Mario Lanza Sings Popular Songs from The Toast of New Orleans

Mario Lanza Sings Popular Songs from "The Toast of New Orleans"
Studio album by Mario Lanza
Released	1950 [1]
Recorded	June 27 and 29, 1950 [2]
Studio	Republic Studios Sound Stage 9, Hollywood [2]
Label	RCA Victor
Mario Lanza chronology
Operatic Arias and Duets as Sung in "The Toast of New Orleans" (1950) Mario Lanza Sings Popular Songs from "The Toast of New Orleans" (1950) Mario Lanza Sings Selections from "The Great Caruso" (1951)

Mario Lanza Sings Popular Songs from the M-G-M Technicolor Motion Picture "The Toast of New Orleans", or simply The Toast of New Orleans, is an album by tenor Mario Lanza containing songs from the 1950 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Toast of New Orleans that featured him, Kathryn Grayson and David Niven. ^[2]

The album was released by RCA Victor in late 1950. ^[1] It was available on 78 rpm (a set of two records, cat. no. DM-1417) and 45 rpm (a set of two records, WDM-1417). ^[3] The record containing the hit "Be My Love" (c/w "I'll Never Love You", cat. numbers 10-1561 and 49-1353) was not included in this album. ^{[3] [4]}

The album spent several weeks at number one on Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Albums chart – on the "Best-Selling 45 R.P.M." half of it. ^{[5] [6]}

Recording

The album was recorded on June 27 and 29, 1950 at the Republic Studios Sound Stage 9 in Hollywood.

Mario Lanza had previously, on April 8 and 11, recorded another album containing songs from the same movie – released under the title Operatic Arias and Duets as Sung in "The Toast of New Orleans" (cat. numbers DM-1395 and WDM-1395). ^{[7] [8]} Unlike DM/WDM-1417, that other album contained classical (operatic) pieces.

Track listing

Album of two 45-rpm EPs (RCA Victor WDM 1417) ^[2]

All lyrics are written by Sammy Cahn; all music is composed by Nicholas Brodszky.

Side 1

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Toast of New Orleans"

Side 2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Boom Biddy Boom"

Side 3

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tina-Lina"

Side 4

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Bayou Lullaby"

Charts

Chart (1951)	Peak position
US Billboard Best Selling Popular Albums – Best Selling 45 R.P.M. [5]	1

References

1. "Advance Classical Record Releases (Includes Semi-Classics)". Billboard. October 21, 1950 – via Google Books.
2. "Mario Lanza – The Toast Of New Orleans – 2 x Vinyl (Red, 7", 45 RPM, Album), 1950". Discogs.
3. "Mario Lanza – The Toast Of New Orleans". Discogs. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
4. https://www.discogs.com/master/276013-Mario-Lanza-Be-My-Love-Ill-Never-Love-You?redirected=true
5. "Billboard". February 24, 1951.
6. "Billboard". March 31, 1951.
7. WDM-1417's back cover: "Mario Lanza has recorded a second album of Operatic Arias and Duets featured in "The Toast of New Orleans". Ask to hear it today—RCA Victor Red Seal album DM/WDM-1395".
8. "Mario Lanza – Operatic Arias And Duets As Sung In the Toast Of New Orleans" – via Discogs.