Skylark (song)
- For other uses of "Skylark" see: Skylark (disambiguation).
| "Skylark" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra | |
| Released | 1942 |
| Genre | Popular |
| Length | 3:30 |
| Writer(s) | Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael |
"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael, published in 1941.[1] Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right.[2] The yearning expressed in the lyrics is Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom Mercer had an affair.[3] This song is considered a jazz standard.[4] Additionally, the song is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that ran from 1953 to 1998.[citation needed]
[edit] Recorded Versions
Anita O'Day with the Gene Krupa Orchestra recorded the song on November 25, 1941.[5] Helen Forrest also recorded it in 1941 with Harry James.
The song was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle in 1942,[1] rising to #7 on the charts.[citation needed]
In 1943, the song was recorded by Billy Eckstine with the Earl Hines Orchestra.
The_Hi-Lo's recorded the song in 1955 for their album, Under Glass.
The song was recorded by Bobby Darin for his 1961 album, Love Swings.
Aretha Franklin recorded the song for her 1962 album, "Laughing on the Outside."
Ella Fitzgerald recorded this on her Verve release Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook (1964) with arrangements by Nelson Riddle.
Bette Midler recorded the song for her 1973 album, Bette Midler.
The song was recorded by the English/Australian classic rock band Sky in 1982.[citation needed]
Linda Ronstadt recorded the song with Nelson Riddle from her 1984 album, "Lush Life".
The Fleetwoods released a version that can be found on their 1993 greatest hits album, Come Softly to Me: The Very Best of the Fleetwoods.
A version of this song can be found on disc 2 of the 1994 recordings of Keith Jarrett and his Standards Trio, Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note.
In 1997, Clint Eastwood's movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, that takes place in Mercer's birth town of Savannah, Georgia, used this song as ending title, sung by k.d. Lang.
Janis Siegel recorded the song on Steve Hass's 2003 debut album, Traveler.
R&B/jazz singer Miki Howard recorded the song for her 2008 album, Private Collection.
Rachael Price has also performed this song on her 2008 album, The Good Years.
Renee Olstead sang it on her 2009 album, Skylark.
Jazz & world vocalist Gretchen Parlato recorded this song on her 2005 debut, self-titled album.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph.
- ^ Wilk, Max (1997). They're Playing Our Song. New York: Da Capo.
- ^ Furia, Philip (2003). Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer (1st ed.). St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312287207.
- ^ Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950.. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
- ^ Malcolm Laycock presents the Golden Age of Swing detailed track info (90511).
[edit] 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
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