“I Don’t Want to Go to Bed.” Words by Stanley Lupino, music by Noel Gay (1932). Recorded by Stanley Lupino and Elsie Carlisle on December 1, 1932. Decca F-3319 mx. GB-5274-3.
An anthem praising the nightlife and its frolicking “nightbird company,” “I Don’t Want to Go to Bed” is part of the score of the 1932 movie Sleepless Nights. Its lyrics were penned by comic actor Stanley Lupino (father of Ida Lupino), who was also the star of the film. Elsie Carlisle joins him in a vocal duet in this Decca recording of the song — she did not act in the movie — and while she only sings for fifteen seconds, hers is a memorable contribution. Particularly funny is her perky comment in the debate as to whether the merrymakers will go home or not:
“I appeal to you, Miss Carlisle!”
“Not to me! Tonight, I’m one of the boys!”
A photograph of the recording session makes it seem likely that Arthur Lally was the musical director. Elsie would record “I Don’t Want to Go to Bed” again later the same month in a duet with Sam Browne, accompanied by Harry Hudson’s Melody Men (as Rolando and His Blue Salon Orchestra).
Other 1932 recordings of the song were made by Billy Cotton and His Band (with vocalist Fred Douglas), Henry Hall’s BBC Dance Orchestra (with vocals by Les Allen), Harry Bidgood’s Broadcasters (as the Rhythm Rascals, with Tom Barratt singing), Ambrose and His Orchestra (with vocalist Sam Browne and spoken parts by Ambrose and Max Bacon), Tommy Kinsman and His Band (as the Fifteen Crimson Dominoes, with vocals by Fred Douglas and a spoken part by Tom Barratt), Roy Fox and His Band (Roy Fox and Les Lambert, vocalists), Harry Roy and His R.K. Olians (with vocals by Harry Roy, Bill Currie, and Ivor Moreton), the Durium Dance Band (with Sam Browne), and Jack Payne and His Band (with singing by Billy Scott Coomber, Jack Jackson, and Bob Easson, and spoken parts by Jack Payne and Leslie Holmes).
