Published 1929 Composer(s) Richard Rodgers | Writer(s) Lorenz Hart | |
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"With a Song in My Heart" is a show tune from the 1929 Rodgers and Hart musical Spring Is Here.
In the original Broadway production it was introduced by John Hundley and Lillian Taiz. The following year, it was sung by Lawrence Gray in the Hollywood musical version of that show by Bernice Claire and Frank Albertson. The most popular recording of the song in 1929 was by Leo Reisman.
In 1933, it was included in a two-reel version of the film re-titled Yours Sincerely, part of the Broadway Brevities series, starring Lanny Ross.
In the 1944 Hollywood musical This Is the Life, it was sung by Donald O'Connor and Susanna Foster. It was included in the 1948 musical film, Words and Music, a biography of Rodgers and Hart, where it was sung by Perry Como.
It was also heard, sung by Doris Day, in the 1950 Hollywood musical Young Man with a Horn. In the 1951 Hollywood musical Painting the Clouds with Sunshine it was sung by Dennis Morgan and Lucille Norman.
A recording with Perry Como, sung with choir and orchestra conducted by Henri René, was made in New York City on December 23, 1948. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3329 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number BD 1230.
Arild Andresen, piano with guitar and bass recorded it in Oslo on March 11, 1955 as the second melody of the medley "Klaver-Cocktail Nr. 3" along with "Sophisticated Lady" and "Flamingo". The medley was released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice A.L. 3514.
Ella Fitzgerald recorded it in 1956 on her two-record Verve release: "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook" which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
It was the title song in the 1952 Hollywood musical With a Song in My Heart, a biographical movie about Jane Froman, in which it was sung by Froman on the soundtrack for Susan Hayward.
It was covered by The Supremes on their album I Hear A Symphony - released in 1966 - and was re-recorded and featured on their 1967 tribute album to Rodgers & Hart titled The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart.
Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1975 for his album At My Time of Life'
The line "With a song in my heart" is performed by a male penguin in the animated film "Happy Feet" (2006).
It was also the memorable signature tune for a BBC radio programme, "Two Way Family Favourites" (original played by Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra) which was presented by a variety of well-known radio personalities including Cliff Michelmore, Jean Metcalfe, Michael Aspel, Judith Chalmers and Sarah Kennedy. Its final presenter was Jean Challis.
In 2013, renowned tenor Anthony Kearns recorded the song, naming his highly anticipated debut solo CD after the title track, "With a Song in My Heart."