Linda (1946 song)
Encyclopedia
"Linda" is a popular
song
. It was written by Jack Lawrence
, and published in 1946.
The song was actually 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
, 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
.
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.
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 & 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 & Dean recording). However, a quick check of the writing credit on the 45 label (not to mention the obviously similar lyrics) will show that theirs is a cover of the Jack Lawrence tune. Disregard any incorrect author credits anywhere that attempt to state that Lawrence and Ronell actually collaborated on the same singular song.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
. It was written by Jack Lawrence
Jack Lawrence
Jack Lawrence was an American songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.- Biography :...
, and published in 1946.
The song was actually written in 1942 when Lawrence was in the service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, taking its name from the then one-year-old daughter of his attorney, Lee Eastman
Lee Eastman
Lee Eastman, born Leopold Vail Epstein, was a New York show business attorney, and art collector the son of Louis and Stella Epstein. His sisters were Emmaline and Rose...
. (His daughter was Linda Eastman
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
, future first wife of the Beatle
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.)
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
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
orchestra (with a vocal by Buddy Clark
Buddy Clark
Buddy Clark was a popular American singer in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:Clark was born Samuel Goldberg to Jewish parents in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He made his Big Band singing debut in 1934 with Benny Goodman on the Let's Dance radio program. In 1936 he started to perform on the...
) and by Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
.
The recording by Ray Noble
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
and Buddy Clark
Buddy Clark
Buddy Clark was a popular American singer in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:Clark was born Samuel Goldberg to Jewish parents in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He made his Big Band singing debut in 1934 with Benny Goodman on the Let's Dance radio program. In 1936 he started to perform on the...
was recorded on November 15, 1946 and released by 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...
. 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
Deadman's Curve
Deadman's Curve is a 1978 made for TV film based on the musical careers of Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. Developed from a 1974 article published in the Rolling Stone magazine by Paul Morantz, who also helped write the screenplay.-Plot:...
, the story based on Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
in 1978. Priscilla Cory is the great grand daughter of inventor Nathan B. Stubblefield.
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 & 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 & Dean recording). However, a quick check of the writing credit on the 45 label (not to mention the obviously similar lyrics) will show that theirs is a cover of the Jack Lawrence tune. Disregard any incorrect author credits anywhere that attempt to state that Lawrence and Ronell actually collaborated on the same singular song.
Recorded versions
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- Ray NobleRay Noble (musician)Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
and His Orchestra (Buddy ClarkBuddy ClarkBuddy Clark was a popular American singer in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:Clark was born Samuel Goldberg to Jewish parents in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He made his Big Band singing debut in 1934 with Benny Goodman on the Let's Dance radio program. In 1936 he started to perform on the...
vocal) - Paul PetersenPaul PetersenWilliam Paul Petersen is an American movie actor, singer, novelist, and activist. Primarily known for his character-type roles in the 1960s and 1970s, as an adult Petersen established the organization A Minor Consideration to support child stars and other child laborers through legislation,...
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- Line RenaudLine Renaud- Early life :Line Renaud was born in Pont-de-Nieppe on 2 July 1928. Her mother Simone was a shorthand typist; her father was a truck driver during the week, but he played trumpet at the weekends, in a local brass band...
- Frank RosolinoFrank RosolinoFrank Rosolino was an American jazz trombonist.- Biography :Born in Detroit, Michigan, Frank Rosolino studied the guitar with his father from the age of 9. He took up the trombone at age 14 while he was enrolled at Miller High School where he played with Milt Jackson in the school's stage band and...
- Bob ScobeyBob ScobeyBob Scobey was an American jazz musician born in Tucumcari, New Mexico.He began his career playing in dance orchestras and nightclubs in the 1930s. In 1938 he worked as second trumpeter for Lu Watters in the Yerba Buena Jazz Band. By 1949 he was leading his own band under the name Bob Scobey's...
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- Jan and DeanJan and DeanJan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
- Priscilla Cory