Laura (1945 song)

"Laura"is a 1945 popular song. The music, composed byDavid Raksinfor the 1944 movieLaura,which starredGene TierneyandDana Andrews,is heard frequently in the movie. The film's director,Otto Preminger,had originally wanted to useDuke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady"as the theme, but Raksin was not convinced that it was suitable. Angered, Preminger gave Raksin one weekend to compose an alternative melody. Raksin later said, and maintained for the rest of his days, that when, over that weekend, his wife sent him a"Dear John" letter,the haunting theme seemed to write itself.

The lyrics were written byJohnny Mercerafter the film made the tune popular, so he had to title the song "Laura".According to Mercer, he had not yet seen the movie when he wrote the lyrics but was aware that it was a romantic, somewhat haunting story.

Laura is the face in the misty light, footsteps that you hear down the hall

The laugh that floats on the summer night that you can never quite recall

And you see Laura on a train that is passing through, those eyes how familiar they seem

She gave your very first kiss to you, that was Laura but she's only a dream

The song became a jazz standard and has been recorded more than 400 times.Some of the best-known versions are byWoody Herman,Dave Brubeck,Johnny Johnston,Emil Newman,David Rose,Billy Eckstine,Charlie Parker,J. J. Johnson,Carly Simon,Frank Sinatra,Spike JonesandJulie London(included on her 1955 debut albumJulie Is Her Name, Vol. 1). The first 10 notes of the song are sometimes "quoted" during jazz solos, especially sinceDizzy Gillespiedid it during his "Perdido"solo at theMassey Hall concertin May 1953.

Some notable recordings

• Emil Newman(first performance, October 11, 1944)
• Erroll Garner(1945)
• Don Byas(1945)
• Woody Herman– "Laura" / "I Wonder" (shellac, 1945)
• Johnny Johnston(1945)
• Eric Winstoneand his Band (1946)
• Spike Jones and his City Slickers(1946)
• Stan Kenton(1946)
• Sidney Bechet(1947)
• David Rose(1947)
• Frank Sinatra(1947)
• Dave Brubeck(trio, 1949)
• Charlie Parker–Charlie Parker with Strings(1950)
• Nat King Cole-Penthouse Serenade(1952)
• Dave Brubeck –Jazz at the College of the Pacific(quartet, 1953)
• Clifford Brown–Clifford Brown with Strings(1955)
• Lenny Dee-Dee-Lightful!(1955)
• Julie London-Julie Is Her Name(1955)
• Charles Mingus-Mingus Three(1957)
• Coleman Hawkins-The Hawk Flies High(1957)
• Frank Sinatra –Where Are You?(1957)
• Tony Bennett-To My Wonderful One(1960)
• Dorothy Ashby-Soft Winds(1961)
• Eric Dolphy– FromIn Europe, Vol. 2(1961)
• Percy Faith– orchestral version from the albumA Summer Place(1961)
• Al Hirt–He's the King and His Band(1961)
• Sergio Franchi–Women in My Life(1964)
• Jeanne LeeandRan Blake–The Newest Sound Around(1962)
• Ella Fitzgerald–Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook(1964)
• Andy Williams–The Academy Award-Winning "Call Me Irresponsible" and Other Hit Songs from the Movies(1964)
• Trini Lopez– From his albumThe Love Album(1965)
• Bill Evans–A Simple Matter of Conviction(1966)
• Harry James-Laura(HarmonyHS 11326, 1969)
• David Raksin with theNew Philharmonia Orchestra(1975)
• Dexter Gordon–Sophisticated Giant(1977)
• Earl Klugh–Late Night Guitar(1980)
• Rosemary Clooney-Sings The Lyrics Of Johnny Mercer(1987)
• Royce Campbell–The Art Of Chord Solo Guitar(1994)
• Billy Eckstine–Everything I Have Is Yours (album)(1995)
• The Four Freshmen- Great Gentlemen of Song / Spotlight On The Four Freshmen (1995)
• Dick Haymes–The Very Best of Dick Haymes(1997)
• Carly Simon–Film Noir(1998)
• Mina– L'allieva (2005)
• Robert Wyatt/Gilad Atzmon/ Ros Stephen] –......... For the Ghosts Within(2010)
• Seth MacFarlane–Music Is Better Than Words(2011)