"I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)" is a
popularsong.
The music was written by
Harry Warren, the lyrics by
Mort Dixon and
Billy Rose. The song was published in
1931, though a song using the same title, with a similar lyric by Rose and different music, had been published five years earlier.[1] It was introduced in the
BroadwaymusicalBilly Rose's Crazy Quilt, which opened in May, 1931, where it was sung by
Fanny Brice.[1]
Many versions of the song were recorded in 1931. The biggest hit was by
Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, with a vocal by Clare Hanlon, released by
Victor Records as catalog number 22707.[1][2] The next-most-popular version[2] was by
Bing Crosby, recorded on June 12, 1931[3] and released by
Brunswick Records as catalog number 6128[1] and a version recorded by the
Boswell Sisters and
Victor Young's Orchestra also had some popularity.[1][2] The song has since become a
pop standard, recorded by many additional people (see below).
1926 Song By Billy Rose
Billy Rose first used the title for a 1926 song that had music by
Fred Fisher. Rose wrote the lyric for the earlier song, which also described a man falling in love with a woman who sold china in a
five and dime. (The 1931 lyric written largely by Mort Dixon, while using the same idea as the 1926 lyric, is not identical to that of the earlier song.) The 1926, though not a hit, was recorded for RCA Victor in 1926 by Canadian singer
Henry Burr.
Recorded versions of the 1931 Song
Frank Auburn and his orchestra (recorded May 28, 1931, released by
Harmony Records as catalog number 1331-H, with the flip side "In the Merry Month of Maybe"[4])
Buddy Blue and his Texans (recorded May
1931, released by
Crown Records as catalog number 3149A, with the flip side "On the Beach with You"[5])
Bobby Byrne and his orchestra (recorded April 29, 1941, released by
Decca Records as catalog number 3771A, with the flip side "On the Beach at Waikiki"[10])
Perry Como (recorded February 1, 1951,[14] released by
RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4035, with the flip side "That Old Gang of Mine"[15])
Bing Crosby (recorded June 12, 1931, released by
Brunswick Records as catalog number 6140,[16] and as catalog number 80045,[17] both with the flip side "I'm Through with Love";[16][17] re-recorded July 10, 1940, released by
Decca Records as catalog number 25502, with the flip side "Please"[18])
Walter Davis (recorded March 13, 1938, released by
Bluebird Records as catalog number 7589, with the flip side "When the Nights Are Lonesome"[19])
Arthur Fields (recorded November
1926, released by
Emerson Records as catalog number 3095, with the flip side "I'm Gonna Park Myself in Your Arms"[20])
Shep Fields and his orchestra (recorded April 29, 1941, released by
Bluebird Records as catalog number 11150, with the flip side "Marche Slave"[21])
Dizzy Gillespie with J. Richards (recorded October 31, 1950, released by
Discovery Records as catalog number 143, with the flip side "What Is There to Say?"[22])
Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded May 5, 1941, released by
Columbia Records as catalog number 36136, with the flip side "Good Evenin', Good Lookin'"[23])
Sam Johnson (pseudonym for
Len Joy) and his orchestra (recorded June 9, 1931, released by
Aurora Records as catalog number 128[24] and by
Timely Tunes Records as catalog number C-1580,[25] both with the flip side "The One-Man Band"[24][25])
Billy Jones with M. Kaplan's Orchestra (recorded November
1926, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 40726, with the flip side "Elsie Schultz-en-Heim"[26])
Irving Kaufman (released by
Banner Records as catalog number 1854, with the flip side "My Girl has Eye Trouble",[27] also released under the name "Charles Dickson" by
Oriole Records as catalog number 740, with the flip side "Down in Mobile"[28])
Sam Lanin and his orchestra (vocal: P. Small; recorded June 2, 1931, released by
Banner Records as catalog number 32219[6] and by
Oriole Records as catalog number 2295,[7] both with the flip side "Little Girl"[6][7])
Jack Leonard (recorded April 28, 1941, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 6200, with the flip side "When Your Lover Has Gone"[29])
Bob Manners and his orchestra (released by
Fortune Records as catalog number 117, with the flip side "Arms and Legs Polka"[30])
Radio Franks (recorded September 21, 1926, released by
Cameo Records as catalog number 1036, with the flip side "Pretty Birdie",[31] by
Challenge Records as catalog number 185, with the flip side "Moonlight on the Ganges",[32] by
Champion Records as catalog number CH15178, with the flip side "Here Comes Fatima",[33] and by
Romeo Records as catalog number 279, with the flip side "Don't I Know It?"[34])
Roy Smeck Vita Trio (recorded August
1931, released by
Crown Records as catalog number 3186A, with the flip side "I'm Through with Love"[5])
Tommy Tucker and his orchestra (recorded April 21, 1941, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 6188, with the flip side "Blues"[29])
Van and his Orchestra (recorded October 20, 1926, released by
Pathé Records as catalog number 36551[40] and by
Perfect Records as catalog number 14732,[41] both with the flip side "Hello! Swanee, Hello!"[40][41])
Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians (recorded May 4, 1931, released by
Victor Records as catalog number 22707A, with the flip side "Sing a Little Jingle"[42])
Entertainment attorney
Bertram Fields recorded a version of the song with Les Deux Love Orchestra in 2022.
References
^
abcdeGardner, Edward Foote (2000). Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House.
ISBN1-55778-789-1.
^
abcWhitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
ISBN0-89820-135-7.
"I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)" is a
popularsong.
The music was written by
Harry Warren, the lyrics by
Mort Dixon and
Billy Rose. The song was published in
1931, though a song using the same title, with a similar lyric by Rose and different music, had been published five years earlier.[1] It was introduced in the
BroadwaymusicalBilly Rose's Crazy Quilt, which opened in May, 1931, where it was sung by
Fanny Brice.[1]
Many versions of the song were recorded in 1931. The biggest hit was by
Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, with a vocal by Clare Hanlon, released by
Victor Records as catalog number 22707.[1][2] The next-most-popular version[2] was by
Bing Crosby, recorded on June 12, 1931[3] and released by
Brunswick Records as catalog number 6128[1] and a version recorded by the
Boswell Sisters and
Victor Young's Orchestra also had some popularity.[1][2] The song has since become a
pop standard, recorded by many additional people (see below).
1926 Song By Billy Rose
Billy Rose first used the title for a 1926 song that had music by
Fred Fisher. Rose wrote the lyric for the earlier song, which also described a man falling in love with a woman who sold china in a
five and dime. (The 1931 lyric written largely by Mort Dixon, while using the same idea as the 1926 lyric, is not identical to that of the earlier song.) The 1926, though not a hit, was recorded for RCA Victor in 1926 by Canadian singer
Henry Burr.
Recorded versions of the 1931 Song
Frank Auburn and his orchestra (recorded May 28, 1931, released by
Harmony Records as catalog number 1331-H, with the flip side "In the Merry Month of Maybe"[4])
Buddy Blue and his Texans (recorded May
1931, released by
Crown Records as catalog number 3149A, with the flip side "On the Beach with You"[5])
Bobby Byrne and his orchestra (recorded April 29, 1941, released by
Decca Records as catalog number 3771A, with the flip side "On the Beach at Waikiki"[10])
Perry Como (recorded February 1, 1951,[14] released by
RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4035, with the flip side "That Old Gang of Mine"[15])
Bing Crosby (recorded June 12, 1931, released by
Brunswick Records as catalog number 6140,[16] and as catalog number 80045,[17] both with the flip side "I'm Through with Love";[16][17] re-recorded July 10, 1940, released by
Decca Records as catalog number 25502, with the flip side "Please"[18])
Walter Davis (recorded March 13, 1938, released by
Bluebird Records as catalog number 7589, with the flip side "When the Nights Are Lonesome"[19])
Arthur Fields (recorded November
1926, released by
Emerson Records as catalog number 3095, with the flip side "I'm Gonna Park Myself in Your Arms"[20])
Shep Fields and his orchestra (recorded April 29, 1941, released by
Bluebird Records as catalog number 11150, with the flip side "Marche Slave"[21])
Dizzy Gillespie with J. Richards (recorded October 31, 1950, released by
Discovery Records as catalog number 143, with the flip side "What Is There to Say?"[22])
Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded May 5, 1941, released by
Columbia Records as catalog number 36136, with the flip side "Good Evenin', Good Lookin'"[23])
Sam Johnson (pseudonym for
Len Joy) and his orchestra (recorded June 9, 1931, released by
Aurora Records as catalog number 128[24] and by
Timely Tunes Records as catalog number C-1580,[25] both with the flip side "The One-Man Band"[24][25])
Billy Jones with M. Kaplan's Orchestra (recorded November
1926, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 40726, with the flip side "Elsie Schultz-en-Heim"[26])
Irving Kaufman (released by
Banner Records as catalog number 1854, with the flip side "My Girl has Eye Trouble",[27] also released under the name "Charles Dickson" by
Oriole Records as catalog number 740, with the flip side "Down in Mobile"[28])
Sam Lanin and his orchestra (vocal: P. Small; recorded June 2, 1931, released by
Banner Records as catalog number 32219[6] and by
Oriole Records as catalog number 2295,[7] both with the flip side "Little Girl"[6][7])
Jack Leonard (recorded April 28, 1941, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 6200, with the flip side "When Your Lover Has Gone"[29])
Bob Manners and his orchestra (released by
Fortune Records as catalog number 117, with the flip side "Arms and Legs Polka"[30])
Radio Franks (recorded September 21, 1926, released by
Cameo Records as catalog number 1036, with the flip side "Pretty Birdie",[31] by
Challenge Records as catalog number 185, with the flip side "Moonlight on the Ganges",[32] by
Champion Records as catalog number CH15178, with the flip side "Here Comes Fatima",[33] and by
Romeo Records as catalog number 279, with the flip side "Don't I Know It?"[34])
Roy Smeck Vita Trio (recorded August
1931, released by
Crown Records as catalog number 3186A, with the flip side "I'm Through with Love"[5])
Tommy Tucker and his orchestra (recorded April 21, 1941, released by
OKeh Records as catalog number 6188, with the flip side "Blues"[29])
Van and his Orchestra (recorded October 20, 1926, released by
Pathé Records as catalog number 36551[40] and by
Perfect Records as catalog number 14732,[41] both with the flip side "Hello! Swanee, Hello!"[40][41])
Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians (recorded May 4, 1931, released by
Victor Records as catalog number 22707A, with the flip side "Sing a Little Jingle"[42])
Entertainment attorney
Bertram Fields recorded a version of the song with Les Deux Love Orchestra in 2022.
References
^
abcdeGardner, Edward Foote (2000). Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House.
ISBN1-55778-789-1.
^
abcWhitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
ISBN0-89820-135-7.