If You Are but a Dream
Encyclopedia
"If You Are But a Dream" is a popular song published in 1942
with words and music by Moe Jaffe
, Jack Fulton
and Nat Bonx. The melody is based on Anton Rubinstein
's "Romance in E flat, Op. 44,
No. 1," popularly known as "Rubenstein's Romance.
The song is most closely associated with Frank Sinatra
, who recorded it first for Columbia Records
in 1944, with an arrangement by Axel Stordahl
. This recording was on the reverse side of a 78 rpm record with "White Christmas
", and consequently did very well. A year later, in 1945, "If You Are But a Dream" was included in the Academy Award-winning short film, The House I Live In
, in which Sinatra was featured.
Sinatra recorded this song again for Capitol Records
in 1957, with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle
. This recording was first released on the LP This Is Sinatra Volume 2
(Capitol 982). Both the Columbia and Capitol versions have subsequently been reissued on a number of CDs.
Perhaps "If You Are But a Dream" was featured most prominently in Woody Allen
's 1987 film, Radio Days
, which features the 1944 recording on the soundtrack.
"If You Are But a Dream" was also recorded by a number of other artists.
These include (among others):
1942 in music
- Events :*July 21 - In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Goldman Band performs a unique concert, playing all original works. This was the first time a concert of music originally composed for the wind ensemble had been performed....
with words and music by Moe Jaffe
Moe Jaffe
Moe Jaffe was a songwriter and bandleader who composed more than 250 songs. He is best known for six: "Collegiate" , “The Gypsy in My Soul", “If I Had My Life to Live Over", “If You Are But a Dream", “Bell Bottom Trousers”, and “I'm My Own Grandpa".-First success:Jaffe was born into a...
, Jack Fulton
Jack Fulton
Jack Fulton is a frozen food retailer chain based in Darton in South Yorkshire and operating throughout the Midlands and North of England.-History:The Company was founded by Jack Fulton in 1960 as a poultry business...
and Nat Bonx. The melody is based on Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
's "Romance in E flat, Op. 44,
No. 1," popularly known as "Rubenstein's Romance.
The song is most closely associated with Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, who recorded it first for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1944, with an arrangement by Axel Stordahl
Axel Stordahl
Axel Stordahl was an arranger who was active from the late 1930s through the 1950s. He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s at Columbia Records...
. This recording was on the reverse side of a 78 rpm record with "White Christmas
White Christmas (song)
"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
", and consequently did very well. A year later, in 1945, "If You Are But a Dream" was included in the Academy Award-winning short film, The House I Live In
The House I Live In
The House I Live In is a ten-minute short film written by Albert Maltz, produced by Frank Ross and Mervyn LeRoy, and starring Frank Sinatra...
, in which Sinatra was featured.
Sinatra recorded this song again for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1957, with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
. This recording was first released on the LP This Is Sinatra Volume 2
This Is Sinatra Volume 2
This Is Sinatra Volume 2 is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1958.Another collection of Sinatra singles and B-sides with backings courtesy of Nelson Riddle, following 1956's This Is Sinatra!...
(Capitol 982). Both the Columbia and Capitol versions have subsequently been reissued on a number of CDs.
Perhaps "If You Are But a Dream" was featured most prominently in Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's 1987 film, Radio Days
Radio Days
Radio Days is a 1987 comedy film directed by Woody Allen. The film looks back on an American family's life during the Golden Age of Radio using both music and memories to tell the story.-Plot:...
, which features the 1944 recording on the soundtrack.
"If You Are But a Dream" was also recorded by a number of other artists.
These include (among others):
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- Sarah Vaughn
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