Skylark (song)
Encyclopedia
"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer
and music by Hoagy Carmichael
, published in 1941. Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right.
The yearning expressed in the lyrics is Mercer's longing for Judy Garland
, with whom Mercer had an affair.
This song is considered a jazz standard
. Additionally, the song is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name
that ran from 1953 to 1998.
with the Gene Krupa Orchestra
recorded the song on November 25, 1941. 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,
rising to #7 on the charts.
In 1943, the song was recorded by Billy Eckstine
with the Earl Hines Orchestra.
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
/Australia
n classic rock band Sky
in 1982
.
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.
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
.
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
and music by Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
, published in 1941. Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right.
The yearning expressed in the lyrics is Mercer's longing for Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, with whom Mercer had an affair.
This song is considered a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
. Additionally, the song is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name
Buick Skylark
The Buick Skylark was a passenger car produced by the Buick division of General Motors. The model was made in six production runs. In each run, the car design varied dramatically due to changing technology and tastes, as well as new standards implemented over the years.-1953–1954:Introduced to mark...
that ran from 1953 to 1998.
Recorded Versions
Anita O'DayAnita O'Day
Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
with the Gene Krupa Orchestra
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
recorded the song on November 25, 1941. Helen Forrest
Helen Forrest
Helen Forrest was one of the most popular female jazz vocalists during America's Big Band era. She was born Helen Fogel to a Jewish family in Atlantic City, New Jersey on April 12, 1917...
also recorded it in 1941 with Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
.
The song was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
with vocals by Ray Eberle
Ray Eberle
Raymond "Ray" Eberle was a vocalist during the Big Band Era. Eberle sang with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.-Career:...
in 1942,
rising to #7 on the charts.
In 1943, the song was recorded by Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
with the Earl Hines Orchestra.
The song was recorded by Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
for his 1961 album, Love Swings.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
recorded the song for her 1962 album, "Laughing on the Outside
Laughing on the Outside
Laughing On The Outside is the fourth studio album recorded by soul singer Aretha Franklin for Columbia Records. The album was recorded at Columbia Recording Studios in New York and Hollywood, and released in late 1963.-Release:...
."
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
recorded this on her Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
release Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book is a 1964 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, focusing on the songs of Johnny Mercer. This was Fitzgerald's fifth and final collaboration with Riddle during her years on the Verve label...
(1964) with arrangements by Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
.
Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
recorded the song for her 1973 album, Bette Midler
Bette Midler (album)
Bette Midler is the eponymous second studio album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in 1973 on the Atlantic Records label...
.
The song was recorded by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
/Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n classic rock band Sky
Sky (band)
Sky was a British instrumental group that specialised in fusing a variety of musical styles including light rock, progressive rock, classical and jazz. The group's best known members were classical guitarist John Williams, bass player Herbie Flowers Sky was a British instrumental group that...
in 1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
.
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
recorded the song with Nelson Riddle from her 1984 album, "Lush Life
Lush Life (Linda Ronstadt album)
Lush Life is a Platinum-certified, Grammy-nominated album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt, released in late 1984. It was the second in a trilogy of jazz albums with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle....
".
The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods were a singing trio from Olympia, Washington, United States; formed in the late 1950s. They were responsible for eleven hit songs, beginning with "Come Softly to Me"...
released a version that can be found on their 1993 greatest hits album, Come Softly to Me: The Very Best of the Fleetwoods.
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
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, used this song as ending title, sung by k.d. Lang
K.D. Lang
Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
.
Janis Siegel recorded the song on Steve Hass
Steve Hass
Steve Hass is a professional studio/touring drummer and producer who has worked with such artists as Cher, John Scofield, The Manhattan Transfer, Ravi Coltrane, Miri Ben-Ari, Christian McBride, Danillo Perez, John Patitucci, Richard Bona, Wayne Krantz, The BBC Big Band, Suzanne Vega, Jennifer...
's 2003 debut album, Traveler.
R&B/jazz singer Miki Howard
Miki Howard
Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard is an American R&B/jazz singer and actress who had a string of Top 10 hit songs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Howard's string of hits also included Baby,Be Mine", "Come Share My Love" and "Love Under New Management"...
recorded the song for her 2008 album, Private Collection.
Rachael Price
Rachael Price
Rachael Price is a jazz vocalist from Hendersonville, Tennessee. She is a graduate in Jazz Studies at the New England Conservatory in Massachusetts...
has also performed this song on her 2008 album, The Good Years.
Renee Olstead
Renee Olstead
Rebecca Renee Olstead is an American actress and singer. Active since childhood as an actress, she is best known for her roles in the TV sitcoms Still Standing as Lauren Miller and The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Madison Cooperstein...
sang it on her 2009 album, Skylark
Skylark (album)
Skylark is the second major-label album from Renee Olstead, released on January 27, 2009. It had originally been announced for release in 2005, and was subsequently listed on Amazon.com and other online retailers for release in 2006 and 2007 before finally emerging in 2009.-Track listing:#"Midnight...
.
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