View source for Gardel did not only sing tangos

<small>''Author: [[Asdrúbal Valencia]] – metallurgical engineer and author of ''El universo del tango''</small>

'''[[TITAF-P-1941911|Carlos Gardel]]''' is universally recognized as the King of Tango. He created the tango canción and was its most iconic interpreter. However, his repertoire extended well beyond tango, covering a wide array of national and international musical genres. This article surveys the full scope of Gardel's career, from his early native recordings to his cosmopolitan legacy.

== Early Recordings ==
Gardel began recording in 1912 at just over 20 years old. Columbia’s representative José Tagini offered him seven double-sided discs. These early works include:

T594: ''La mañanita'' (estilo) / ''Me dejaste'' (estilo)

T595: ''Mi madre'' (estilo) / ''Es en vano'' (canción)

T637: ''Pobre flor'' (estilo) / ''La mariposa'' (estilo)

T638: ''El almohadón'' (vals) / ''Brisas de la tarde'' (canción)

T728: ''Sos mi tirador plateado'' (estilo) / ''Yo sé hacer'' (cifra)

T729: ''Mi china cabrera'' (estilo) / ''A mi madre'' (estilo)

T730: ''El sueño'' (estilo) / ''A Mitre'' (vals)

These works align Gardel more with the payadores than the tango scene of the time.

== The Duo with [[TITAF-P-7339859|José Razzano]] ==
Formed in 1913 and active until 1925, the Gardel-Razzano duo produced:

74 recordings as a duo

6 solo by Razzano

224 solo by Gardel — 165 of them tangos

Their first joint recording was ''Cantar eterno'' (1917), and the last ''El triunfo'' (1925). In parallel, Gardel began his solo trajectory with ''Mi noche triste'', also in 1917. After Razzano suffered a larynx injury, the duo disbanded, and Gardel fully embraced his solo career.

== National Repertoire ==
Gardel was a master of Argentine and Rioplatense folk genres, performing:

Zamba, tonada, chacarera, ranchera, cifra, vidalita, cueca, gato, media cifra, canción campera, estilo, and tangos camperos

== International Repertoire ==

=== Spain ===
Gardel interpreted:

''Por un cariño'' (habanera) by [[TITAF-P-2776609|Gerardo Alcázar]]

''Las flores de tu balcón'' (pasodoble) by [[TITAF-P-3270607|Fernando Catalán]]

''Valencia'' (pasodoble) by [[TITAF-P-2950816|Nicolás Verona]]

''Trianera'' by [[TITAF-P-3917655|Ginés Miralles]]

''Sevilla'' by [[TITAF-P-2065521|Enrique Delfino]]

''Puñadito de sal'' by Verona

''Los ojos de mi moza'' (jota) with [[TITAF-P-3956376|Alfredo Le Pera]]

=== Portugal ===
Gardel recorded four fados:

''Caprichosa'' by [[TITAF-P-2265868|Froilán Aguilar]]

''De mi tierra'' by [[TITAF-P-9916969|Pedro Numa Córdoba]]

''Mi bien querido'' by [[TITAF-P-8691562|José Ricardo]]

''Mi china'' by [[TITAF-P-9821147|Juan Rodríguez]] and [[TITAF-P-6566956|Luis Roldán]]

=== Brazil ===

''La criolla'' – based on Brazilian folklore, adapted by Gardel and Razzano

=== Peru ===

''Angustias'' – anonymous vals

''¡Ay, Aurora!'' – poem by Federico Barreto Bustíos

=== Colombia ===

''Mis perros'', ''El vagabundo'', ''Rumores'', ''Asómate a la ventana''

''Rumores'' later adapted as a tango by Gardel and Razzano

''Mis perros'' → ''Mi alhaja'' / ''Medallita de la suerte'' (1933, lyrics by Mario Batistella)

''Mis flores negras'' by [[TITAF-P-5322095|Julio Flórez]]

=== Mexico ===

''Cielito lindo'' by Quirino Mendoza y Cortés → ''Cielito mío'' (adapted by [[TITAF-P-6714838|Osvaldo]] and [[TITAF-P-6862508|Emilio Fresedo]])

''La casita'' by José Manuel Othón – echoed in ''Sacate la caretita'' and ''Compadrón''

=== Cuba ===

''Por tus ojos negros'' – rumba-habanera by Don Aspiazu

''Sol tropical'' – by Gardel, Terig Tucci, and Le Pera

=== Chile ===

''La yegüecita'' (cueca)

=== United States ===
Gardel recorded 19 shimmies and foxtrots, including:

''Yo no puedo vivir sin amor'' – Charles G. Gabaroche

''La danza de las libélulas'' – Franz Lehár

''Tutankamon'', ''Pero hay una melena'', ''Oh París'', ''Reyes del aire'' – all by [[TITAF-P-3684773|José Bohr]]

''La sulamita'' – Francisco Canaro

''Hola señorita'', ''Gran Buda'', ''Circe'', ''Qué lindo es el shimmy'', ''Sonrisas''

''Yes, We Have No Bananas'' → ''Poupée de Estambul''

''Manos brujas''

''La hija de japonesita''

''Yo nací para ti, tú serás para mí'' and ''Amor pagano'' by Herb Brown

''Je te dirai'' – by [[TITAF-P-2136080|Michel Emer]]

''Rubias de Nueva York'' – with [[TITAF-P-3956376|Alfredo Le Pera]]

=== Italy ===

''Il piccolo navío'' – tango with Neapolitan melody

''Come se canta a Napule'' – sung in Neapolitan dialect

=== France ===
Gardel performed:

''Je te dirai'', ''Folie'', ''Madame, c’est vous'', ''Dejà'', ''Parlez-moi d’amour''

''Las campanas'' – later retitled ''Tú y yo''

=== Germany / Russia ===

''Ich küsse ihre Hand, Madame'' – translated as ''Yo beso vuestra mano señora''

''Sonia'' – Russian ballad recorded in Spanish

=== England ===

''Hay una virgen'' – adaptation of Byron’s To Jeny, translated by Manuel María Flores

=== Mabel Wayne (U.S.) ===

''En un pueblito español'' – Spanish version by [[TITAF-P-1877483|Rogelio Ferreyra]]

''Ramona'' – version by [[TITAF-P-8403637|Enrique Cadícamo]]

== Conclusion ==
Carlos Gardel’s career was far more diverse than commonly acknowledged. His repertoire traversed genres, continents, and languages, making him not just the voice of tango but a global ambassador of song. His discography invites rediscovery and deep listening, even eighty years after his death.

== References ==

Segovia, J. A.

Puga, B.

Valencia, A. – El universo del tango, vols. 15, 19, 20

Selles, R.

Greco, O.

Rico Salazar, J.