"April Showers" is a 1921popular song composed byLouis Silvers with lyrics byB. G. De Sylva.[1]
| "April Showers" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song | |
| Written | 1921 |
| Published | Harms, Inc. |
| Composer(s) | Louis Silvers |
| Lyricist(s) | Buddy DeSylva |
| Audio sample | |
Recording ofApril Showers, performed by Charles Harrison (1922) | |
History
editThe song was introduced in the 1921BroadwaymusicalBombo, where it was performed byAl Jolson. It became a well-known Jolson standard: the first of his several recordings of the song was onColumbia Records in October 1921. It has also been recorded by many other artists.
Spike Jones andDoodles Weaver produced a parody that began with the lyrics: "When April showers, she never closes the curtain..."
The British comediansMorecambe and Wise performed a skit featuring the song, which involved a light sprinkling of water drizzling onstraight man Ernie Wise whenever he sang it, but a bucket of water being thrown over Eric Morecambe whenever he did the same.
Film appearances
edit- 1926A Plantation Act sung by Al Jolson
- 1936The Singing Kid sung by Al Jolson
- 1939Rose of Washington Square sung by Al Jolson[2]
- 1946The Jolson Story sung by Al Jolson[3]
- 1946Margie sung byJeanne Crain (dubbed by Louanne Hogan) and chorus
- 1948April Showers[4]
- 1949Always Leave Them Laughing played at the Canal Street Boys Club and sung byMilton Berle.[5]
- 1949Jolson Sings Again sung by Al Jolson
- 1956The Eddy Duchin Story
- 1962Wet Hare sung byMel Blanc asBugs Bunny imitating Jolson
Recorded versions
edit- Victor Arden
- John Arpin
- Chris Barber - included in the albumChris Barber Plays - Vol. 2 (1956)[6]
- Les Brown and His Band of Renown (1949)
- Carol Burnett
- Cab Calloway
- Steve Conway[7]
- Bing Crosby (1956) (Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around) & (1977) (Seasons)
- Ruth Etting
- Arthur Fields (1922)
- Eddie Fisher (1954)[8]
- Judy Garland -Judy (1956)
- Eydie Gorme - for her albumLove Is a Season (1958)[9]
- Ernie Hare (1922)
- Charles Harrison (1922)
- Ted Heath
- Woody Herman
- Joni James
- Al Jolson
- (1921 Broadway Production)
- Commercial recording October 21, 1921
- (Performed by in1926'sA Plantation Act)
- Commercial recording December 20, 1932 withGuy Lombardo and his Orchestra
- (1936, in the filmThe Singing Kid)
- Commercial recording August 10, 1945[10]
- (Re-recorded 1946, for the filmThe Jolson Story)
- Teddy Joyce and His Orchestra
- Teddi King -All The King's Songs (1959)
- Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (vocal:Don Rodney) (1947)
- Abe Lyman and his California Orchestra (with vocals byLouis Rapp)
- Arthur Prysock
- The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band
- Jimmy Roselli
- Frank Sinatra
- Mel Tormé
- Leslie Uggams
- Ian Whitcomb
- Paul Whiteman and his orchestra (instrumental) (1922)
- Margaret Whiting (1948)[11]
- Jackie Wilson
- Kai Winding
- Isadora's sneakers sing the part of the song in aSesame Street animation clip
- Bugs Bunny (voiced byMel Blanc) in theWarner Bros. Cartoons animated shortWet Hare
- NRBQ
Lyrics
editBelow are the lyrics of the 1921 version, which is out of copyright.
Verse 1
Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.
Verse 2
Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May,
So if it's raining have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain you know, it's raining violets.
Chorus
And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for abluebird,
And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.
References
edit- ^Catalogue of Copyright Entries. "Part 3: Musical Compositions." "New Series" – viaGoogle Books
."April Showers,"B.G. DeSylva (words), Silvers (music).- Vol. 16. Part 2. September 1921. No. 9. ©15 July 1921;E 515575 (Class E; musical composition);Harms, Inc. p. 1078.
- ^"April Showers" sung by Al Jolson (audio file only) fromRose of Washington Square, on YouTube
- ^Gilliland, John. (197X)."Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #18 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved2021-01-26.
- ^"Internet Movie Database".imdb.com. RetrievedJune 12, 2017.
- ^"Internet Movie Database".imdb.com. RetrievedJune 12, 2017.
- ^"Discogs.com".Discogs.com. RetrievedMay 9, 2017.
- ^Henson, Brian (1989).First hits, 1946-1959. Colin Morgan. London: Boxtree.ISBN 1-85283-268-1.OCLC 19389211.
- ^"45cat.com".45cat.com. RetrievedMay 9, 2017.
- ^"allmusic.com".allmusic.com. RetrievedMay 9, 2017.
- ^Goldman, Herbert G. (1988).Jolson - The Legend Comes to Life. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 381–388.ISBN 0-19-505505-5.
- ^"45worlds.com".45worlds.com. RetrievedMay 9, 2017.