John Silver is a 1938 song written by
Jimmy Dorsey
James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peop ...
with Ray Krise. Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra released the song as a 78 single on Decca in 1938.
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra recorded "John Silver" on April 29, 1938, and released the song as a Decca 78, 3334A, Matrix # 63689, with
Bob Eberly
Robert Eberly (born Robert Eberle; July 24, 1916 – November 17, 1981) was an American big band vocalist best known for his association with Jimmy Dorsey and his duets with Helen O'Connell. His younger brother Ray was also a big-band singer, m ...
on vocals. The single reached no. 13 on
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
in 1938, staying on the charts for 2 weeks.
Song artist 122-Jimmy Dorsey.
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The composers of the words and music were Jimmy Dorsey and Ray Krise. The publisher was Bregman, Vocco, and Conn, Inc., in New York.
Jimmy Dorsey also recorded the song for release as a V-Disc
V-Disc ( "V" for Victory) was a record label that was formed in 1943 to provide records for U.S. military personnel. Captain Robert Vincent supervised the label from the Special Services division.
Many popular singers, big bands, and orches ...
, No. 117B. The instrumental was also re-arranged and released as "Long John Silver" as V-Disc No. 409B in April, 1945 by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra.
The song was performed by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra in an arrangement by Sonny Burke
Joseph Francis "Sonny" Burke (March 22, 1914 – May 31, 1980) was an American musical arranger, composer, Big Band leader and producer. In 1937, he graduated from Duke University, where he had formed and led the jazz big band known as the Duke ...
in the 1944 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...
movie ''Lost in a Harem
''Lost in a Harem'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and starring the team of Abbott and Costello alongside Marilyn Maxwell.
Plot
When a traveling vaudeville show becomes stranded in the Middle East, their singer, Haze ...
'' starring Bud Abbott
William Alexander "Bud" Abbott (October 2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) was an American comedian, actor and producer. He was best known as the straight man half of the comedy duo Abbott and Costello.
Early life
Abbott was born in Asbury Park, New J ...
and Lou Costello
Louis Francis Cristillo (March 6, 1906 – March 3, 1959), professionally known as Lou Costello, was an American comedian, actor and producer. He was best known for his double act with straight man Bud Abbott and their routine " Who's on First? ...
.
The song was also re-released as a 10" orange label Coral Records 78 single as #60296.
Other recordings
Glen Gray
Glenn Gray Knoblauch (June 7, 1900 – August 23, 1963), known professionally as Glen Gray, was an American jazz saxophonist and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra.''The Mississippi Rag'', "Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra," George A. Bo ...
and the Casa Loma Orchestra recorded a version of "John Silver" which appeared on the 2001 swing and big band compilation ''The Swing Era: 1938-1939'' on Time Life Music, EMI-Capitol Special Markets. The BBC Big Band released a recording of the song in 1996.
References
Sources
*Stockdale, Robert L. ''Jimmy Dorsey: A Study in Contrasts. (Studies in Jazz Series)''. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1999.
*Arnold, Jay, ed. ''Jimmy Dorsey Saxophone Method: A School of Rhythmic Saxophone Playing''. Warner Bros Pubns, 1999.
*Sanford, Herb. ''Tommy and Jimmy: The Dorsey Years''. (Introduction by Bing Crosby). DaCapo Press, 1980.
*Bockemuehl, Eugene. ''On the Road with the Jimmy Dorsey Aggravation, 1947-1949''. Gray Castle Press, 1996
External links
Online version of the 1938 Jimmy Dorsey recording.
1938 songs
Jimmy Dorsey songs
Songs written by Jimmy Dorsey
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