TOP SONGS OF 1943

The Original Cast recording Oklahoma Frank Sinatra People Will Say We're In Love Bing Crosby Oh What A Beautiful Morning These three songs which became popular in 1943 are all from the same source, Rodger's and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA. OKLAHOMA would become a major part of American Musical Theater history. It was the first musical collaborated on by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, both song writers had a history of hits with other partners but none would compare to the work they would do together. OKLAHOMA was based on a play called Green Grow The Lilacs which told the story of a romance between a farm girl and a cowboy. Rodger's and Hammerstein adapted the play to a musical and developed a new technique for musical comedy. First they started the show with a slow number "Oh What A Beautiful Morning." When the curtain opened all you saw was an old woman churning and the Male lead would come strolling up the Aisle of the theater singing the song. Up to this time musicals started the show with a large production number. Almost all of the songs in the show would move the story along." People Will Say We're In Love" is actually a conversation between the two main characters. The title song OKLAHOMA is a rousing full cast song that appears at the end of the show. It is not surprising that this is the song that Oklahoma, the state, would choose to make their official state song. Hugh Jackman would play the lead of Curly in a 1998 revival of the show. Anne Shelton You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To This is one of the short list of songs Cole Porter would write for the screen. It was introduced by Janet Blair and Don Ameche in the film" Something To Shout about". Dinah Shore would make a huge hit of the song as well as Anne Shelton in the same year. Many artists would go on to record the song including TVs John Barrowman. Benny Goodman Taking A Chance On Love With music by Vernon Duke and Lyrics by John Latouche and Ted Fetter the song was a part of the all black musical Cabin In The Sky. In 1943 the song would come back when recorded by Benny Goodman with vocals by Helen Forrest. In this version it would top the charts at number one. Dick Haymes You'll Never Know The song was based on a poem that was written by a war bride named Dorothy Fern Norris. The poem was adapted to a song by Harry Warren, music and lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song had it's debut in a film called," Hello Frisco Hello" and sung by Alice Faye. Faye would never make a recording of the song and so the hit versions went to Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes. Haymes version would stay at # 1 on the R&B charts for four weeks. The song also won the Academy Award For Best Song in 1943 Duke Ellington Don't Get Around Much Anymore Written in 1940 By Duke Ellington it was originally titled, "Never No Lament," and was recorded as a big band instrumental. In 1942 Bob Russell added lyrics and a new title and a new song was born. Two Version of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" would be recorded in 1943 one by Ellington and the other by The Ink Spots. Both would reach the top of the R&B Charts. Ellington's version would reach #8 on the Pop Charts. Judy Garland and Gene Kelly For Me and My Gal This is The Title song from the movie musical starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. For Kelly this would be his screen debut. The film was directed by Busby Berkley and opened in October of 1942. The film was partially written by Richard Sherman who, along with his brother Robert, would go on to be one of the most Prolific song writers at the Disney Studios, being responsible for the songs for Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The song, For Me and my Gal was written by George W. Meyer, Edgar Leslie and E. Ray Goetz. The score for the musical would be nominated for an Academy Award.   Top Artists and Songs of 1943 Al Dexter & His Troops Pistol Packin' mama Anne Shelton You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To Benny Goodman Taking A Chance On Love, Why Don't You Do Right? Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Pistol Packin' Mama Bing Crosby and Trudy Erwin Oh What A Beautiful Morning, People Will Say We're In Love Bing Crosby Whispering Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Sunday Monday or Always, If You Please Dick Haymes You'll Never Know, It Can't Be Wrong, Put Your Arms Around Me Honey Dick Kuhn & his Orchestra Put Your Arms Around Me Honey Dinah Washington  Evil Gal Blues Dinah Shore You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, (As Long As You're Not in Love with Anyone Else) Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me? Duke Ellington Sentimental Lady, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Perdido, Slip of the Lip Ella Mae Morse Shoo-Shoo-Baby Erskine Hawkins Don't Cry Baby Frank Sinatra All or Nothing at All, Sunday Monday Always, You'll Never Know, People Will Say We're In Love, Close To You Freddy Slack That Old Black Magic Gene Autry Deep In The Heart of Texas Glen Gray Don't Get Around Much Anymore Glenn Miller Orchestra That Old Black Magic, Blue Rain, Rhapsody In Blue Harry James Two O'Clock Jump, I've Heard That Song Before, Mister Five By Five, I Had The Craziest Dream, Velvet Moon, I Heard You Cried Last Night Jacques Renard & his Orchestra As Time Goes By Jimmy Dorsey They're Either Too Young Or Too Old Jimmy Wakely There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere Judy Garland and Gene Kelly For Me and My Gal Judy Garland Zing! Went The Strings of My Heart Kate Smith I Don't Want To Walk Without You Kay Kyser Praise The Lord and Pass the Ammunition Kay Shermen The Dreamer/How Sweet You Are King Cole Trio All For You Lena Horne Stormy Weather Louis Jordan That'll Just 'Bout Knock Me Out Mills Brothers Paper Doll Oklahoma! Theme Oklahoma Soundtrack Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees As Time Goes By Stan Kenton Artistry In Rhythm The Ink Spots Don't Get Around Much Anymore The Song Spinners Johnny Zero Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra There Are Such Things, In The Blues Of The Evening Vaughn Monroe When The Lights Go On Again (All Over The World), Let's Get Lost Vera Lynn I Had The Craziest Dream Willie Kelly and his Orchestra You'll Never Know Xavier Cugat Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)