Swingin 'down the lane

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swingin 'Down the Lane is a song written by Isham Jones (music) and Gus Kahn (lyrics) and released in 1923.

History of origin

Swingin 'Down the Lane , one of the 200 compositions that Isham Jones wrote, has the same ending as his song I'll See you in My Dreams . The sheet music describes the pop song as "an old-fashioned song with a foxtrot swing". The song in G major has the structure ABAC and follows the circle of fifths. The prelude with the four eighth notes with which the chorus begins represents the rhythmic leitmotif and occurs a total of twelve times in the song. Gus Kahn's lyrics are popular in the use of abbreviations and archaisms ( When the moon is on the wane / Still I'm waitin 'all in vain. ).

Isham Jones, early 1920s

Gus Kahn's text is about a boy who feels lonely and wishes to be with his girl where all the other lovers are that night, strolling or swingin 'down the lane .

When I see my baby's face
He's as fine as linen and lace listen
Everybody hand in hand swingin 'down the lane
Everybody feelin 'grand swingin' down the lane.

The song was presented by Cliff Edwards (aka Ukulele Ike ).

First recordings and later cover versions

Isham Jones recorded the song with his own orchestra in May 1923 (Brunswick 2438), and Ben Bernie for Vocalion ; Further recordings were made by Sam Lanin during this time , in Paris by Billy Arnold's Novelty Jazz Band, in Berlin by Jeno Fesca . 1930 Isham Jones recorded the song again; The vocalist was Frank Sylvano. Cover versions followed in the 1930s. a. by Frankie Trumbauer , Claude Hopkins , Benny Goodman, and Will Bradley ; from later years there are recordings of the title by Les Elgart , Claude Thornhill , The Mills Brothers , Cliff Edwards, Frank Sinatra , Charlie Barnet , Cootie Williams , Pee Wee Hunt , Kay Starr , Ralph Burns , Rusty Dedrick , Willie The Lion Smith , Ove Lind and Warren Vaché . Disko Graf Tom Lord lists in the field of Jazz 49 (as of 2015) cover versions . Country singer Frankie Carle (1941, Columbia 36332), The Four Lads (1958) and pop singer Jerry Wallace (1959, Challenge 59082) also interpreted the title.

The song was also used in the films Greenwich Village (1944, directed by Walter Lang ), Mother Wore Tights (1947, directed by Walter Lang), where it was introduced by Mona Freeman; Dannie Thomas , Doris Day and a children's choir interpret him in the Gus Kahn biopic I'll See You in My Dreams (1951).

Music magazine Variety included the song in their Hit Parade of a Half-Century list .

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ a b c Don Tyler: Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era . 2007, p. 130.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Marvin E. Paymer, Don E. Post: Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Popular Songs . 1999, p. 46
  3. ↑ George Batista Da Silva: A MÚsica De Kay Starr . 2008, p. 76.
  4. ↑ Tom Lord: Jazz discography (online)