Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Tagged: Bobby Rydell

1940s, Broadway/Movies/Television

That Old Black Magic

First performed by Johnnie Johnston (1942).
First released by Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra with Johnnie Johnston (1942).
Other hit versions by Judy Garland (1943), Margaret Whiting (US #10 1943), The Glenn Miller Orchestra (US #1 1943), Sammy Davis, Jr. (US #16 1955), Louis Prima & Keely Smith (US #18 1958), Bobby Rydell (US #21/CAN #13 1961).

From the wiki: “‘That Old Black Magic’ was written in 1942 by Harold Arlen (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). The two wrote it for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm, when it was sung by Johnnie Johnston and danced by Vera Zorina. ‘That Old Black Magic’ was nominated for the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Song’ in 1943 but lost out to ‘You’ll Never Know’ (from the movie Hello, Frisco, Hello).

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1960s, Pop

Lovin’ Things

First recorded by The Pathfinders (1967).
Also recorded by Bobby Rydell (1968), December’s Children (1968).
Hit versions by The Marmalade (UK #6 1968), The Grass Roots (US #49 1969).

https://youtu.be/_aF4ty0XP-k

From the wiki: “‘Lovin’ Things’ was co-written by Artie Schroek and Jet Loring, and first recorded for commercial release in 1967 by the Scottish band The Pathfinders. A version by Bobby Rydell was put out as a 45 rpm on the Reprise label in January 1968. Then, in April 1968, UK group The Marmalade released their cover recording and took it into the UK Top Ten. Later that year, US group December´s Children also covered ‘Lovin’ Things’ with a somewhat different orchestral arrangement but with no apparent chart success. “Lovin’ Things” finally became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in the US when The Grass Roots covered it in early 1969.”

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