Frances Langford – Harbour Lights

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Harbour Lights (Song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Harbour Lights”
Song by Frances Langford
Published1937
Composer(s)Hugh Williams
Lyricist(s)Jimmy Kennedy

Harbor Lights“, is a popular song with music by Hugh Williams (the pseudonym of exiled Austrian composer Will Grosz) and lyrics by Northern Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy. The song was originally recorded by Roy Fox & his Orchestra with vocal by Barry Gray in London January 29, 1937.

Roy Fox Orchestra – Harbor Lights (1937)

Another famous early version was recorded by American singer Frances Langford in Los Angeles September 14, 1937, and was published again in 1950.

The melody of the song is done in a Hawaiian style, 18 years before this island became a state. several versions featured a ukulele, and a steel guitar.

Lyrics

Kennedy’s lyrics describe the sight of harbour lights in the darkness, which signal that the ship carrying the singer’s sweetheart is sailing away. The lonely singer hopes that the lights will someday signal the sweetheart’s return. Apparently the lyricist Jimmy Kennedy was driving from London (UK) down to Southampton on the South coast along the A3 road which led south to Portsmouth. As he neared the coast a fog descended and he was confused about the direction. He saw some lights on a pub and decided to stop. The pub was called The Harbour Light. Some time later he wrote the lyric and music was added. The song Harbour Lights was recorded by the Platters and many others. A blue plaque is today fixed to the wall of the pub. http://www.michaelcooper.org.uk/C/harbourl.htm

Versions

The biggest-selling version was recorded by the Sammy Kaye orchestra. The recording was released by Columbia Records as a 78 rpm single and a 45 rpm single. The record first reached the Billboard charts on September 1, 1950, and lasted 25 weeks, peaking at #1.

The song has been recorded by many artists; charting versions were recorded by Sammy Kaye

Harbor Lights ~ Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra (1950)

Guy Lombardo, The Guy Lombardo orchestra recording of August 24, 1950 was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 6, 1950, and lasted 20 weeks, peaking at #2.

1950 HITS ARCHIVE: Harbor Lights – Guy Lombardo (Kenny Gardner, vocal)

Bing Crosby, The Bing Crosby recording of September 5, 1950 with Lyn Murray and his Orchestra and Chorus was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on November 3, 1950, and lasted 11 weeks, peaking at #10.

Harbor Lights (1950) – Bing Crosby

Ray Anthony,

1950 HITS ARCHIVE: Harbor Lights – Ray Anthony (Ronnie Deauville, vocal)

Ralph Flanagan, The Ralph Flanagan orchestra recording was released by RCA Victor Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 27, 1950, and lasted 5 weeks, peaking at #27.

1950 HITS ARCHIVE: Harbor Lights – Ralph Flanagan (instrumental)

Elvis Presley,

Harbor Lights by Elvis Presley on 1954 Sun Records.

and Ken Griffin. The Ken Griffin recording was released by Columbia Records. The record reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950, and lasted only one week, charting at #27.

Harbour Lights

Other versions were recorded by The Ink SpotsLawrence Welk,

Harbor Lights

LaVern Baker,

Harbor Lights

The Platters, In 1960, The Platters recording peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and #15 on the Hot R&B Sides chart. Overseas, this version, peaked at #11 in the UK. The Platters version featured the recorded sounds of ship bells ringing, plus the sounds of ocean waters splashing, which is heard at both the beginning and the ending of the song, before it fades out.

Harbour lights – The Platters

Engelbert Humperdinck,

Engelbert Humperdinck: "Harbor Lights"

Willie Nelson,

Harbor Lights

Jerry Lee Lewis,

Jerry Lee Lewis Harbor Lights Mercury Records outtake

Vera Lynn,

Harbour Lights

Clyde McPhatter,

CLYDE MCPHATTER AND THE DOMINOES – HARBOR LIGHTS

Arthur Tracy

ARTHUR TRACY (THE STREET SINGER) – Harbour Lights

and Jon Rauhouse.

Jon Rauhouse featuring Tommy Connell and Rachel Flotard – Harbour Lights

A Polish version titled “Portowe światła”, with lyrics by Herold (pseudonym for Henryk Szpilman), was recorded in 1938 by Mieczysław Fogg (released as Syrena Electro 2035),

PORTOWE ŚWIATŁA- MIECZYSŁAW FOGG 1938!

shortly after World War II by Tadeusz Miller (released as Melodje 118),

Tadeusz Miller – Portowe światła

and by Irena Santor in 1966 (released as Muza XL0311).

Irena Santor – Portowe światła [Official Audio]

Harbour Lights – Mantovani and his Orchestra (with vocal chorus)

Harbour Lights – Mantovani and his Orchestra (with vocal chorus)

Harbour lights – Ray Conniff

Harbour lights – Ray Conniff

The Ray Anthony orchestra recording was released by Capitol Records. The flip side was “Nevertheless“. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950, and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.

1950 HITS ARCHIVE: Nevertheless (I’m In Love With You) – Ray Anthony (Ronnie Deauville, vocal)
  • The Lennon Sisters – Harbor Lights
The Lennon Sisters – Harbor Lights

The Marco T. y Los Gatos Montañeros recording was released by Tulsan Records Private on September 14, 1987.

  • The Bachelors – Harbour Lights (1967).
The Bachelors – Harbour Lights (1967).

The song was also recorded by Pat Boone on the 1957 album Howdy!

PAT BOONE – HARBOR LIGHTS

Rudy Vallée recorded his rendition in 1937.

Harbor Lights-Rudy Vallee Orch-1937

In 1960, The Platters recording peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and #15 on the Hot R&B Sides chart. Overseas, this version, peaked at #11 in the UK. The Platters version featured the recorded sounds of ship bells ringing, plus the sounds of ocean waters splashing, which is heard at both the beginning and the ending of the song, before it fades out.

THE PLATTERS- HARBOR LIGHTS

In later years, Ace Cannon recorded an instrumental version for his 1994 album Entertainer.

Harbor light (Ace Cannon)항구의 조명
  • Marty Robbins – Harbor Lights
Marty Robbins Sings 'Harbor Lights.'
  • Mary Duff And Daniel O Donnell – Harbor Lights
Mary Duff And Daniel O Donnell Harbor Lights
  • Harbor Lights Instrumental
HARBOR LIGHTS INSTRUMENTAL
  • Harbor Lights – instrumental cover by Dave Monk
Harbor Lights – The Platters – instrumental cover by Dave Monk
  • Harbour Lights (Hugh Williams)
HARBOUR LIGHTS (HUGH WILLIAMS) – YAMAHA GENOS
  • Billy Vaughn – Harbour Lights
Harbour Lights
Harbour Lights
  • Hugo Montenegro – Harbour Lights
Harbor Lights
Harbour Lights
  • Tony Martin – harbour Lights
Harbor Lights

In popular culture

In an episode of M*A*S*H (“Your Retention, Please”), Klinger (Jamie Farr), while nursing a broken heart, plays the song over and over again on a jukebox. In the final scene, he smashes the record.

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