"Never in a Million Years" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel for the 1937

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

'' Wake Up and Live'' when it was sung by Jack Haley (dubbed by

Buddy Clark Buddy Clark (born Samuel Goldberg, July 26, 1912 – October 1, 1949) was an American popular singer of the Big Band era. He had some success in the 1930s, but his career truly blossomed in the late 1940s, after his return from service in Worl ...

). It had its biggest chart success by

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

featuring

Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra 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 People ...

. Crosby recorded it on February 28, 1937 and it reached #2 on the US pop chart the same year.

Other charting versions

Mildred Bailey Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs " For Sentimenta ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1937 where it reached #8 on the US pop chart. * Glen Gray and the

Casa Loma Orchestra The Casa Loma Orchestra was an American dance band active from 1929 to 1963. Until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands. With the decline of the b ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1937 where it reached #7 on the US pop chart. * Linda Scott released a version of the song as a single in 1962 where it reached #15 on the

adult contemporary chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...

and #56 on the US pop chart.

Other versions

* Alice Faye released a version of the song as a single in 1937. * Gordon MacRae released a version of the song as a single in 1954 in the United Kingdom. * Tina Robin released a version of the song as the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

to her 1957 single " Ca C'est L'amour". * Kitty Kallen released a version of the song on her 1960 album, ''If I Give My Heart to You''. *

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

released a version of the song on her 1961 album, ''My Heart Sings''. *

Maureen Evans Maureen Evans (born 23 March 1940, Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh pop singer who achieved fame in the 1950s and 1960s. Career Evans career began as a singer with Waldini's Gypsy Band in the mid-1950s, mainly doing summer seasons at UK holiday res ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1962 in the United Kingdom. * Marion Rung released a version of the song in Finland entitled "Ei Enää Milloinkaan" as the B-side to her 1962 single "Lady Sunshine and Mister Moon". *

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was an Italian-Canadian-American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racer. Lombardo formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and othe ...

released a version of the song as part of a medley on their 1963 album, ''The Sweetest Medleys This Side of Heaven''.Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, ''The Sweetest Medleys This Side of Heaven''
Retrieved August 11, 2016.

References

Sources

*Stockdale, Robert L. ''Jimmy Dorsey: A Study in Contrasts. (Studies in Jazz Series).'' Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1999. {{DEFAULTSORT:Never in a Million Years (1937 song) 1937 songs 1962 singles Songs with lyrics by Mack Gordon Songs with music by Harry Revel Bing Crosby songs Jimmy Dorsey songs Mildred Bailey songs Linda Scott songs Sarah Vaughan songs Decca Records singles Columbia Records singles Capitol Records singles