On the Sunny Side of the Street
- For the Pogues song, see Sunny Side of the Street (song)
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a 1930 song, with credited music composed by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Some authors say that Fats Waller was actually the composer, but he sold the rights for the money.[1] It was introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue, starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence.
Richman and Ted Lewis enjoyed hit records with the song in 1930.[2]
Other notable recordings
Having become a jazz standard, it was played by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Earl Hines, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, James Booker, Count Basie and Lester Young.[3] The Louis Armstrong version was recorded in the key of C major, but it has been recorded in a range of keys; Ted Lewis recorded it in D major and Ella Fitzgerald in G major etc.
Cover versions date as far back as 1930, when Layton & Johnstone released the song on Columbia (UK) DB 254. The song also was recorded by other leading vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby (recorded January 21, 1946 with Lionel Hampton),[4] Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Frankie Laine, Keely Smith, Nat King Cole, Jo Stafford with The Pied Pipers (a No. 17 hit in 1945),[5] Frank Sinatra, and Willie Nelson. Arguably the best known arrangement is found in the 1945 record by Tommy Dorsey and the Sentimentalists which also achieved chart success in 1945 reaching the No. 16 spot.[6]
It continues to be recorded in the 21st century, showing up not just on recordings but on movie soundtracks and on Broadway, such as in 2013–14's musical revue After Midnight.
Film appearances
- 1943 Is Everybody Happy?
- 1946 Swing Parade of 1946 - sung by Gale Storm.[7]
- 1951 Sunny Side of the Street - performed by Frankie Laine.[8]
- 1955 The Benny Goodman Story - performed by Teddy Wilson.[9]
- 1956 The Eddy Duchin Story - played by the band in the rehearsal room.[10]
- 1973 The Way We Were - played by the band and sung by an unidentified female at the El Morocco.[11]
- 1978 House Calls - performed by Frankie Laine.[12]
- 1981 Rich and Famous - sung by Willie Nelson.[13]
- 2007 The Good Life - performed by Zooey Deschanel.[14]
Television appearance
- 2004 Frasier
Sung by John Mahoney and Wendie Malick as part of a dream sequence in season 11, episode 14 entitled 'Freudian Sleep'.
See also
References
- ↑ "On The Sunny Side Of The Street". jazzstandards.com. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 563. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ↑ "On the Sunny Side of the Street" Search Results February 17, 2012.
- ↑ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 405. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 138. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.