I've Heard That Song Before
"I've Heard That Song Before" is a 1942 American popular song about nostalgia [1] with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn.[2] It was introduced by Martha O'Driscoll (dubbed by Margaret Whiting) in the 1942 film Youth on Parade. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1942 but lost out to “White Christmas”.
"I've Heard That Song Before" | |
---|---|
Song by Martha O'Driscoll | |
Published | 1942 |
Composer(s) | Jule Styne |
Lyricist(s) | Sammy Cahn |
It was recorded by Harry James and his Orchestra with Helen Forrest on vocal on July 31, 1942. This was the last day of recording before the Musician Union's ban. The recording was issued on Columbia 36668 and became a number one hit on both the pop charts and the Harlem Hit Parade in the US in early 1943.[3] This version of the song can be heard in Woody Allen's 1986 movie Hannah and Her Sisters.
Recorded versions
- Paul Anka
- Joe Battaglia
- Louie Bellson
- Sathima Bea Benjamin
- Pat Boone
- Sammy Cahn
- King Cole Trio
- Bing Crosby (for his album Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love (1968 version))
- Michael Feinstein
- Benny Green
- Urbie Green
- Al Hirt[4]
- Dolores Hope
- Harry James and his orchestra (vocal: Helen Forrest)[2]
- Steve Lawrence
- Hal Linden
- Vera Lynn
- Andrea Marcovicci
- Al Martino
- Audrey Morris
- Frank Sinatra
- Freddie Slack
- The Spitfire Band
- Starsound Orchestra
- Mel Tormé
- Allison Lerer
- Wesla Whitfield
- Margaret Whiting
- Russ Williams
- Scott Wright
Sources
- Jacobs, Dick & Jacobs, Harriet: Who Wrote That Song? Writer's Digest Books, 2nd Edition 1992
References
- Browne, Ray Broadus; Ambrosetti, Ronald J. (1993). Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future. ISBN 9780879725938.
- 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.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 291.
- Al Hirt, They're Playing Our Song at Discogs. Retrieved April 13, 2013.