"Remind Me" is a 1940 song composed by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in ove ...

, with lyrics written by

Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields (July 15, 1904 – March 28, 1974) was an American librettist and lyricist. She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Her best-known pieces include "The Way You Look Tonight" (1936), "A Fine Romance" (1936), " On t ...

. It was written in 1936 for the unproduced Universal film "Riviera", which was based on the

Earl Derr Biggers Earl Derr Biggers (August 26, 1884 – April 5, 1933) was an American novelist and playwright. His novels featuring the fictional Chinese American detective Charlie Chan were adapted into popular films made in the United States and China. Biogr ...

novel "Love Insurance." Years later the novel was re-adapted for the film ''

One Night in the Tropics ''One Night in the Tropics'' is a 1940 comedy film which was the film debut of Abbott and Costello. They are listed as supporting actors but have major exposure with five of their classic routines, including an abbreviated version of "Who's On Fi ...

'' (1940), and the same Kern and Fields score was used. The film was widely regarded as a flop, although it marked the movie debut of Abbott and Costello. The song was virtually thrown away in an early scene as it was introduced by Peggy Moran (who was dubbed by an unknown singer). Only one commercial recording in 1940 can be traced and that was the one by

Leo Reisman Leo F. Reisman (October 11, 1897 – December 18, 1961) was an American violinist and bandleader in the 1920s and 1930s. Born and reared in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, he was of Jewish ancestry; from German immigrants who immigrated to th ...

and his Orchestra (Victor 27237). It was not a hit. The song was revived in the late 1940s by

Mabel Mercer Mabel Mercer (3 February 1900 – 20 April 1984) was an English-born cabaret singer who performed in the United States, Britain, and Europe with the greats in jazz and cabaret. She was a featured performer at Chez Bricktop in Paris, owned ...

who used it in her nightclub act and it has subsequently been included by a number of prominent singers in their albums. The song was included in the 1986 Broadway musical revue "Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood". It was also used in the stage musical ''

Never Gonna Dance ''Never Gonna Dance'' is a Broadway musical featuring the music of Jerome Kern. The musical was based on the 1936 Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film '' Swing Time''. Lyricists include Oscar Hammerstein, Ira Gershwin, P. G. Wodehouse, Bernard Dougal ...

'' which opened on Broadway in 2003 when it was sung by Nancy Lemenager and Noah Racey.

Notable recordings

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birt ...

- included in his album '' With Love (1972) * June Christy - '' Off-Beat'' (1960); ''The Jazz Sessions: The Best of June Christy'' (1997) * Doris Day and André Previn - '' Duet'' (1962) *

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 ...

- '' Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook'' (1963) * Peggy Lee - for her album '' Pretty Eyes'' (1960) * Julie London - for her album ''

Sophisticated Lady "Sophisticated Lady" is a jazz standard, composed as an instrumental in 1932 by Duke Ellington. Background Additional credit is given to publisher Irving Mills whose words were added to the song by Mitchell Parish. The words met with approva ...

'' (1962) *

Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blu ...

- '' Gifted & Black'' (1970). * Jeri Southern - ''Jeri Southern at the Crescendo'' (1960, Capitol). *

Joanie Sommers Joanie Sommers (born Joan Drost, February 24, 1941) is an American singer and actress with a career concentrating on jazz, standards and popular material and show-business credits. Once billed as "The Voice of the Sixties", and associated with to ...

- ''Joanie Sommers & Jerome Kern – A Fine Romance'' (1992). * Margaret Whiting - '' Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook'' (1960) *

Norma Winstone Norma Ann Winstone MBE (born 23 September 1941) is an English jazz singer and lyricist. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is best known for her wordless improvisations. Musicians with whom she has worked include Michael Garrick, ...

- for her album ''Well Kept Secret'' (1995)

References

{{Authority control Songs with music by Jerome Kern Songs with lyrics by Dorothy Fields 1940 songs