Noel And Cole: The Sophisticates

Born an ocean apart—one in Peru, Indiana, to great wealth, the other in Teddington, England, to an itinerant piano salesman—Cole Porter and Noel Coward have come to represent the ultimate in sophistication and urbanity. 'You Do Something to Me,' Gay Divorce, 'I Get a Kick Out of You,' 'Just One of Those Things,' Anything Goes, 'Begin the Beguine,' Private Lives, 'Night and Day,' Blithe Spirit, 'Let's Do It,' Hay Fever, 'It's De-Lovely'—the list of witty and irreverent songs and plays goes on and on. It is a body of work that was tremendously exciting when it first appeared and remains remarkably popular today.

Based on access to previously unpublished manuscripts, lyrics, scores and letters, plus dozens of interviews, Noel and Cole presents a fresh and often surprising portrait of these two geniuses and their work, packed with numerous photographs, some of which have never been published before.

Stephen Citron interweaves the biographical strands with consummate skill, providing insight into both men's private lives—including a frank discussion of their homosexuality—while illuminating their musical achievements. He sheds considerable light on Porter's and Coward's art. For instance, Citron reveals that in composing the melody of 'Night and Day,' Cole Porter restricted himself to mid-range notes, with hardly any vocal leaps, especially tailored for Fred Astaire, who was just launching his solo career. Citron also notes that Astaire wanted 'Night and Day' dropped from the show, fearing its long-held notes might crack his voice. Additionally, the book shows how quickly Noel Coward worked—writing Hay Fever in three days and Private Lives in four, even while ill in Shanghai.

Packed with information, including a quintuple chronology and a fifty-page section devoted to the analysis of selected songs, Noel and Cole is an essential reference and a fascinating dual biography of two men who brought style and dazzle to the art of popular entertainment.