptation"

Collectables Single release: COL-045817

Single Flip Side: "Because"

Album issue: RCA Generic 78 "Russ Case Collection Vol. 1" 1940s Folio Release

Perry's career was skyrocketing in 1946 when this stunning performance of a Russ Columbo favourite was issued. It became an immediate hit, sold well over a million copies, and was a must at any Como appearance. So even Perry was amazed when he forgot the words while singing it at a concert in Cleveland in 1971. 'Can you imagine me forgetting the words to Prisoner of Love,' he said, grinning, after the show. 'I used to work with the idiot cards ( prompting cue cards ) on my TV show all the time, and I guess I just came to depend too much on them.' It's never happened again, and a good thing too — Prisoner of Love remains one of Perry's most requested songs to this day.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )

Note: ~ introduced and featured by Russ Columbo in 1931, recorded for Victor. Perry was a friend of the composer and revived the song in 1946 with a best selling record which remained on "Your Hit Parade" for fifteen weeks, achieving gold record status. He performed this song many times on his radio and television shows and, apart from duplicating his recorded performance for the War Time V-Disc program, he never recorded the song again for RCA Victor until his 'live' Las Vegas performance in 1970.

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2nd recording 1946 ~

V-Disc Recording

At the beginning of World War II, the War department, through the Army Services Forces — Special Services Division, distributed thousands of shellac phonograph records (V DISCS) to Army Forces throughout the world. Shortly after the Army's program started, the U.S. Navy became involved in the program, appointing E.P. DiGiannantonio to run the Navy, Marine and Coast Guard programs.

V-Disc Record Number CS-656-B

Serial No. JDB 74 D6TC 5168-1

Recorded circa February, 1946

"The Pause that Refreshes On the Air"

CBS Radio Broadcast

Liederkranz Hall, New York City

Perry Como - vocal refrain

with André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra

Recording Time 3:12

Russian born André Kostelanetz immigrated to the United States in 1922 and began his long affiliation with the CBS network in 1932. He married coloratura soprano Lily Pons in 1938 and she was often featured with the Kostelanetz orchestra on its radio shows and Columbia recordings. On December 1, 1940, André Kostelanetz and his orchestra ( with violinist Albert Spaulding ) inaugurated the Coca Cola Company's "Pause That Refreshes On The Air" series on CBS ( Sundays, 4:30-5:00 P.M. ). These programs were broadcast from Liederkranz Hall until 1947 and featured Kostelanetz' 45 piece orchestra, chorus and guest vocalists and instrumentalists. Arrangements were by Kostelanetz, Herb Quigley ( to late 1944 ) and Joe Glover ( after early 1944 ).

In December 1944, Perry Como began a long association with the Liggett and Meyers Tobacco Company and its "Chesterfield Supper Club" series on NBC Radio ( Monday to Friday, 7:00-7:15 P.M. ). During the V-Disc years, accompanying orchestras included those of Ted Steele, Lloyd Shaffer, Carl Kress and Mitchell Ayres. Ted Steele's Orchestra accompanied Perry on the Chesterfield broadcasts from December 11, 1944, through to July 27, 1945.

3rd recording 1970 'LIVE' ~

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

Produced by Ernie Altschuler

Recorded Live June 25th, 26th, and 27th, 1970 at the International Hotel, Las Vegas

Recording Engineer: Mickey Crofford

Recording time 3:25

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas" LSPX-1001 STEREO 1970

Album issue: RCA-JAPAN-LP12 "Perry Como In Person" R4P-5007 DISCRETE 4 CHANNEL STEREO 1970

Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas" SF-8159 STEREO 1970

Album issue: RCA-HOLLAND-LP12 "Perry Como In Concert" NL-42976 STEREO U/K

In Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas ~ 1970

"Perry Como" Como Medley Overture 'Live' 1980 ~

Live recording on location produced by Mike Berniker

( Time 31:36 Side A and 28:42 Side B applause and talk included )

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito with Vocal Arrangements by Ray Charles

Recording Engineer: Mike Moran / RCA Mobile Unit: Ron Olson and Tom Brown / Mastering Engineer: Mike Posner.

Recorded 'Live' at the Mill Run Theatre, Niles, Illinois, July 29th, 30th, 31st, 1980.

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Perry Como Live On Tour" AQL1-3826 STEREO 1981

Note: The opening Overture ( Como Medley ) includes: Till the End of Time / Round and Round / Catch a Falling Star / Prisoner of Love / Temptation / Hot Diggity / It's Impossible arranged and conducted by Nick Perito