Mario Lanza: A Discography

 

English Recordings (L-R)

by Derek McGovern


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The above video, beautifully put together by Vincent Di Placido, features the stereo version of "Never Till Now," as heard exclusively on the 2025 Sepia Records 2-CD set Mario Lanza: Night and Day.

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About the English-Language Recordings


Lanza's recorded legacy includes multiple versions of songs, arias, and duets in many instances. Where more than one version of a particular piece exists, I have underlined what I consider the best rendition(s). I have also noted what I believe to be the optimum sound source on CD.

Many of these recommendations are for CDs released between 2016 and 2026 by the London-based music specialists Sepia Records. Please note that while I was one of the compilers for these CDs, and also wrote the accompanying booklet notes, neither I nor my fellow compilers (Lanza biographer Armando Cesari, Vincent Di Placido, Carmel Parisi et al) have any financial interest in these releases. We gave our time to these CD projects simply out of a desire to see justice done to Lanza's recorded legacy, and the Sepia series has also included many non-commercial (live, private, and rare studio acetate) recordings that are unavailable to RCA (Lanza's official recording company) or its subsequent incarnations, BMG and Sony.


Note: If you are new to Lanza, or simply want to hear him at his consistent best in the English-language repertoire, I would recommend as a starting point the magnificent 2026 Sepia Records CD Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince. Two other recent Sepia Records releases, the 2024 CD Golden Days and the 2025 2-CD set  Night and Day also include some of his finest singing of English-language songs. (Golden Days and Night and Day also include many of Lanza's best operatic recordings.) Sepia has also released a stereo version of the best of Lanza's superior mono (1950-56) recordings of Christmas carols.  


Recordings to be avoided at all costs are noted with an ❌.  These indicate Lanza's worst pieces of singing.   

L

Lady of Spain

(Hargreaves-Evans-Damerell-Tilsley)

  • 29 January 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show The Mario Lanza Collection (BMG 3-CD set, 1991)


Lee-Ah-Loo

(Sinatra-Lehmann)

  • 19 October 1951 (b) soundtrack to Because You're Mine The Electrifying Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2022)
  • 1 August 1952 (c) RCA The Mario Lanza Collection (RCA/BMG 3-CD set, 1991)


A Little Love, a Little Kiss

(Silesu-Ross)

  • 20 March 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998)


Long Ago and Far Away

(Kern-Ira Gershwin)

  • 13 July 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025) [In DES stereo] and Mario Lanza: When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998) [In the original mono] 


Look For the Silver Lining

(from Sally) (Kern-De Sylva)

  • 8 November 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show The Electrifying Mario Lanza (BMG, 2022) or Mario Lanza: Original Album Classics (Sony/RCA 5-CD set, 2009)
  • 8 November 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (alternate take) Mario Lanza: You'll Never Walk Alone (BMG, 1995) 


The Lord’s Prayer

(Malotte)

  • 19 December 1948 (k) live radio performance Mario Lanza: One Alone (Sepia Records, 2017)
  • 2 August 1951 (l) soundtrack to Because You're Mine O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025) Note: This is the recording in its original form, with organ accompaniment only; in the film this rendition is overlaid with the MGM Studio Orchestra and Choir.  
  • 14 August 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: The Best of Everything (Sony 2-CD set, 2017) [transcription]
  • 29 September 1951 (h) RCA (with the Jeff Alexander Choir) Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025)


Love in a Home

(from Li'l Abner) (de Paul-Mercer)

  • 15 August (e) 1956 RCA O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025) 


Love Is Music

(adapted from Tchaikovsky/Charles and Andre Previn/Katz)

  • 30 December 1948 (p) soundtrack recording for That Midnight Kiss with Kathryn Grayson, soprano Be My Love: Mario Lanza's Greatest Performances as MGM (Rhino, 1998)


Love Is the Sweetest Thing

(Noble)

  • 15 April 1952 (a) broadcast take for Coca-Cola radio show (not commercially released)
  • 15 April 1952 (a) alternate take for Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: All the Things You Are (Sepia, 2019)

            You can compare the two versions here.


Love Me Tonight

(from The Vagabond King) (Friml-Hooker)

  • July 1959 (g) RCA Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026)


The Loveliest Night of the Year

(adapted from Rosas/Aaronson-Webster)

  • 23 February 1951 (q) RCA Mario Lanza: Classics (Sepia, 2020)
  • 14 June 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: The Definitive Collection (BMG UK, 2004)
  • June 1957 (n) soundtrack to Seven Hills of Rome (partial take from "Waltzing along in the blue..." to the end).
  • 7 November 1957 (g) RCA
  • 18 November 1957 (r) live performance
  • 24 November 1957 (m) live performance; watch it here.    


Lover Come Back To Me

(from New Moon) (Romberg-Hammerstein)

  • 6 September 1956 (e) RCA Mario Lanza: All the Things You Are (Sepia, 2019)


Lygia

(Rozsa-Webster)

  • 16 December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show  Mario Lanza: Golden Days (Sepia, 2024) Listen to it here in this creative video.


M

Make Believe

(from Show Boat) (Kern-Hammerstein)

  • December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: The Toast of Hollywood (Sony/TCM 2-CD set, 2013)


Marcheta

(Schertzinger)

  • 25 March 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998)


Memories

(Kahn-Van Alstyne)

  • February 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Be My Love (RCA/BMG, 1991)


A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

(Martin Luther-Frederick H. Hedge)

  • 28 July 1952 (l) soundtrack to The Student Prince (with MGM chorus subsequently added) Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025) and Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026) Note: Only a third of this recording is heard in the actual film.


The Moon Was Yellow

(Ahlert-Leslie)

  • 20 March 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998) and (with a different spoken introduction by Lanza) Mario Lanza: One Alone (Sepia, 2017)


More Than You Know

(from Great Day) (Youmans-Rose-Eliscu)

  • 14 May 1956 (o) RCA ❌


My Buddy

(Donaldson-Kahn)

  • February 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998)


My Destiny

(Brodszky-Cahn)

  • 7 July 1955 (i) exquisite version with piano only, recorded for the soundtrack of Serenade (outtake) The Undiscovered Mario Lanza: Rare Recordings and Hidden Gems (Sepia, 2022) Click here to listen to an extract. 
  • 11 July 1955 (i) recorded for the soundtrack of Serenade (film take) (originally recorded with piano only, but overlaid with the Warner Bros. studio orchestra/Ray Heindorf conducting in the film) Unreleased on CD
  • 21 July 1955 (j) recorded at the Serenade film sessions. Note: This version with full orchestra was released on the RCA soundtrack album, but was not featured in the actual film (presumably due to time constraints). Serenade / A Cavalcade of Show Tunes (BMG UK, 2004). 


My Heart Stood Still

(from A Connecticut Yankee) (Rodgers-Hart) 

  • 24 July 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show


My Margo

(from The Desert Song) (Romberg-Harbach-Hammerstein-Mandel)

  • August or early September 1959 (g) RCA (commercially unreleased in any format)


My Romance

(from Jumbo) (Rodgers-Hart)

  • 5 December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025)  [in DES stereo] and Mario Lanza: Never Till Now (Sepia, 2016) & Mario Lanza: The Best of Everything (Sony 2-CD set, 2017) [both in the original mono]
  • 5 December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (alternate take) When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998) / My Romance (BMG, 2001)
  • 15 May 1956 (o) RCA  ❌


My Song, My Love

(Beelby-Beilenson)

  • 26 August 1950 (h) RCA The Mario Lanza Collection (BMG 3-CD set, 1991)
  • 15 June 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show


My Wild Irish Rose

(Wolcott)

  • 11 March 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Be My Love (RCA/BMG, 1991) Also available in reasonable sound on All the Things You Are (Sepia, 2019) 



N

Never Till Now

(Green-Webster)

  • 7 November 1957 (g) RCA Mario Lanza: Never Till Now (Sepia, 2016) OR in stereo on Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025) [Listen to the stereo version in the video at the top of this page]

Night and Day

(from Gay Divorce) (Porter)

  • 14 August 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025)


The Night Is Young 

(Suesse-Rose-Kahal)

  • 16 January 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: The Toast of Hollywood (Sony/TCM 2-CD set, 2013) and with Lanza's spoken introduction on Mario Lanza: Never Till Now (Sepia, 2016)


A Night To Remember

(Segal-Kalmanoff)

  • 15 April 1957 (e) RCA The Mario Lanza Collection (BMG 3-CD set, 1991) [in the original mono] and Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025) [in DES stereo]


Nocturne

(from The Vagabond King) (Friml-Hooker)

  • July 1959 (g) RCA [full song] (with chorus added in New York City in March 1960) Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026)
  • July 1959 (g) RCA [brief, softly sung reprise version] The Electrifying Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2022) ["raw" mono acetate, with Lanza's voice well forward in the mix and without the chorus] and Mario! Lanza At His Best [SACD version] (Sony/BMG, 2006) [stereo version, with chorus added]  


None But the Lonely Heart

(Tchaikovsky-David-Hoffmann-Livingston)

  • 8 November 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: You'll Never Walk Along (BMG 1995)


O

O Christmas Tree

(Franck-adapt. Anschütz)

  • 15 August 1956 (e) RCA O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025)
  • May 1959 (f) RCA Lanza Sings Christmas Carols (RCA/BMG, 1998)


O Come All Ye Faithful

(Trad-Oakley)

  • 28 September 1951 (h) RCA (with the Jeff Alexander Choir)   O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025)
  • December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show
  • May 1959 (f) RCA (with chorus recorded and added in New York City, September 1959) Lanza Sings Christmas Carols (RCA/BMG, 1998)


O Holy Night

(Adam-Dwight)

  • 29 May 1950 (c) RCA (with the Jeff Alexander Choir) O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025) 


O Little Town of Bethlehem

(Brooks-Redner)

  • 28 September 1951 (h) RCA (with the Jeff Alexander Choir) O Holy Night: Christmas with Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2025)
  • December 1951 (b) Coca-Cola radio show
  • May 1959 (f) RCA (with chorus recorded and added in New York City, September 1959) Lanza Sings Christmas Carols (RCA/BMG, 1998)


Oh, Nights of Splendor

(aka "Neapolitan Nights") (Zamecnik-Kerr)

  • 10 July 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (official "LP take") Mario Lanza: Original Album Classics (Sony 5-CD set, 2009) 
  • 10 July 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (alternate take) Serenade: A Mario Lanza Songbook (Sony, 2009)


On the Street Where You Live

(from My Fair Lady) (Loewe-Lerner)

  • 17 May 1956 (o) RCA Mario Lanza: My Romance (BMG, 2001)


One Alone

(from The Desert Song) (Romberg-Harbach-Hammerstein-Mandel)

  • 29 April (a) 1952 Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998)  
  • September 1959 (g) RCA (with chorus added in New York City in March 1960) Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026)
  • September 1959 (g) RCA [reprise version] The Mario Lanza Collection (BMG 3-CD set, 1991)


One Flower in Your Garden

(from The Desert Song) (Romberg-Harbach-Hammerstein-Mandel)

  • September 1959 (g) RCA (with Donald Arthur, bass, and chorus added in New York City in March 1960) Mario Lanza: All the Things You Are (Sepia, 2019)


One Good Boy Gone Wrong

(from The Desert Song) (Romberg-Harbach-Hammerstein-Mandel)

  • September 1959 (g) RCA (with Judith Raskin, soprano, whose contribution was recorded in New York City in March 1960) Mario Lanza: The Student Prince and the Desert Song (BMG, 1989)


One Love of Mine

(adapted from Tchaikovsky)

  • 31 December 1948 (p) outtake recorded for the soundtrack of That Midnight Kiss with Kathryn Grayson, soprano (available on the official DVD of That Midnight Kiss/The Toast of New Orleans in restored footage)


One Night of Love

(Schertzinger-Kahn)

  • 5 December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show ("official" LP take with A-flat ending) The Mario Lanza Collection (BMG 3-CD set, 1991) 
  • 5 December 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (alternate take with high C ending) When Day Is Done (BMG, 1998)


Only a Rose

(from The Vagabond King) (Friml-Hooker)

  • 27 August 1956 (e) RCA (with the Jeff Alexander Choir) Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026) An excerpt of this new (DES) stereo reproduction is featured here.
  • July 1959 (g) RCA (with Judith Raskin, soprano, whose vocals were recorded in New York City in March 1960) Mario Lanza: The Legendary Tenor (RCA/BMG, 1987) or for those wishing to hear the original acetate with Lanza only: The Electrifying Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2022)  


Only a Rose: Finale/Reprise

  • July 1959 (g) RCA Mario Lanza: Poetry and Passion (Sepia, 2018) [thrilling, "raw" acetate version of Lanza without the overlaid chorus or Judith Raskin] OR (for those who prefer more pristine sound quality) Mario! Lanza At His Best [SACD version] (Sony/BMG, 2006) [stereo version, with chorus and Judith Raskin recorded and added in New York City in March 1960, and Lanza not as audible in the mix, particularly on his final note]. Listen to the former here.  


P

Pineapple Pickers

(Stoll)

  • November 1958 (s) for the soundtrack of For the First Time (the silliest song ever foisted on Lanza, but with the consolation of a spectacular ending) For the First Time/Caruso Favorites (BMG/Collectables, 2004) or Mario Lanza: Double Feature (BMG 1991)


Play Gypsies, Dance Gypsies

(from Countess Maritza) (Kalman-Smith)

  • 31 March 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show The Very Best of Mario Lanza (Reader's Digest 3-CD set, 1994)


A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody

(Berlin)

  • 23 January 1946 (d) live radio broadcast The Electrifying Mario Lanza (Sepia, 2022)


R

The Riff Song

(from The Desert Song) (Romberg-Harbach-Hammerstein-Mandel)

  • August 1959 (g) RCA (with chorus added in New York City in March 1960)  Mario Lanza: The Student Prince and the Desert Song (BMG, 1989) 


Romance

(Leslie-Donaldson)

  • 1 February 1952 (a) Coca-Cola radio show (with spoken intro) Mario Lanza: Golden Days (Sepia, 2024)


The Rosary

(Nevin-Rogers)

  • 23 August 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: Poetry and Passion (Sepia, 2018)


Rose Marie

(from Rose Marie) (Friml-Hammerstein-Harbach-Stothart)

  • 31 August 1956 (e) RCA Mario Lanza: The Definitive Student Prince (Sepia, 2026)


Roses of Picardy

(Weatherley-Wood)

  • 29 November 1951 (a) Coca-Cola radio show Mario Lanza: Night and Day (Sepia, 2025)


Key to recording details: 

 (a) Radio Recorder Studios, Los Angeles. Untitled orchestra; Ray Sinatra, conductor.

 (b) MGM Studios, Culver City. MGM Studio Orchestra; John Green, conductor. 

 (c) Republic Studios, Hollywood. RCA Victor Orchestra; Constantine Callinicos, conductor. 

 (d) Liederkranz Hall, New York City ("Great Moments in Music"). Untitled orchestra; Sylvan Levin, conductor.

 (e) Republic Studios, Los Angeles. Henri René, conductor, with his orchestra. 

 (f) Cinecittà Studios, Rome. Untitled orchestra; Paul Baron, conductor.

 (g) Cinecittà Studios, Rome. Untitled orchestra; Constantine Callinicos, conductor. 

 (h) Republic Studios, Hollywood. RCA Victor Orchestra; Ray Sinatra, conductor.

 (i)  Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank. Jakob Gimpel, pianist.

 (j)  Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank. Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra; Ray Heindorf, conductor.

 (k) NBC radio broadcast, Los Angeles ("Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"). The Ray Noble Orchestra and Choir; Ray Noble, conductor.  

 (l)  MGM Studios, Culver City. Wesley Tourtelotte, organist. 

 (m) London Palladium, London. Live ATV broadcast ("Sunday Night at the London Palladium"). London Palladium Orchestra; Constantine Callinicos, conductor. 

 (n) Vatican Auditorium, Rome. RAI Symphony Orchestra; George Stoll, conductor.

 (o) Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank. Untitled orchestra; Irving Aaronson, conductor. Jeff Alexander Choir overdubbed.

 (p) MGM Studios, Culver City. MGM Studio Orchestra; José Iturbi, conductor. 

 (q) Manhattan Center, New York City. RCA Victor Orchestra; Constantine Callinicos, conductor.

 (r) London Palladium, London. Live radio broadcast ("Royal Variety Show"). London Palladium Orchestra; Constantine Callinicos, conductor. 

 (s) Berlin, Germany. Johannes Rediske and his Quintet.