Stage Door are pleased to present their second retrospective collection dedicated to the recordings of John Raitt with 'Songs of the Open Road and Other Rarities'. This new anthology collates 20 rare studio and broadcast recordings made between 1946 and 1959, showcasing the brilliant baritone of John Raitt, arguably one of the most iconic voices in Broadway history.

The set opens with Raitt's debut studio recordings, a mini album recorded for the Decca label in May 1946 entitled 'Songs of the Open Road'. These six rare sides include songs from the operettas 'The Vagabond King', 'The New Moon' and 'Great Day'. Raitt issued a further two sides on Decca in 1952 highlighting two themes from the film 'Because You're Mine'.

A constant and welcome presence on television and radio throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the remainder of the collection is dedicated to broadcasts Raitt made across the airwaves and on the small screen. This includes an incredible archival discovery album co-producer and longtime associate of John Raitt, Nicholas van Hoogstraten made in 1983 when assisting John to "clean out the garage". During the clear out, an entire collection of historic kinescopes was found - among them these priceless television performances, now remastered and preserved on this collection.

Produced in conjunction with John Raitt's Estate, all the recorded selections featured on 'Songs of the Open Road and Other Rarities' make their debut on CD. Presented in a deluxe full gloss six panel digipak sleeve, the CD is accompanied with an 8 page booklet featuring detailed sleeve notes.

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 11th, 2025
CATALOGUE #: STAGE 9107
BARCODE: 5055122191070