The present recording includes an instrumental version of the the song “Xenychtides” (“Night Owls”) from the revue “Peirasmos 1920” (Temptation 1920), with music by Ermis Pongis and text-lyrics by Aimilios Dragatsis. The revue premiered on June 17, 1920, at the Panorama Theatre, staged by the Samartzis troupe.

As noted by Thodoros Chatzipantazis (1977: 95):

“What distinguished ‘Peirasmos’ from other annual revues of the time was its systematic cultivation of bold innuendos in both dialogue and spectacle. In this respect, it far surpassed ‘Papagalos’ [the annual revue (1914–1921) by Antonis Vottis] and established a tradition of sexual suggestiveness that characterized all the winter revues that followed. It still shared with ‘Papagallos’ its cabaret-like showiness, its fancy dances, and its shapely female performers [...] Among the work of its composers, the most notable was Ermis Pongis’ contribution to ‘Peirasmos 1920’, from which comes the well-known song ‘Xenychtides’ (‘In the Silence of the Night’). Generally speaking, ‘Peirasmos’ began its run during a period of decline for the Annual Revue, and naturally it was not unaffected by the surrounding atmosphere.”

The musical score was published in Athens in 1920 by the Gaitanos publishing house (see here, here, and here), and also in New York by Apollo Publications (see here).

“Xenychtides” was recorded several times in the Greek historical discography. For example:

– “Xenychtides”, Elliniki Estudiantina (Greek Estudiantina), Constantinople (Istanbul), 1920 (Orfeon S 3139 – 12933).
– “Oi Xenychtides”, Marika Papagika, New York, September 1921 (Columbia 87756-2 – E-7560 and Columbia UK 87756-2 7610).
– “Xenychtides”, Tetos Dimitriadis, New York, May 15, 1922 (Victor B-26358 – 73389-A).
– “Oi Xenychtides”, Dimitris Krionas with Choir and Mandolinata, Athens, 1922 (His Master’s Voice BS-150 – AO-27).
– “Xenychtides”, Vivi Antonopoulou and Tetos Dimitriadis, New York, 1922 (Panhellenion 305-B).
– “Xenychtides”, Eva Styl – Nikos Gounaris, with a Mandolinata conducted by Giorgos Vitalis, USA, 1950s (Liberty L 141B; later reissued on the LP “Nick Gounaris sings Greek Melodies”, Liberty Record Co. LP-102 and Grecophon GR-102).

The tune also appears in foreign discographies, in recordings not intended solely for the Greek market. Three of these were made on April 7, 1922, in Berlin by the orchestra of violinist and conductor Dajos Béla or Sándor Józsi, pseudonyms of the Jewish Leon Golzmann (Лев Гольцман), who was born in Kyiv in present-day Ukraine. They were released under the title “Oi xenychtides (Der Nachtbummler)”. Among them is the present recording, on the label of which Béla’s orchestra is listed as “Athenian Orchestra”. In addition to the United States, the recording was also released in Greece (see here). Οne version was issued by Odeon Germany (xxBo 7564 – AA 79815) and in the U.S. on the OKeh and Odeon labels (3077-B) under the title "Der Nachtbummler (The midnight rounder)", and another by Odeon Germany (xBe 3038 – A 44083).

In America, the song was recorded on October 24, 1928, in New York, in an arrangement by the American Leonard W. Joy, performed by the International Novelty Orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret (born Natan Schüldkraut), an American composer and conductor of Jewish descent from Lviv in present-day Ukraine. Among them is the present recording, which, in addition to the USA was also released in Greece (see here). One version was issued by Odeon Germany (xxBo 7564 – AA 79815) and in the U.S. on the OKeh and Odeon labels (3077-B) under the title "Der Nachtbummler (The midnight rounder)", and another by Odeon Germany (xBe 3038 – A 44083).

In America, the song was recorded on October 24, 1928, in New York, in an arrangement by Leonard W. Joy, performed by the International Novelty Orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret (born Natan Schüldkraut), an American composer and conductor of Jewish descent from Lviv in present-day Ukraine.
According to the DAHR (see here), this recording was issued for the Greek market (Victor CVE-47781 – 26-8300, 38-3077, and Orthophonic S-701-B), for the international market (Victor V-50010), under the title, in English and Spanish, “Night Owls – Waltz (Trasnochadores – Vals)” and by Gramophone Switzerland (FM-11).

The tune also found its way into the Romanian repertoire. In 1928, it was recorded in Bucharest by Petrică Moțoi and his orchestra under the title “Tamita sa” (Edison Bell Electron R 628C – Z 1503). The violinist, composer, and bandleader Petrică Moțoi (Bucharest 1897 – Bucharest 1946) was a Romanian musician of Romani origin and belonged to a family tradition of lăutari musicians (for further information see here).