MY MELANCHOLY BABY
Music: Ernie Burnett- Lyrics: George A. Norton
Year: 1912
Origin of the song
The song’s original title was ‘Melancholy’, with Ernie Burnett’s music and Maybelle Watson’s lyrics, Burnett’s wife. He sold the piece to the editor Theron C. Bennett, who liked the melody but not the lyrics. George A. Norton, compositor and songwriter, wrote new lyrics and the song was finally published in 1912 with a mention to Maybelle Watson. That very same year, the rights were transferred to Joe Morris Music, now with the title ‘My Melancholy Baby’. The actor, singer and entertainer William Frawley states that he was the first interpreter of ‘My Melancholy Baby’ in the Mozart Café of Denver, Colorado in 1912.
The song had a modest success in 1915 with the version of Walter Van Brunt, but its great popularity came in 1928 thanks to the recordings of Gene Austin and the orchestra of the Dorsey brothers, with singer Seger Ellis.
In 1938, Burnett wrote a following part for the song titled ‘I Married My Melancholy Baby’. He was also the author of ‘Dearie’ (1920) and ‘We’ll Meet Again’ (1938).
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DATE OF ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
Walter Van Brunt |
1915.??.?? |
1915.04.17 |
1 |
9 |
Walter Van Brunt (voc) |
|
1927.09.14 |
1928.01.07 |
8 |
3 |
Gene Austin (voc), Nat Shilkret Victor Orchestra |
|
|
Al Bowlly |
1935.03.15 |
1935.05.25 |
1 |
20 |
Al Bowlly (voc), Ray Noble Orchestra |
|
Teddy Wilson Orchestra |
1936.03.17 |
1936.09.19 |
9 |
6 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc) |
|
Bing Crosby |
1938.12.12 |
1939.03.11 |
2 |
14 |
Bing Crosby (voc), John Scott Trotter Orchestra |
|
1946.10.18 |
1947.04.19 |
7 |
5 |
Instrumental |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1936.11.18 |
Benny Goodman (cl), Teddy Wilson (p), Lionel Hampton (vib), Gene Krupa (d) |
|
|
Herman Chittison |
1938.06.13 |
Herman Chittison (p) |
|
1939.03.22 |
Django Reinhardt (g), Stéphane Grappelli (vn), Joseph Reinhardt, Pierre Ferret (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b) |
|
|
1941.04.03 |
Earl Hines (p) |
|
|
1945.01.12 |
Joe Marsala (cl), Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Cliff Jackson (p), Chuck Wayne (g), Irving Lang (b), Buddy Christian (d) |
|
|
1950.06.06 |
Charlie Parker (as), Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Thelonious Monk (p), Curly Russell (b), Buddy Rich (d) |
|
|
1957.10.16 |
Coleman Hawkins (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d) |
|
|
1959.02.24 |
Lee Konitz (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Bill Evans (p), Jimmy Garrison (b), Paul Motian (d) |
|
|
Roland Alexander- Ronnie Mathews Quintet |
1961.06.17 |
Roland Alexander (ts), Ronnie Mathews (p), Marcus Belgrave (tp), Gene Taylor (b), Clarence Stroman (d) |
|
1963.06.07 |
Lou Donaldson (as), Irvin Stokes (tp), Big John Patton (org), Grant Green (g), Ben Dixon (d) |
|
|
Bill Evans Trio |
1966.10.04 |
Bill Evans (p), Eddie Gómez (b), Shelly Manne (d) |
|
Dave McKenna |
1977.06.?? |
Dave McKenna (p) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1928.04.24 |
Tommy Dorsey (tp, tb), Jimmy Dorsey (cl, as), Adrian Rollini (bars), Carl Kress (g), Joe Tarto (b), Chauncey Morehouse (d), Seger Ellis (voc) |
|
|
1936.03.17 |
Teddy Wilson (p, dir), Frank Newton (tp), Benny Morton (tb), Jerry Blake (cl, as), Ted McRae (ts), John Trueheart (g), Lennie Stanfield (b), Cozy Cole (d), Ella Fitzgerald (voc) |
|
|
1938.04.12 |
Jimmie Lunceford (dir), Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver (tp), Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles, Trummy Young (tb), Willie Smith, Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bars), Ted Buckner, Dan Grissom (as, voc), Joe Thomas (cl, ts), Eddie Wilcox (p), Al Norris (g), Moses Allen (b), Jimmy Crawford (d) |
|
|
1945.01.29 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Don Anderson, Charles Griffard, Leonard Mach (tp), Carl Loeffler, Jimmy Skiles, Joe Yukl (tb), James Stagliano (tpa), Heine Beau, Manny Gershman, Leonard Hartman, Harold Lawson, Don Logiudice (sax), Mark McIntyre (p), Dave Barbour (g), Artie Shapiro (b), Ray Hagan (d), string section, Axel Stordahl (dir) |
|
|
1956.11.26 |
Ray Charles (p, voc), Joe Bridgewater, John Hunt (tp), David 'Fathead' Newman (as, ts), Emmett Dennis (bars), Roosevelt Sheffield (b), William Peeples (d) |
|
|
1960.02.16 |
Dave Brubeck (p), Paul Desmond (as), Eugene Wright (b), Joe Morello (d), Jimmy Rushing (voc) |
|
|
Rebecca Kilgore |
1995.11.?? |
Rebecca Kilgore (voc), Dave Frishberg (p), Dan Faehnle (g) |
On cinemas
The song 'My Melancholy Baby' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL TITLE |
TITLE IN SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
At The Circus |
Una tarde en el circo |
1939 |
Played on a trombone in the 'Swingali' number |
|
The Roaring Twenties |
Los violentos años veinte |
1939 |
Background music; Priscilla Lane |
|
Johnny Apollo |
Johnny Apollo |
1940 |
Background music |
|
Johnny Eager |
Senda prohibida |
1941 |
Background music |
|
Scarlet Street |
Perversidad |
1945 |
|
|
On Our Merry Way |
Una encuesta llamada milagro |
1948 |
Two trumpet players |
|
A Star Is Born |
Ha nacido una estrella |
1954 |
Judy Garland |
|
The Wrecking Crew |
La mansión de los siete placeres |
1968 |
Dean Martin |
|
Forget Paris |
Olvídate de París |
1995 |
|
|
5 Flights Up |
Ático sin ascensor |
2014 |
Morgan Freeman |