Wikipedia article
"'Harbor Lights'", is a popular song with music by Hugh Williams (the pseudonym of exiled Austrian composer Will Grosz) and lyrics by Northern Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy. The song was originally recorded by Roy Fox & his Orchestra with vocal by Barry Gray in London January 29, 1937. Another famous early version was recorded by American singer Frances Langford in Los Angeles September 14, 1937,[[https://web.archive.org/web/20041223211851/http://www.lyricsvault.net/charts/top1937.html Billboard Top singles of 1937]] and was published again in 1950.
The melody of the song is done in a Hawaiian style, 18 years before this island became a state. several versions featured a ukulele, and a steel guitar.
Lyrics
Kennedy's lyrics describe the sight of harbour lights in the darkness, which signal that the ship carrying the singer's sweetheart is sailing away. The lonely singer hopes that the lights will someday signal the sweetheart's return.['Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era' 0786429461 Don Tyler - 2007 -" Words: Jimmy Kennedy; Music: Hugh Williams Although this song was written by English tunesmiths Will Grosz (under the pen name Hugh ... The lyrics say the harbour lights that once brought his girl to him are now taking her away because she was on a ship and he was on the shore."]
Versions
The song has been recorded by many artists; charting versions were recorded by Sammy Kaye, Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby, Ray Anthony, Ralph Flanagan, Elvis Presley, and Ken Griffin. Other versions were recorded by The Ink Spots, Lawrence Welk, LaVern Baker, The Platters, Engelbert Humperdinck, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Vera Lynn, Clyde McPhatter, Arthur Tracy and Jon Rauhouse. A Polish version titled "Portowe wiata", with lyrics by Herold (pseudonym for Henryk Szpilman), was recorded in 1938 by Mieczysaw Fogg (released as Syrena Electro 2035), shortly after World War II by Tadeusz Miller (released as Melodje 118), and by Irena Santor in 1966 (released as Muza XL0311).
The biggest-selling version was recorded by the Sammy Kaye orchestra. The recording was released by Columbia Records as a 78 rpm single and a 45 rpm single. The record first reached the 'Billboard' charts on September 1, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks, peaking at #1.[
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The Guy Lombardo orchestra recording of August 24, 1950 was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the 'Billboard' charts on October 6, 1950 and lasted 20 weeks, peaking at #2.[
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The Bing Crosby recording of September 5, 1950 with Lyn Murray and his Orchestra and Chorus was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the 'Billboard' charts on November 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks, peaking at #10.[
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The Ray Anthony orchestra recording was released by Capitol Records. The flip side was "Nevertheless". The record first reached the 'Billboard' charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.[
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The Ralph Flanagan orchestra recording was released by RCA Victor Records. The record first reached the 'Billboard' charts on October 27, 1950 and lasted 5 weeks, peaking at #27.[
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The Ken Griffin recording was released by Columbia Records. The record reached the 'Billboard' charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted only one week, charting at #27.[
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The Marco T. y Los Gatos Montaeros recording was released by Tulsan Records Private on September 14, 1987.
The song was also recorded by Pat Boone on the 1957 album 'Howdy!'
Rudy Valle recorded his rendition in 1937.
In 1960, The Platters recording peaked at #8 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 charts and #15 on the Hot R&B Sides chart. Overseas, this version, peaked at #11 in the UK. The Platters version featured the recorded sounds of ship bells ringing, plus the sounds of ocean waters splashing, which is heard at both the beginning and the ending of the song, before it fades out.
In later years, Ace Cannon recorded an instrumental version for his 1994 album 'Entertainer'.
In popular culture
In an episode of M*A*S*H ("Your Retention, Please"), Klinger (Jamie Farr), while nursing a broken heart, plays the song over and over again on a jukebox. In the final scene, he smashes the record.
References
Category:1937 songs
Category:Songs with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy
Category:Songs with music by Wilhelm Grosz
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:RCA Records singles
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Bing Crosby songs
Category:Elvis Presley songs
Category:The Platters songs
Category:Willie Nelson songs
Category:Vera Lynn songs
Category:Number-one singles in the United States
Category:Guy Lombardo songs
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