I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)
"I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" is a popular song with music by Fred E. Ahlert and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was published in 1928 and popular versions in 1929 were by Ruth Etting, Nick Lucas and by Aileen Stanley.[1]
The song was revived to even greater success in 1944, when the 1940 recording by Harry James (Dick Haymes vocal) was re-released (during the 1942–44 musicians' strike, which prevented recording of new material)[2] (Billboard #1). The Ink Spots' version featuring lead tenor Bill Kenny was also popular in 1944, reaching the retail top ten. A version by the King Sisters also charted in 1944 with a peak position of No. 12. The song was included in Variety's "10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines" for the week of June 21, 1944.[3] The song was also included on The Lucky Strike Parade's Top Ten for 1944.[4] A 1944 Billboard poll found that "I'll Get By" was the third most sold sheet music among GIs stationed in training camps and in Europe.[5]
Other notable recordings
- 1928 The Ipana Troubadors (vocal by Bing Crosby), recorded December 28, 1928 for Columbia Records.[6]
- 1928 Ben Bernie and His Orchestra, recorded December 20, 1928 for Brunswick Records.[7]
- 1937 Billie Holiday - recorded May 11, 1937 with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra for Columbia Records (Catalog No, 35926).[8]
- 1947 Buddy Clark - recorded August 20, 1947 for Columbia Records (Catalog No. 37910).[9]
- 1956 The Platters, their beautiful rendition was never released as a single, but only as part of the 1956 LP The Platters - Volume Two,[10] as well as within EP releases, as in France.[11]
- 1958 Connie Francis, her recording made #19 on the UK charts.[12]
- 1958 Jerry Vale - included in his album I Remember Buddy.[13]
- 1958 Keely Smith - for her album Politely!.
- 1960 Frankie Laine - included in his album You Are My Love.[14]
- 1961 Shirley Bassey's recording hit #10 on the UK charts.[15]
- 1962 Brook Benton - included in his album There Goes That Song Again.[16]
- 1962 Johnnie Ray - included in the album Johnnie Ray.[17]
- 1963 Peggy Lee - for her album I'm a Woman.
- 1965 Jack Jones for his album Dear Heart,
- 1965 Al Hirt on his album They're Playing Our Song,[18]
- 1973 Sun Ra in 1973 and 1977, released as bonus tracks in his posthumous album Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue.
- 1988 Michael Feinstein - included in his album Isn't It Romantic.[19]
Film appearances
- 1943 It was sung by Irene Dunne in the movie A Guy Named Joe with Spencer Tracy.
- 1944 Follow the Boys - sung by Dinah Shore.
- 1948 You Were Meant for Me
- 1950 I'll Get By - sung by June Haver.[20]
- 1954 A Star Is Born - sung by Judy Garland in the "Born in a Trunk" sequence.
- 1973 The TV movie "Birds of Prey", starring David Janssen as an aging helicopter pilot chasing airborne criminals, uses Billie Holiday's version of "I'll Get By" to frame the character's reminiscences of his glory days as a World War II aviator.
- 1983 Zelig - Ben Bernie's version is featured at the end of this Woody Allen film.
Note: claim that Billie Holiday’s version of I’ll Get By was used for the 1973 movie Birds of Prey is probably not accurate. Comparisons of the movie soundtrack vs Holiday’s surviving recordings on the iTunes Store show that the vocalists and orchestrations do not match at all. The singer in the movie is still not known and was uncredited in the film. She had a much deeper voice than Billie Holiday and the orchestra and arrangement were noticeably more modern than any of Billie Holiday’s known or surviving recordings. Reader can verify this by playing the URL recording of the original movie version (posted to one of the IMDB reviews of the movie) and then listening to any of Billie Holiday’s recordings on the Apple ITunes Store. They are noticeably different in all respects. Very unlikely that Holiday’s version was used.
In popular culture
This song was interpreted by Marilyn Monroe during one of her lessons in the Actors Studio. According to some, Monroe's performance caused a member of the audience to cry, which convinced some observers of her acting ability.[citation needed]
This song is not to be confused with "I'll Get By," the 1991 hit ballad by Eddie Money.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 521. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side B.
- ^ Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 138. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
- ^ Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 140. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
- ^ Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 167. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - PLATTERS". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- ^ "The Platters - I'll Get By (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- ^ British Hit Singles & Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records. 2005. p. 197. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ British Hit Singles & Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records. 2005. p. 52. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Al (He's The King) Hirt* - They're Playing Our Song (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
 | This pop standards-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |