Skylark (song)

"Skylark"
"Skylark"
Song

"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] Mercer recalled Carmichael initially called him several times about the lyric, but had forgotten about it by the time Mercer finally wrote the lyrics.^[3] The yearning expressed in the lyrics is Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom Mercer had an affair.^[4] This song is considered a jazz standard.^[5] Additionally, the song is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that was produced from 1953 to 1998.^[6]

Selective list of recorded versions

1941, Anita O'Day with the Gene Krupa Orchestra recorded the song on November 25, 1941.^[7]
1941, Helen Forrest with Harry James.
1941, Ginny Simms with the Edgar Fairchild Orchestra (18 December 1941).
1942, Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra.^[8]
1942, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle in 1942,^[1] rising to #7 on the charts.^{[citation needed]}
1943, Billy Eckstine with the Earl Hines Orchestra.
1950, The Clovers recorded as a single.
1963, Aretha Franklin released her version on her fifth studio album Laughing on the Outside.
1973, Bette Midler, on her second studio LP Bette Midler.
1984, Linda Ronstadt - with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra - from her Platinum-plus album Lush Life. Hit #12 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in early 1985. Ronstadt's version was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2009, Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano recorded a version for their album, Bittersweet
2016, Bob Dylan recorded versions album Fallen Angels.
2016, Kristin Chenoweth, on her sixth studio album The Art of Elegance.

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.
^ 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 A.
^ Furia, Philip (2003). Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer (1st ed.). St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-28720-7.
^ Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
^ Dennis Adler (2004), Fifties Flashback: The American Car, p. 52, ISBN 0760319278, The flighty name for Buick's dream car came from a song of the same name recorded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer
^ Malcolm Laycock presents the Golden Age of Swing detailed track info (90511).
^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved August 31, 2015.

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
Lyrics at LyricsTime

[JMe-1] "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph.

[2] Wilk, Max (1997). They're Playing Our Song. New York: Da Capo.

[pc1a-3] 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 A.

[4] Furia, Philip (2003). Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer (1st ed.). St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-28720-7.

[5] Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.

[6] Dennis Adler (2004), Fifties Flashback: The American Car, p. 52, ISBN 0760319278, The flighty name for Buick's dream car came from a song of the same name recorded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer

[7] Malcolm Laycock presents the Golden Age of Swing detailed track info (90511).

[8] "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved August 31, 2015.

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