Laura (1945 song)

"Laura" is a 1945 popular song. The music was composed by David Raksin for the 1944 movie Laura starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews, and is heard frequently in the movie. The film's director, Otto Preminger, had originally wanted to use Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" as the theme, but Raksin didn't feel it was suitable. Raksin was given one weekend to compose an alternative melody, and when his wife sent him a "Dear John" letter, the haunting theme seemed to write itself.[1]

The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer after the film made the tune popular. According to Mercer, he had not yet seen the movie when he wrote the lyrics but was aware that it was a romantic, somewhat haunting story.[2]

The song became a jazz standard and has been recorded over 400 times.[3] Some of the best-known versions are by Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Johnny Johnston, Emil Newman, David Rose, Billy Eckstine, Charlie Parker, J. J. Johnson, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra[4] and Julie London (included on her 1955 debut album Julie Is Her Name, Vol. 1). The first 10 notes of the song are sometimes "quoted" during jazz solos, especially since Dizzy Gillespie did it during his "Perdido" solo at the famous Massey Hall concert in 1953.

Some notable recordings

References

  1. ↑ Jazz Standards: Laura
  2. ↑ Jazz Standards: Laura
  3. ↑ All Music
  4. ↑ Jazz Standards: Laura
  5. ↑ Al Hirt, He's the King and His Band Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  6. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/sergio-franchi
  7. ↑ "Harry James And His Orchestra – Laura". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
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