East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

"East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" is a popular song.

It was written by Brooks Bowman, an undergraduate member of Princeton University's Class of 1936, for the 1934 production of the the Princeton Triangle Club's production of Stags at Bay [ [http://www.princeton.edu/~triangle/content_page/history.html History of the Princeton Triangle Club] ] , and was published in 1934. It soon also became a signature song of the Princeton Nassoons, Princeton University's oldest a cappella group.

Recorded versions

"East of the Sun" was first recorded by Hal Kemp for Brunswick on Dec. 1, 1934.
Soon after their founding in the late 1930's, the Princeton Nassoons adopted an arrangement as one of their signature pieces, and have recorded it on many albums, as recently as 2000.
Later the song became a popular staple of many Jazz musicians in the 1950s:
Sarah Vaughan recorded it in a 1949 Columbia session for the album "Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002AGJ Sarah Vaughan] ] .
Charlie Parker recorded it as early as 1952; it is featured on numerous albums, including two renditions on "The Complete Legendary Rockland Palace Concert 1952" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/samples/B000001LZ4 Charlie Parker] ] .
Stan Getz recorded it in 1955, and it was featured as the first track on his seminal double album "The West Coast Jazz" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000HYIH Stan Getz] ] .
One of the most popular recordings was by Louis Armstrong, featured in his 1957 double-album "I've Got the World on a String" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002DDQI Louis Armstrong] ] .
It was then recorded by Lee Wiley for her 1958 album "West of the Moon".

Frank Sinatra recorded it on his 1961 album "I Remember Tommy".
Tony Bennett recorded the song on his 1992 tribute to Sinatra called "Perfectly Frank".
Max von Sydow and Lyle Mays recorded it in 1991 and issued an EP of the song. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008FO9T Max von Sydow & Lyle Mays] ]
Betty Carter recorded the song on her 1996 album "I'm Yours, You're Mine".
Diana Krall recorded the song on her 1998 album "When I Look in Your Eyes" and again on her 2002 live album "Live in Paris".

Others who recorded the song include Billie Holiday [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000046Z9 Billie Holiday] ] Tommy Dorsey [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000024SGP Tommy Dorsey] ] , George Shearing [ [http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/product.aspx?pid=10729 George Shearing] ] , Dakota Staton [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000008QGF Dakota Staton] ] , Lester Young [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BHDTS Lester Young] ] , Alexis Cole (2005) [ [http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alexiscole2 Alexis Cole] ] , Sarah Vaughan (2000) [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000054P1J Sarah Vaughan] ] , Sonny and Perley (1999) [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000050GF5 Sonny and Perley] ] , Rebecca Parris (2007) [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MTDLQE Rebecca Parris] ] , Stacey Kent (1998) [ [http://www.staceykent.com/recordings/the_tender_trap.asp Stacey Kent] ] , Joshua Redman (2007) [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N4S95Q Joshua Redman] ] and Scott Hamilton (1993) [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000006MN Scott Hamilton] ] .

References