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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Hoagy Carmichael & His Collegians
Author: Hoagy Carmichael
Label: Gennett
Year: 1927
First as an instrumental stomp, with the band of Emil Seidel. Hoagy then also cut a test pressing with (own) lyrics. Real lyrics were added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Song really took off the moment Carmichael transferred his publishing from Irving Mills to Ralph Peer who was better placed to judge Hoagy's roots-meets-pop songs. Turned out to become the quintessential American standard, with no connection to neither Broadway nor Tin Pan Alley. Spelled in one word on the original Gennett label. On later versions mostly spelled as Star Dust.
Covers:
Don Redman [leading McKinney's Cotton Pickers feat. Lonnie Johnson for Okeh]
Isham Jones [the first slower one, underlining ballad quality; with Victor Young on violin]
Louis Armstrong [his version taught the world to swing; what's more: his Potato Head Blues inspired the melody]
Bing Crosby [first vocal version for Brunswick]
Benny Goodman [arranged by Fletcher Henderson; the Tommy Dorsey- and Benny Goodman version were released as A- and B-side to the same 78 rpm-record]
Tommy Dorsey [vocal: Edythe Wright]
Artie Shaw [double millionseller]
Will Tura [as Weerklank]
One of the most covered songs in history. The title was brought in by Stuart Gorrell, Hoagy's crony who later got credits for the lyrics of Georgia On My Mind (see there), maybe to compensate.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)