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Museum object · Written Music

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

1931

New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Sheet music for the song "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" from the production of "Rhythm-mania" from The Cotton Club. The cover is a red palate with brown. Along the top in a red band is the song title "BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA." In the upper third, below the song title is the production title, in large brown letters. The title curves in a shallow, diagonal "s" pattern with the club listed above in red "The COTTON CLUB/ presents/ RHYTH-MANIA." Below the production title are two columns, one on the left edge of the cover, and one on the right. The left column "STAGED BY DAN HEALY/ DANCES BY/ CLARENCE ROBINSON." The right column "LYRICS BY/ TED KOEHLER/ MUSIC BY/ HAROLD ARLE." In the lower half of the cover is an illustration of a dancing line of people.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2013.223.17

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