DANCING IN THE DARK
Music: Arthur Schwartz- Lyrics: Howard Dietz
Year: 1931
Origin of the song
On 3 June 1931, the musical The Band Wagon was released in the New Amsterdam Theatre of New York, with a libretto by George S. Kaufman and Howard Dietz, music by Arthur Schwartz, and lyrics by Howard Dietz. It had two hundred and sixty performances. Hassard Short directed the stage management and Albertina Rasch the choreography. The play’s stars were Adele and Fred Astaire. This was the last time they acted together.
John Baker sang ‘Dancing in the Dark’ the night of the premiere while Tillie Losch was dancing. Other songs from the show that became very popular were ‘I Love Louisa’ and ‘Nanette’.
Apart from ‘Dancing in the Dark’, Schwartz and Dietz signed together other songs that became famous, as ‘I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan’ (1929), ‘Alone Together’ (1932), ‘You and the Night and the Music’ (1934), ‘By Myself’ (1937), ‘I See Your Face Before Me’ (1937), and ‘Haunted Heart’ (1948).
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DATE OF ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSTION REACHED |
|
|
1931.05.18 |
1931.07.11 |
11 |
3 |
Three Waring Girls (voc) |
|
|
1931.06.01 |
1931.07.11 |
4 |
10 |
Scrappy Lambert (voc) |
|
|
Jacques Renard Orchestra |
1931.06.03 |
1931.07.25 |
1 |
20 |
Frank Munn (voc) |
|
1931.08.19 |
1931.09.19 |
6 |
3 |
Bing Crosby (voc), Victor Young Orchestra |
|
|
Artie Shaw Orchestra |
1941.01.23 |
1941.03.08 |
3 |
9 |
Instrumental |
|
Artie Shaw Orchestra |
1941.01.23 |
1944.03.25 |
1 |
25 |
New entrance in the top charts |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
|
1941.01.23
|
Artie Shaw (cl, dir), Billy Butterfield, George Wendt, Jack Cathcart (tp), Jack Jenney, Ray Conniff, Vernon Brown (tb), Les Robinson, Neely Plumb (as), Bus Bassey, Jerry
Jerome (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Al Hendrickson (g), Jud DeNaut (b), Nick Fatool (d), string section |
|
1950.07.05 |
Charlie Parker (as), Bernie Leighton (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d), Joe Lippman Orchestra |
|
|
1958.03.09 |
Cannonball Adderley (as), Hank Jones (p), Sam Jones (b), Art Blakey (d) |
|
|
Dave McKenna |
1985.08.?? |
Dave McKenna (p) |
|
2002.??.?? |
Beegie Adair (p), Roger Spencer (b), Chris Brown (d), Jeff Steinberg Orchestra |
|
|
Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes |
2009.12.29 |
Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes (p) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1952.09.12 |
Jo Stafford, The Starlighters (voc), Paul Weston Orchestra |
|
|
|
1952.12.??
|
Fred Astaire (voc), Charlie Shavers (tp), Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d) |
|
1957.08.08 |
Sarah Vaughan (voc), Jimmy Jones (p), Richard Davis (b), Roy Haynes (d) |
|
|
1958.12.22 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Billy May Orchestra |
|
|
1961.04.06 |
Tony Bennett (voc), Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen (tp), Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak (tb), Danny Bank, Ed Caine, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque (sax), Bernie Leighton (p), Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne (g), Milt Hinton (b), Eddie Costa (vib), Herb Lovelle (d), Ralph Burns (dir) |
|
|
Mel Tormé |
1961.07.21 |
Mel Tormé (voc), Tony Osborne Orchestra |
|
2001.06.04
|
Diana Krall (p, voc), Romero Lubambo (g), Christian McBride (b), Luis Conte (per), Peter Erskine (d), London Symphony Orchestra, Claus Ogerman (dir) |
|
|
2003.08.12 |
Tierney Sutton (voc), Christian Jacob (p), Trey Henry (b), Ray Brinker (d), Christian Jacob Orchestra |
|
|
2004.05.10 |
Jane Monheit (voc), Vince Mendoza Orchestra |
On cinemas
The song 'Dancing in the Dark' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL TITLE |
TITLE IN SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
A Star Is Born |
Ha nacido una estrella |
1937 |
Background music |
|
Mission to Moscow |
Misión en Moscú |
1943 |
Background music |
|
The Band Wagon |
Melodías de Broadway 1955 |
1953 |
Danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse |
|
Husbands |
Husbands |
1970 |
A capella by Ben Gazzara and Peggy Lashbrook |
|
That’s Entertainment! |
Érase una vez en Hollywood |
1974 |
Secuence of 'The Band Wagon' |
|
Cocoon |
Cocoon |
1985 |
Background music |
|
Radio Days |
Días de radio |
1987 |
Background music |
|
Three Men And A Little Lady |
Tres hombres y una pequeña dama |
1990 |
|
|
Quiz Show |
El dilema |
1994 |
|
|
Kids |
Kids |
1995 |
Sonny Rollins Quintet |
|
Lord of Illusions |
El señor de las ilusiones |
1995 |
Diamanda Galás |
|
Bogus |
Bogus |
1996 |
|
|
Amelie |
Amelie |
2001 |
|