"A Gal in Calico" is a song by American composer
Arthur Schwartz
Arthur Schwartz (November 25, 1900 – September 3, 1984) was an American composer and film producer, widely noted for his songwriting collaborations with Howard Dietz.
Biography
Early life
Schwartz was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on Nov ...
, whose words were written by
Leo Robin
Leo Robin (April 6, 1900 – December 29, 1984) was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Academy Award for Best Original Song, Oscar-winning song "Thanks for t ...
.
Appearance in film
The song was introduced in the 1946 film ''
The Time, the Place and the Girl''. In the film, it was performed by
Dennis Morgan,
Jack Carson
John Elmer Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born American film actor. Carson often played the role of comedic friend in films of the 1940s and 1950s, including ''The Strawberry Blonde'' (1941) with James Cagney and ...
,
Martha Vickers (dubbed by
Sally Sweetland
Sally Sweetland (née Mueller; September 23, 1911 – February 8, 2015) was an American soprano singer and teacher. She was active in the film and recording industry during the 1940s and 50s, before moving into teaching.
Career
Sweetland ...
) and chorus.
It was nominated for
Academy Award for Best Original Song of 1948 but lost out to "
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a song composed by Allie Wrubel with lyrics by Ray Gilbert for the Disney 1946 live action and animated movie ''Song of the South'', sung by James Baskett. For "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", the film won the Academy Award for Best O ...
".
Chart appearances
Four versions have entered the US
Billboard charts
The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in '' Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
:
Johnny Mercer (reached No. 5 in 1946);
Tex Beneke
Gordon Lee "Tex" Beneke ( ; February 12, 1914 – May 30, 2000) was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. H ...
(No. 6 in 1947);
Benny Goodman (No. 6 in 1947) and
Bing Crosby (recorded May 7, 1946, No. 8 in 1947).
Other recordings
The song has also been recorded by:
*
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz; July 8, 1935) is an American singer, comedian and actor, best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as " Steve and Eydie", and for his performance as Maury Sline, the manager and f ...
(in his 1963 ''Swinging West'' album),
*
Tony Martin,
*
Vic Damone
Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and ...
*
Ahmad Jamal and
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...
.
*In the 1970s, it appeared on the album ''
Pastiche'' by
The Manhattan Transfer.
Popular culture
The song is whistled briefly by
Lon McCallister
Herbert Alonzo "Lon" McCallister Jr. (April 17, 1923 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor. According to one obituary, he was best known for "playing gentle, boyish young men from the country."Obituaries: LON MCCALLISTER
Anonymous. Variety; ...
early in the film ''
The Story of Seabiscuit'' (1949).
References
1946 songs
Songs with music by Arthur Schwartz
Songs with lyrics by Leo Robin
Songs written for films
1940s jazz standards
{{1940s-pop-song-stub