"Alice Blue Gown" is a popular song written by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Tierney. The song, which was inspired by Alice Roosevelt Longworth's signature gown, was first performed by Edith Day in the 1919 Broadway musical Irene.[1] In 1920 the song was recorded and released.[2]
Artists who have recorded the song include Duke Ellington, Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Lilly Lanken & Rufus Wainwright, Glenn Miller, Wayne King, Frank Sinatra, Chet Atkins, and Lenny Breau. Carol Burnett sang the song as a spoof while wearing a fatsuit for the opening number of the March 29, 1975 episode of her eponymous variety show.[3][4][5] Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, sang it on her mother's Christmas show in December 1963.[6][circular reference]
The song is about Irene's favourite dress which she wore until it was worn out, and begins:[7]
I once had a gown it was almost new
Oh, the daintiest thing, it was sweet Alice Blue
- ^ Furia, Philip & Lasser, Michael L. (2006), America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and the Tin Pan Handle, New York: Routledge
- ^ "Edith Day - Irene / Alice Blue Gown". Discogs. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ Carol Burnett Collection of Television Music and Printed Sheet Music, 1967-1978.
- ^ The Carol Burnett Show. March 29, 1975. Guest stars: Jean Stapleton, Phil Silvers.
- ^ The Carol Burnett Show: Video. March 29, 1975.
- ^ "The Judy Garland Show". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ Duke University Libraries Sheet Music Archive