"Cheerful Little Earful" is a 1930 song composed by

Harry Warren Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; December 24, 1893 – September 22, 1981) was an American composer and the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ...

, with lyrics by

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

and

Billy Rose Billy Rose (born William Samuel Rosenberg; September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with sh ...

. It was written for the musical '' Sweet and Low'' (1930). Actress and singer

Fanny Brice Fania Borach (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951), known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedienne, illustrated song model, singer, and theater and film actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. S ...

, who was married to Billy Rose at the time, starred in ''Sweet and Low'', where she and George Jessel sang the song. The actress Hannah Williams was known in particular for the song, "Cheerful Little Earful" in which she also performed in the Broadway production of ''Sweet and Low''. As the last line of each stanza notes, the "cheerful little earful" is "the well known 'I love you.'" The piece became popular outside of the show and was recorded in several forms.

Notable recordings

*Tom Gerun & His Orchestra - a Brunswick recording (catalog 4971) which was popular in 1930. *

Chick Bullock Charles (Chick) Bullock (September 16, 18981900 U.S. Federal Census, Township #5, Silver Bow, Montana, enumeration district 90, page 5. Bullock's birth date is confirmed by his entries in the Social Security Death Index and the California Death ...

- recorded on December 9, 1930 for Perfect Records (catalog No. 12675). *

Fred Rich Frederic Efrem Rich (January 31, 1898 – September 8, 1956) was a Polish-born American bandleader and composer who was active from the 1920s to the 1950s. Among the musicians in his band were the Dorsey Brothers, Joe Venuti, Bunny Berigan, and B ...

& His Orchestra (vocal by

Smith Ballew Sykes "Smith" Ballew (January 21, 1902 – May 2, 1984) was an American actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and a western singing star. He also was billed as Buddy Blue, Charles Roberts, and Billy Smith. Early years The son of Wil ...

) - recorded on November 19, 1930 for

Parlophone Records Parlophone Records Limited (also known as Parlophone Records and Parlophone) is a German–British record label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch of the label was founded on 8 August 19 ...

(catalog No. 34157). *

Seger Ellis Seger Pillot Ellis (July 4, 1904 – September 29, 1995) was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He also made a few brief film appearances, most notably in collaboration with director Ida Lupino. Life and career He was born in Houston, Texas, ...

& His Orchestra - Recorded in New York, 15 December 1930 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 2362D). *

Russ Morgan Russell Morgan (April 29, 1904 – August 7, 1969) was an American big band leader and arranger during the 1930s and 1940s. He was best known for being the one of the composers of the song "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", with Larry Stock ...

& His Orchestra - recorded for Decca Records (catalog No. 23993) on August 22, 1944. *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

- '' Get Happy!'' (Verve, 1959). *The Hawaiian Duces - an Angelus-Electrobeam release (catalog 3301-B) 1930.

References

External links

Lyrics
at HarryWarren.org Songs with lyrics by Ira Gershwin 1930 songs Songs with lyrics by Billy Rose Songs with music by Harry Warren Songs from musicals {{Show-tune-stub