During 36 years of her earthly life, Marilyn Monroe left us not only movies and songs but also the way of life of the mid-twentieth century, with all its dreams and hopes. Here are videos with her voice singing and her image dancing forever.
The list is provided by ChatGPT on my prompt.
(Published on May 10th 2026)¹
Marilyn Monroe — Chronological Recording Sessions (1947-1962)
Here is a reconstructed chronological playlist/discography of Marilyn’s known recording activity: studio masters, film soundtrack sessions, important alternates, and legendary live recordings.
Dates are sometimes approximate because 20th Century Fox archives are incomplete.
1947 — First Known Recordings
For Ladies of the Chorus
- “Every Baby Needs a Da-Da-Daddy”
- “Anyone Can See I Love You”
These are Marilyn’s earliest surviving commercial recordings.
1948–1949
Small studio demos and vocal tests were reportedly made during her Columbia contract period, but several are now lost.
- “Kiss”
- “Do It Again”
(Some other survive only as acetates or fragmentary tapes.)
1950–1951
Mostly vocal tests and rehearsal work for Fox productions.
No major standalone commercial songs known.
1952 — Breakthrough Musical Recordings
For the movie
We're Not Married!
(Click on link for the full movie)
- “You Were Meant for Me”
For Monkey Business
- “After You Get What You Want, You Don’t Want It”
1953 — Major Recording Year
For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Recorded January–February 1953.
There are 4 songs:
- “Two Little Girls from Little Rock”
- “Bye Bye Baby”
- “When Love Goes Wrong”
- “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
This is the period where Marilyn’s “breathy” vocal identity became iconic.
For How to Marry a Millionaire
- “After You Get What You Want…” (reprise material)
- Promotional vocal fragments
1954 — The “River of No Return” Sessions
For River of No Return
Recorded in Hollywood during early 1954.
Songs:
- “River of No Return”
- “One Silver Dollar”
- “I’m Gonna File My Claim”
- “Down in the Meadow”
These sessions are among her finest pure vocal performances.
“River of No Return” became Marilyn’s closest thing to a true international hit single.
For There's No Business Like Show Business
Songs:
- “Heat Wave”
- “Lazy”
- “After You Get What You Want, You Don’t Want It”
- “A Man Chases a Girl”
- “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
Important: “Heat Wave” required many takes because Marilyn was ill and exhausted during filming.
1955
No major commercial recordings.
Mostly Actors Studio period in New York with little musical work.
1956 — Bus Stop Era
For Bus Stop
Song:
- “That Old Black Magic”
This performance intentionally sounds raw and amateurish because her character is supposed to be an inexperienced nightclub singer.
1957
Private vocal rehearsals and unfinished studio tests exist from this period.
Some collectors mention:
- “When I Fall in Love” (authenticity debated)
- rehearsal standards
1958–1959 — The Some Like It Hot Sessions
For Some Like It Hot
One of Marilyn’s most famous recording periods.
Songs:
- “I Wanna Be Loved by You”
- “Running Wild”
- “I’m Through with Love”
Many alternate takes survive because Marilyn repeatedly restarted songs during filming.
“I’m Through with Love” is often considered her most emotionally moving performance.
1960 — Let’s Make Love
For Let's Make Love
Songs:
- “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”
- “Specialization”
- “Incurably Romantic” (duet with Yves Montand)
These recordings show a more relaxed and mature Marilyn voice.
1961
No confirmed commercial song recordings.
Some rehearsal tapes and private home recordings are rumored among collectors.
1962 — Final Recordings
Happy Birthday Mr. President performance
Song:
- “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”
Performed live for John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962.
This became one of the most famous live performances of the 20th century.
Unfinished Final Sessions (1962)
For Something's Got to Give
No major completed songs survive, though rehearsal audio and vocal fragments exist.
Approximate Total Known Musical Titles
Depending on versions and alternates:
- ~35 officially released distinct songs
- ~50–70 surviving takes/alternates/rehearsals
- dozens of studio fragments and incomplete tapes
Marilyn’s Most Important Recordings (historically)
If historians had to preserve only 10:
- “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
- “River of No Return”
- “I Wanna Be Loved by You”
- “I’m Through with Love”
- “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”
- “Heat Wave”
- “One Silver Dollar”
- “That Old Black Magic”
- “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”
- “Down in the Meadow”
¹ This Web publication is also in my mom's memory: she was 13th months younger than Marilyn and she was among the millions of her fans...
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