THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
333-Les Brown and His Band of Renown with vocals by Doris Day-Sentimental Journey.
1944-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 1.23.’You get the grey skies outta my way, you make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day.’
Doris Day was born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff on April 3rd, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, she died on May 13th, 2019, of pneumonia, at the age of 97. Doris Day who was named by her parents after the American actress Doris Kenyan, (1897-1979) was given her stage name in 1939 by the American orchestra leader Barney Rapp (1900-1970) for whom she was working for at the time. Rapp probably thought that ‘Kappelhoff’ was a bit of a mouthful, and he admired Doris’ rendition of the song ‘Day After Day.’ For most of her life, Doris Day stated that she was born in 1924, but on the occasion of her 95th birthday, the ‘Associated Press’ found her birth certificate that showed that 1922 was actually the year of her birth. At an early age she developed an interest in dance, and in the mid-1930’s formed a dance duo with Jerry Doherty that performed in nationwide competitions. On October 13th, 1937, while she was riding with friends, their car collided with a freight train, and she broke her right leg, ending her prospects of ever being a professional dancer. Doris Day has said that as a youngster growing up she listened to the radio, and the one voice she admired above all the others was that of Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (see also best songs 944-702-286-231 and 100.) Doris Day has said, ‘There was a quality to her voice that fascinated me, and I’d sing along with her, trying to catch the subtle ways she shaded her voice, the casual yet clean way she sang the words.’ Doris Day was married four times, and had one child, the American record producer, singer and songwriter Terry Melcher, (1942-2004) (see also best songs 621) who was instrumental in shaping the mid-to-late 1960’s ‘California Sound,’ and ‘Folk Rock’ movements. Although Doris Day is critically acclaimed as one of the greatest, and most successful singers of the 1940’s, and 1950’s, it can be strongly argued that she had an even greater film career. She appeared in 39 feature films between 1948-1968, starring alongside nearly all the biggest names during the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood.’ Notable films include ‘Calamity Jane’ from 1953, (her favourite role) and the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) suspense thriller ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much,’ with James Stewart (1908-1997.)
Doris Day who recorded in excess of 650 songs, and started her singing career in 1939 as a Big Band vocalist, released 30 studio Albums between 1949-1965, with a further two Albums released later. Her 1967 ‘The Love Album’ wasn’t released until 1994, and ‘My Heart’ (her last recording) was recorded in 1985, but not released until 2011. A total of 59 of her singles between 1945-1958 have reached the Billboard top 40 in America, with five making the Number 1 spot, including ‘Sentimental Journey,’ while in the UK, 15 of her singles have made the top 40, with ‘Secret Love,’ (1954) and ‘Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be,’) (1956) both reaching Number 1.
‘Sentimental Journey’ which was recorded on November 20th, 1944, was co-written by Les Brown, (1912-2001) and Ben Homer, (1917-1975) who wrote the music, and Bud Green, (1897-1981) who provided the lyrics.) Les Brown and His Band of Renown had been performing the song, but were unable to record it because of the 1942-1944 musician’s strike. When the strike ended the song was recorded with Doris Day as the vocalist, giving her, her first hit single, and also her first Billboard Number 1 in 1945. The songs release coincided with the end of the Second World War in Europe, and it became the unofficial homecoming theme for many soldiers.
Les Brown was born Lester Raymond Brown, on March 14th, 1912, in Reinerton, Pennsylvania, United States, he died of lung cancer on January 4th, 2001, at the age of 88. He was a professional musician for over six decades, making music in the genres of ‘Jazz,’ ‘Big Band,’ ‘Swing, and ‘Traditional Pop.’ ‘Les Brown and the Band of Renown’ performed with the legendary English born American comedian, and actor, Bob Hope, on radio, stage, and television, for almost fifty years. They did 18 ‘USO Tours’ for American troops around the world, and entertained over three million people. Before the ‘Super Bowls’ were televised, the ‘Bob Hope Christmas Specials’ were the highest rated programmes in television history. The American singer Tony Bennett (1926-2023) (see also best songs 868) was ‘discovered’ by Bob Hope, and did his first public performance with Les Brown and the Band of Renown.
The lyrics to ‘Sentimental Journey’ were written by Bud Green, who was born Moses David Green, on November 19th, 1897, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he died on January 2nd, 1981, at the age of 82. Bud Green immigrated to the United States as an infant, and grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Avenue at the turn of the 20th century, he was the eldest of seven children. It is said that in his youth he started keeping a notebook of poems and rhymes that he thought would be useful someday. By 1928, he had co-written the songs ‘Alabamy Bound,’ which was popularised by Al Jolson, (1886-1950) (see also best songs 310) and ‘That’s My Weakness Now,’ which became a huge hit for Ukulele Ike, (1895-1971) and Helen Kane (1904-1966.) Bud Green’s sister Helen (1913-2002) was married to the American lyricist Bob Russell, (1914–1970) who wrote ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,’ (see also best songs 1039) and ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,’ as well as many other songs.
‘Sentimental Journey’ tells the story of someone excitingly anticipating a trip by train to somewhere that they haven’t visited for quite some time. The narrator is feeling great emotional attachment to be ‘going home,’ and wonders why they ever left in the first place.
‘Got my bag, got my reservation, spent each dime I could afford. Like a child in wild anticipation, I long to hear that all aboard.’