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Blue Gardenia (song)

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Wikipedia article




'Blue Gardenia' is the title of a torch song composed by Lester Lee and Bob Russell, for the 1953 movie 'The Blue Gardenia' in which a recording of the song serves as a crucial plot point. The song was recorded for 'The Blue Gardenia' by Nat King Cole who also performs the song in the film as a lounge singer. Cole recorded "Blue Gardenia" in a 20 January 1953 session at the Capitol Records Recording Studio in Hollywood, featuring the Nelson Riddle orchestra. The track was issued as the B-side of Cole's number 16 hit, "Can't I".

Dinah Washington recording



"Blue Gardenia" became a signature song of Dinah Washington whose initial recording was made in the 15 March 1955 New York City sessions for the singer's album 'For Those in Love' which was produced by Quincy Jones. Washington would make a latterday recording of the song in the 15 August 1961 sessions for her album 'I Wanna Be Loved', which version featured the Quincy Jones Orchestra. The 1955 version was featured in the soundtrack of the 1995 film 'The Bridges of Madison County'.

Other recordings



The song has also been recorded on albums by:

*Helen Merrill ('You've Got a Date With the Blues'/ 1958),

*Johnny Mathis ('Faithfully'/ 1960)

*Gloria Lynne ('Intimate Moments'/ 1965),

*Bobby Scott ('Star'/ 1969),

*Bruno Martino ('I Remember 1945'/ 1973),

*Irene Kral ('The Gentle Rain'/ 1977),

*Mark Murphy ('Sings the Nat King Cole Songbook Volume Two'/ 1985)

*Audrey Morris ('Film Noir'/ 1989),

*Della Griffin ('Travelin' Light'/ 1992),

*Diane Schuur ('Love Walked In'/ 1995)

*Etta James ('Blue Gardenia'/ 2001 - featuring Dorothy Leatherwood)

*Patti Wicks ('Love's Locked Out'/ 2003)

*Stephanie Nakasian ('Thrush Hour: A Study of the Great Ladies of Jazz'/ 2006)

*Joanna Pascale (de) ('Through My Eyes'/ 2008)

*China Moses (vocalist) & Raphal Lemonnier (pianist) ('This One's For Dinah'/ 2009)

*Branford Marsalis Quartet with vocalist Kurt Elling ('Upward Spiral'/ 2016). Diane Marino ("Soul Serenade" 2018) Instrumental versions of 'Blue Gardenia' have been recorded on albums by Lee Morgan ('Standards'/ 1998 release of 1967 recording)

*Dexter Gordon ('Landslide'/ 1982)

*Ran Blake ('Film Noir'/ 1980).

*Charles Davis ('Blue Gardenia'/ 2003).

References



Category:Nat King Cole songs

Category:Etta James songs

Category:Johnny Mathis songs

Category:Dinah Washington songs

Category:Torch songs

Category:1953 songs

Category:Songs written for films

Category:Songs with lyrics by Bob Russell (songwriter)

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