1943 Music – Pop Standards and Artists

1943 Pop Standards and Artists

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 songwriters 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 shortlist 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 its 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’s 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 Versions 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 songwriters at Disney Studios, was 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.

1943’s Most Popular and Influential Songs