Dinah (song)

"Dinah" is a popular song published in 1925 and introduced by Ethel Waters at the Plantation Club on Broadway. It was integrated into the show Kid Boots.[1] The music was written by Harry Akst and the lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. Hit versions in 1926 were by Ethel Waters, The Revelers, Cliff Edwards, and Fletcher Henderson.[2]

One singer, Fannye Rose Shore, became so identified with the song that DJ Martin Block called her "Dinah Shore", which then stuck as her stage name for the next 50 years.[3]

Other versions

• The Savoy Orpheans recorded an early instrumental version on October 30, 1925, released as a 78 in December, 1925 on His Master's Voice (# B 2183 Dinah / The Co-ed) .
• Louis Armstrong. Recorded in New York City on May 4, 1930,[4] it was released by Okeh. "Dinah" became a frequent number in Armstrong's live performances and radio broadcasts after the making of this recording.[5]
• Chet Baker. Recorded at Phil Turetsky's House, Los Angeles, on July 9, 1952, it was released on The Complete Pacific Jazz and Capitol Recordings of the Original Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Tentette with Chet Baker (Mosaic) and The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings of The Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker (Pacific).[6]
• Josephine Baker. Recorded in Paris in October 1926, it was released on a 78 by Odeon.[7]
• The Boswell Sisters. Recorded on December 13, 1934, it was released on a 78 by Brunswick.[8] This reached No.3 in the charts of the day.[9]
• Cab Calloway. Recorded on June 7, 1932,[4][10] it was released on a 78 by ARC and issued on Banner, Melotone , Oriole, Perfect, Romeo, and Vocalion. The second time he recorded the song was live at The New Café Zanzibar on July 17, 1945. It was released on the album Cab Calloway '45: Live at the New Cafe Zanzibar[11] by Magnetic Records (1993).
• Bing Crosby & The Mills Brothers with Studio Orchestra. Recorded in New York City on December 16, 1931,[12] it was released on a 78 Brunswick.[13] It was assessed by Joel Whitburn as topping the charts of the day.[14]
• Duke Ellington. Recorded on February 9, 1932, it was released on a 78 by Victor.[15]
• Benny Goodman Quartet. Recorded on August 26, 1936, it was released on a 78 Victor Records.[16]
• Fletcher Henderson with Coleman Hawkins (1926)[4]
• The Hot Sardines – Shanghai'd (Decca/Universal on July 25, 2011).[17]
• Thelonious Monk. Recorded on November 2, 1964, it was released on Solo Monk (Columbia, 1965)[4][18]
• Django Reinhardt. Recorded in Paris in December 1934,[4]
• Fats Waller. Recorded in Camden, New Jersey, on June 24, 1935,[4] it was released on a 78 rpm by Victor.[16] This reached No. 7 in the charts of the day.[19]
• Ethel Waters. Recorded on October 10, 1925,[4] it was released on a 78 by Columbia,[20]
• Quintette du Hot Club de France. Recorded in December 1934 in Paris, France. It was released on a 78 by Oriole.[21]
• Judy Garland sang a version of the song in June 1937 for the Jack Oakie’s College. This was depicted in the 1978 television movie Rainbow

References

1. Lowe, Leslie (1992). Directory of Popular Music. London: Waterlow Information Services. p. 70. ISBN 0-904520-70-6.
2. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 492. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
3. Oliver, Myra (25 February 1994). "Songbird Dinah Shore Dead at 76". news.google.com. Boca Raton News. p. 2A. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
4. Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire. New York City: Oxford University Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.
5. Brothers, Thomas (2014). Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 413, 431. ISBN 978-0-393-06582-4.
6. Chat Baker Discography Lost and Found
7. Josephine Baker
8. Brunswick Records in the 7300 - 7499 series Archived 2012-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
9. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 58. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
10. "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
11. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
12. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
13. Brunswick Records in the 6000 - 6499 series Archived 2012-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
14. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 103. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
15. Victor Records in the 22500 - 22999 series
16. Victor Records in the 25000 - 25499 series
17. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
18. Second Hand Songs: Medium - Solo Monk - Thelonious Monk (1965)
19. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 436. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
20. Columbia Records in the 1D - 499D series

See also

• List of 1920s jazz standards