1936 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

Fred Astaire
The Way You Look Tonight
Jerome Kern wrote the music for this popular song with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. It was first introduced in the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Swing Time, but sung in the film by Miss Rogers. This song would have a long and happy ride across the decades, being recorded by many and used in various ways. The song would hit the charts at #13 in 1961 when sung by The Lettermen. And would also be used in a Kodak Commercial and included on an album that included all the popular songs Kodak would use for advertising. When Dorothy Fields heard the melody for the first time she reported that she “went out and cried.” It has been recently recorded by Olivia Newton-John, Phil Collins, Harry Connick, Jr., Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé,

Bing Crosby
I’m An Old Cowhand
This is considered a comic song and was written by Johnny Mercer for the film Rhythm on the Range which starred Bing Crosby. Crosby would also sing the song in the movie. Crosby recorded the song with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra and it would become a hit for 1936. It has been sung Roy Rodgers and Frank Sinatra. In an Episode of I Love Lucy the song would be sung by Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball as their characters of Ethel Mertz and Lucy Ricardo.

Benny Goodman
The Glory of Love
The song was originally recorded by Benny Goodman and written by Billy Hill. In 1951 the song would be recorded by The Five Keys and would be on the charts at the number one on four different weeks of that year. The song would be recorded by artists as diverse as Dean Martin and Bette Midler. Miss Midler would record the song for her 1988 film entitled Beaches which co-starred Barbara Hershey.

Marion Anderson
He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands

He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands is a Christian Spiritual whose origins are unknown. It was first published in 1927 in a paperback hymnal. It would be recorded by Artists such as Marion Anderson as well as Mahalia Jackson. In 1958 the song would hit the number one spot on the list of songs most played by jockeys. English singer Laurie London recorded this version of the song with the Geoff Love Orchestra

Ray Noble
I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Written by Cole Porter the song was first performed for the MGM musical Born To Dance. It was nominated for Best Song for The Academy Awards. This song would go on to be a signature song for Frank Sinatra and a number ten hit for The Four Seasons in 1966.

Leo Reisman
It Ain’t Necessarily So

This popular song is operatic in its origin as it was written by George and Ira Gershwin for their opera Porgy and Bess. In the Opera, the song is sung by the villain of the piece whose name is Sportin’ Life. In the song, he is arguing about parts of the Bible. It is curious to note that this song would be a hit the same year as He’s Got The Whole World In His hands. The song is sung by black performers and written for a black character, but it has also been recorded by white performers such as Cher, The Moody Blues, and Brian Wilson.

Benny Goodman
Goody Goody
This song was written by Matty Malneck, music and Johnny Mercer Lyrics. Originally recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, The song has been used on The Muppet Show and be recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra. In 2007 the song would be recorded by The BBC Orchestra for the film, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep.