Let Yourself Go

Let Yourself Go is a pop song written by Irving Berlin and published in 1936.

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Berlin wrote the song Let Yourself Go for the RKO film comedy Follow the Fleet (1936), in which it was introduced by Ginger Rogers . The rhythmic song is a “ flat-out summons to dance ”.

First recordings and later cover versions

Ginger Rogers, accompanied by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, recorded the song in April 1936. Let Yourself Go was also recorded by Fred Astaire (with Johnny Green and His Orchestra). Musicians who also covered the song in 1936 included the Casa Loma Orchestra (Decca), the Boswell Sisters (Decca), Bunny Berigan and His Boys (Vocalion), Bill Challis and His Orchestra (Circle), Red Norvo (Champ) and the Vincent Lopez Orchestra (with Maxine Tappan, vocals; Bluebird 6264).

The discographer Tom Lord lists a total of 53 (as of 2016) cover versions in the field of jazz , u. a. from the 1950s by Nelson Riddle , Jay Migliori , Mark Murphy , Ella Fitzgerald ( Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book , 1958), James Brown , Larry Elgart , Dick Wellstood / Marty Grosz , Vince Giordano , Joan Morris / William Bolcom , The Swingle Singers , Keith Ingham , Tony Bennett , Ralph Sharon , Susannah McCorkle and Stacey Kent .

Notes and individual references

1. ↑ ^{a b} Michael Lasser: America's Songs II: Songs from the 1890s to the Post-War Years . 2014, p. 148
2. ^ William Zinsser: Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs : 2006, p. 104.
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Tom Lord: Jazz discography (online)