Skylark (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other

"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael, published in 1941.[1]

Background

Carmichael wrote the melody, based on a Bix Beiderbecke cornet improvisation, as "Bix Licks", for a project to turn the novel Young Man With a Horn into a Broadway musical. After that project failed, Carmichael brought in Johnny Mercer to write lyrics for the song.[2] Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right.[3] Mercer recalled that Carmichael initially called him several times about the lyrics but had forgotten about the song by the time Mercer finally wrote them.[4] The yearning expressed in the lyrics was based on Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom he had an affair.[5]

Several artists recorded charting versions of the song in 1942, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra (vocal by Ray Eberle), Harry James and His Orchestra (vocal by Helen Forrest), Dinah Shore, and Bing Crosby.[6] The Glenn Miller recording on RCA Bluebird peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard pop singles chart.

This song is considered a jazz standard.[7] Additionally, it is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that was produced from 1953 to 1998.[8]

Cover versions

Year Performer(s)
2002 Beegie Adair – Centennial Composers Collection
1961 Tony Bennett – Tony Sings for Two
1962 Art Blakey with Freddie Hubbard – Caravan[9]
1956 Hoagy Carmichael with Art Pepper – Hoagy Sings Carmichael[9]
2019 Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky – Tryst
2001 Bill Charlap – Stardust
2016 Kristin Chenoweth – The Art of Elegance
1987 Rosemary Clooney – Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Johnny Mercer
1966 Sonny Criss "Skylark" This is Criss Prestige Records (21Oct1966)
1942 Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra.[10] This also charted in 1942 reaching a peak position of No.14.[11]
1961 Bobby Darin – Love Swings
1974 Paul Desmond – Skylark
2016 Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels
1964 Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book
1960 The Fleetwoods
1963 Aretha Franklin – Laughing on the Outside
1949 Erroll Garner
1977 Dexter Gordon – Biting the Apple
2021 Taylor Eigsti with Casey Abrams - Tree Falls
2003 Steve Hass – Traveler
1942 Earl Hines with Billy Eckstine[9]
2015 Stevie Holland – Life Goes On
2009 Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano – Bittersweet
1941 Harry James with Helen Forrest.[4][9] This reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts in 1942.[12]
1958 Carmen McRae – Birds of a Feather
1973 Bette Midler – Bette Midler
1942 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle in 1942,[9][1] rising to No. 7 on the charts.[13]
1962 Matt Monro – Sings Hoagy Carmichael
2004 Marion Montgomery – Skylark
1961 David "Fathead" Newman – Straight Ahead
1941 Anita O'Day with the Gene Krupa Orchestra recorded the song on November 25, 1941.[14]
2010 Gregory Porter – Water
1984 Linda Ronstadt – Lush Life - Reached #12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in January 1985.
1942 Dinah Shore recorded February 10, 1942 for Bluebird[15] This reached the No. 5 spot in the Billboard charts.[16]

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Glenn Miller Template:Harry James Template:Helen Forrest Template:Aretha Franklin Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph Template:Webarchive
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Template:Pop Chronicles 40s
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Malcolm Laycock presents the Golden Age of Swing detailed track info (90511).
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Skylark_(song)&oldid=3013808"