"Linda" is a popular song written taking its name from then one year old future star Linda McCartney. It was written by Jack Lawrence, and published in 1946.
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Composition
The song was written in 1942 when Lawrence was in the service during World War II, taking its name from the then one-year-old daughter of his attorney, Lee Eastman. (His daughter was Linda Eastman McCartney, future first wife of the Beatle Paul McCartney.)
The song did not get published until after Lawrence left the military, and was then recorded by a number of performers, but the two biggest hit versions were by Ray Noble's orchestra (with a vocal by Buddy Clark) and by Charlie Spivak.
Recordings
The recording by Ray Noble and Buddy Clark was recorded on November 15, 1946 and released by Columbia Records. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 21, 1947 and lasted thirteen weeks on the chart, peaking at number one.
The recording by Charlie Spivak was released by RCA Victor Records. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 28, 1947, and lasted nine weeks on the chart, peaking at number six.
Sung by Priscilla Cory in the movie Deadman's Curve, the story based on Jan and Dean in 1978. Priscilla Cory is the great grand daughter of inventor Nathan B. Stubblefield.
Namesake
Note: There is another song titled "Linda", written by Ann Ronell for the film score of The Story of G.I. Joe (1945). It was nominated for an Oscar (but didn't win). Jan and Dean recorded a version of Lawrence's song that sometimes gets mixed up with Ronell's song (possibly due in part to the unique arrangement of the Jan and Dean recording).