Skylark (song)
"Skylark" | |
---|---|
Jazz | |
Songwriter(s) | Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael |
"Skylark" is an American
Background
Carmichael wrote the melody, based on 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
References
- ^ a b "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph Archived 2009-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bix & Hoagy: Midwestern Romantics of the Jazz Age". The Jim Cullum Riverwalk Jazz Collection. Stanford University. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ Wilk, Max (1997). They're Playing Our Song. New York: Da Capo.
- ^ OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side A.
- ISBN 978-0-312-28720-7.
- ^ "Hoagy Carmichael ··· Top Songs as Writer". Music VF.
- ^ Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900–1950. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
- ISBN 0760319278,
The flighty name for Buick's dream car came from a song of the same name recorded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Malcolm Laycock presents the Golden Age of Swing detailed track info (90511).
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
External links
- "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: *JM-ralph: List of singers who have recorded "Skylark"
- "Skylark" at Jazz Standards website