I'm Always Chasing Rainbows

Infobox Standard
title = I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
english_title =
comment = music based on Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin
Introduced in the 1918 Broadway show "Oh, Look!"


image_size =
caption =
writer =
composer = Harry Carroll
lyricist = Joseph McCarthy
published = 1917
written =
language = English
form =
original_artist = The Dolly Sisters
recorded_by = many artists;
see #Recorded versions
performed_by = "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is a popular song. The music is credited to Harry Carroll, although the melody is actually adapted from Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin. The lyrics were written by Joseph McCarthy, and the song was published in 1917 and introduced in the Broadway show "Oh, Look!" which opened in March, 1918cite book
title= Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949
last = Gardner| first = Edward Foote| publisher= Paragon House
location= St. Paul, Minnesota
date= 2000| isbn= 1-55778-789-1 ] . The song was sung in the show by The Dolly Sisters and was subsequently featured in a movie entitled "The Dolly Sisters," released in September, 1945, where it was sung by John Payne.The song was also featured in the 1941 movie "Ziegfeld Girl" sung by Judy Garland.

The song is a true popular standard, recorded by many artists over the years.

Recorded versions

Hit versions in 1918

The biggest hit version in 1918 was recorded by Charles W. Harrison on July 26, 1918, and released by Victor Records as catalog number 18496A,cite book
title= Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music
last = Whitburn| first = Joel| authorlink = Joel Whitburn| publisher= Record Research
location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
date= 1999| isbn= 0-89820-135-7 ] } with the flip side “I Miss That Mississippi Miss That Misses Me” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic18000.html Victor Records in the 18000 to 18499 series] ] )

There were also very popular versions recorded by Harry Fox and by Prince's Orchestra (Columbia catalog number A-6064) in the same year.

Harry Fox's version was recorded April 16, 1918, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2557, with the flip side “I Wonder What They're Doing Tonight” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COLA2500.htm Columbia Records in the A-2500 to A-2999 series] ] )

The Prince's Orchestra (referred to as Prince's Band on [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COLA6000.htm Columbia Records in the A-6000 to A-6233 series] ] ) version was recorded July, 1918, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-6064, with the flip side “Oh, Frenchy”)

Hit versions in 1946

The biggest hit versions in the 1946 revival were by Perry Como, by Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes, and by Harry James's Orchestra with a vocal by Buddy DeVito. There was also a recording by Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians, with a vocal by Erno Rapee, which had a degree pf popularity that year.

The recording by Perry Como was recorded October 17, 1945 [ [http://www.kokomo.ca/early_years/im_always_chasing_rainbows.htm Perry Como discography entry for "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"] ] , and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1788, with the flip side “You Won't Be Satisfied” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/RCA201500.htm RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series] ] . It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on January 24, 1946 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #7cite book
last = Whitburn
first = Joel
authorlink = Joel Whitburn
title = Top Pop Records 1940-1955
publisher = Record Research
location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
year = 1973 ] ; it was re-released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-2663, with the flip side “If We Can't Be the Same Old Sweethearts” [http://settlet.fateback.com/RCA202500.htm RCA Victor Records in the 20-2500 to 20-2999 series] ]

The recording by Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes was made on November 1, 1945, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 23472, with the flip side “Tomorrow Is Forever” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec23000.htm Decca Records in the 23000 to 23499 series] ] . It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on January 31, 1946 at #10, its only week on the chart.

The recording by Harry James and his orchestra was made on November 7, 1945, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36899, with the flip side “Baby What You Do to Me” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL36500.htm Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series] ] and as catalog number 38434, with the flip side “I'm Beginning to See the Light” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL38000.htm Columbia Records in the 38000 to 38499 series] ]

The recording by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians was released by Decca Records as catalog number 3586, with the flip side “Tea for Two” [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec3500.htm Decca Records in the 3500 to 3999 series] ] and as catalog number 18789A, with the flip side “Make Believe” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec18500.htm Decca Records in the 18500 to 18923 series] ] )

Other recorded versions

*Ronnie Aldrich
*Alice Cooper
*American Republic Band (released by Pathé Records as catalog number 22016A, with the flip side “Arabian Nights” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Pathe22000.htm Pathé Records in the 22000 to 22841 series] ] )
*Samuel Ash (released by Medallion Records as catalog number 804, with the flip side “Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Medallion.htm Medallion Records listing] ] and by Emerson Records as catalog number 0930, with the flip side “I'm Sorry I Made You Cry” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Emerson900.htm Emerson Records in the 0900 to 9227 series] ] )
*Tony Bennett
*Polly Bergen
*Henry Burr (recorded 1919, released by OKeh Records as catalog number 1136, with the flip side “Those Wonderful Days of Used-to-Be” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/OK1000.html OKeh Records in the 1000 to 1262 series] ] )
*Bob Chester and his orchestra (recorded November 26, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10987, with the flip side “Somebody Stole My Gal” [http://settlet.fateback.com/BB10500.htm Bluebird Records in the 10500 to 10999 series] ] )
*Ray Conniff
*Bing Crosby
*Sammy Davis Jr.
*Alice Faye
*Ferrante & Teicher
*The Four Freshmen
*Judy Garland and the David Rose orchestra (released by Decca Records as catalog number 3593B, with the flip side “Our Love Affair”)
*Jackie Gleason
*Al Goodman and his orchestra (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36216, with the flip side “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL36000.htm Columbia Records in the 36000 to 36499 series] ] )
*Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded December 20, 1940, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35916, with the flip side “Somebody Stole My Gal” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL35500.htm Columbia Records in the 35500 to 35999 series] ] )
*Betty Grable
*Ken Griffin (recorded September 1954, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40569, with the flip side “Ain't She Sweet” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL40500.htm Columbia Records in the 40500 to 40999 series] ] )
*Walter Gross (recorded June 6, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10795, with the flip side “A Slight Case of Ivory”)
*Ted Heath
*Gordon Jenkins (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 106, with the flip side “He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol100.htm Capitol Records in the 100 to 499 series] ] , and as catalog numbers 1263 [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol1000.htm Capitol Records in the 1000 to 1499 series] ] and 15202 [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol15000.htm Capitol Records in the 15000 to 15431 series] ] , both with the flip side “White Christmas”)
*Al Jolson
*Hal Kemp's Carolina Club Orchestra (recorded May 24, 1929, released by OKeh Records as catalog number 41409, with the flip side “Allah's Holiday” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/OK41000.html OKeh Records in the 41000 to 41499 series] ] )
*Stan Kenton
*Andre Kostelanetz
*Judy Lang (released by Keystone Broadcasting System Records as catalog number KBS 612 [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Keyst2.htm Keystone Broadcasting System Records in the KBS 303 to KBS 740 and KBS A to KBS D series] ] )
*Tom Legend (released 1962 by Colpix Records as catalog number 619, with the flip side "Where I Belong" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/colpix.html Colpix Records listing] ] )
*Liberace
*Tony Martin
*Buddy Morrow (recorded January 1946, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 2057, with the flip side “Jalousie” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Merc020.htm Mercury Records in the 2000 to 2098 series] ] )
*Harry Nilsson
*Mandy Patinkin
*Johnny Ray
*Della Reese
*Joe Reichman and his orchestra (recorded January 28, 1941, released by Victor Records as catalog number 27333 [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic27000.html Victor Records in the 27000 to 27499 series] ] , re-released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2968, both with the flip side “Keep an Eye on Your Heart”)
*Debbie Reynolds
*Buddy Rich
*Voices of Walter Schumann (released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 1752, with the flip side “Far Above Cayuga's Waters” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol1500.htm Capitol Records in the 1500 to 1999 series] ] and in the United Kingdom in 1951 as catalog number CL 13638, with the flip side “Moonglow” [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/capitol-uk-13000.html Capitol Records in the CL 13200 to CL 13999 series] ] )
*Frank Sinatra
*Jo Stafford
*Barbra Streisand
*Jackie Walker (released 1962 by Everest Records as catalog number 20010, with the flip side "Dearly Beloved" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/e/everest.html Everest Records listing] ] )
*Barry Wood with Mitchell Miller Orchestra (released by Cosmo Records as catalog number 469, with the flip side “Symphony” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Cosmo.htm Cosmo Records listings] ] )
*Peter Yorke

References