Youmans–Hit Deck, Join the Navy

The Desert Song was the last major show in 1926, and Hit the Deck was the first major hit in 1927, opening at the Belasco Theatre on April 27, 1927. It was a follow up to composer Vincent Youmans’ big hit in 1925, No, No, Nanette. This time around, Youmans was not only composer but was a co-producer with Lew Fields. Lew’s son, Herb wrote the book, and Leo Robin and Clifford Grey wrote the lyrics. Leo Robin also teamed up with Ralph Ranger to write many of Bing Crosby’s early hit songs, such as “June in January” and “Please.”

The book was an adaptation of a play called Shore Leave and centered around Loulou, who ran a coffee shop in Newport, RI that catered to sailors. Loulou falls in love with a sailor named Bilge; and when she comes into an inheritance, she follows Bilge around the world trying to get him to marry her. In the end, she nails her man, but only after agreeing to give her money away–to their first-born child. While one reviewer found the show to be “clean, pretty, bright and happy,” it did not have a cohesive core. Yet, it ran for 352 performances.

Two songs gained lasting fame, which we will feature in coming days. However, the 1955 movie adaptation also used some of Vincent’s lesser known songs; and we want to post them so that we can give you a broader range of his songs.

The 1955 movie combined two songs from the show, the opening number, called “Join the Navy,” and a number from Scene 3, “Looloo.” Watch Debbie Reynolds being thrown around by the male dancers.