It's Been a Long, Long Time

"It's Been a Long, Long Time"
Song by Harry James and Kitty Kallen
Released 1945 (1945)
Genre Pop
Length 3:24
Composer(s) Jule Styne
Lyricist(s) James Terlingo, Sammy Cahn

"It's Been a Long, Long Time" is a pop song written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn that was a hit at the end of World War II.[1] The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person welcoming home his or her spouse or lover at the end of the war.

Background

1945 recording by Bing Crosby with Les Paul and His Trio on Decca

The lyrics to the song were written by James Terlingo in 1932. The copyright by James Terlingo in 1932 took place on March 29, 1932. Terlingo sold the rights to the song. The music was written by Jule Styne and the lyrics were written by Sammy Cahn.

A recording by Harry James with vocals by Kitty Kallen[1] reached No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 chart on November 24, 1945.[2] A version by Bing Crosby (recorded on July 12, 1945)[3] accompanied by the Les Paul Trio was also working its way up the charts.[4] It replaced James's version at No. 1 on December 8, 1945.[5] Crosby's version lasted a week at No. 1, then was ousted by Sammy Kaye's "Chickery Chick." The Harry James recording returned to the top spot on December 22 for another week.

Other recordings of "It's Been a Long, Long Time" that charted in 1945 were recorded by Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra with vocal by Irene Daye[6] and Stan Kenton & His Orchestra with vocal by June Christy.[7]

Les Paul recalled in an interview for Mojo magazine, "Bing was a sucker for guitar and that particular song was a case of you don't have to play a lot of notes, you just have to play the right notes."[8]

The song became a pop standard versions recorded by The DeMarco Sisters (1945)[9], June Haver and Dan Dailey (1950), Perry Como (1956), Al Hibbler (1956), Peggy Lee (1959), Keely Smith (1959), Louis Armstrong (1964), and Tom Jones (1966). Frank Sinatra sang a version on his radio show (Your Hit Parade, 1945) that appeared on many compilation albums.

Other notable recordings

Others who have recorded it include Doris Day (on her 1965 "Sentimental Journey" album), Guy Mitchell,[10] Sammy Cahn, Shelley Fabares for her album Shelley!, Helen Forrest (with Harry James), Sammy Kaye, The Ink Spots, Tina Louise, Jimmy Roselli, Brook Benton, Rosemary Clooney, Chet Atkins with Les Paul on their album Chester and Lester), and Brent Spiner on his 1991 album Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back.

References

  1. 1 2 Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 2, side A.
  2. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-been-a-long-long-time-1945-r492170 It's Been a Long, Long Time: 1945
  3. ↑ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ Gilliland 1994, tape 3, side A.
  5. ↑ http://tsort.info/music/cnqg74.htm Song artist 3 - Bing Crosby. tsort.org.
  6. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-big-band-1945-r329506 Best of Big Band 1945
  7. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/1945-r292418 Stan Kenton & His Orchestra, 1945
  8. ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=17530 It's Been A Long, Long Time Songfacts
  9. ↑ The Five DeMarco Sisters. Billboard. December 15, 1945.
  10. ↑ Guy Mitchell, The Collection

Sources

  • Grudens, Richard (2002). Bing Crosby: Crooner of the Century. Celebrity Profiles Publishing Co. ISBN 1-57579-248-6.
  • Macfarlane, Malcolm. Bing Crosby: Day By Day. Scarecrow Press, 2001.
  • Osterholm, J. Roger. Bing Crosby: A Bio-Bibliography. Greenwood Press, 1994.
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