My Resistance Is Low

My Resistance Is Low is a 1951 song by American singer, songwriter and band leader Hoagy Carmichael, with later lyrics by Harold Adamson.

Creation

Carmichael had the melody, and then recorded it backed by the Gordon Jenkins Chorus and Orchestra. Released on March 15, 1951, it didn't feature well in the Hot 100.

The Las Vegas Story

The song is probably best known to American audiences for being in the closing sequence to the 1952 Jane Russell movie, The Las Vegas Story which was produced and directed by Howard Hughes. Hughes cast Carmichael as Happy the piano player in a bar, and Carmichael agreed that Hughes could commission Harold Adamson to write suitable lyrics.

In its film review, Time Out magazine commented:[1]

A minor RKO gem showing all the preferences of its then owner Howard Hughes (aeroplanes, brunettes, breasts and disenchanted heroes).... It all finishes with a perfunctory nod toward family values (by marrying off an irrelevant young couple), but the film wears its intentions on its sleeve with the final shot: Hoagy looks first at the seductive Russell, then winks at us as he sings, My Resistance Is Low

Re-released as a result, this time with the Adamson lyrics sung by Carmichael, the song again didn't do well in the Hot 100, but released through Decca Records hit No.1 in the United Kingdom and a number of other countries.[2]

Later releases

The song became a perennial classic in the UK, with most releases since Carmichael's within that country.[2] The best known is 1976's (Clive) Robin Sarstedt's,[3] who became a one-hit wonder when the track reached No.3.[4]

Artist Date Notes
The Shadows September 1961 Album track on instrumental album "The Shadows"
Robin Sarstedt 1976 No.3 in the UK[4]
Bing Crosby 1977 for his album Beautiful Memories
Georgie Fame & Annie Ross 1981
Elvis Costello & Paul Riley & Pete Thomas November 14, 1994
John Eaton 1994

The backing music to the Sarstedt version of the song is an ident track for the Danny Baker Saturday morning weekend show on BBC Radio 5 Live, used post the news and sport.

References
  1. Time Out Film Guide, film review. Last accessed: November 27, 2009.
  2. "My Resistance Is Low". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  3. Songs for Robin Sarstedt at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 482. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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