So Rare
Encyclopedia
"So Rare" is a popular song published in 1937 by composer Jerry Herst
and lyricist Jack Sharpe
. It became a hit for Jimmy Dorsey
in 1957.
The version by Carl Ravell and his Orchestra
, from a session on 4 June 1937, may be the earliest recording of the song, although it is unclear whether it was the first released version. The earliest popular versions of "So Rare" were the 1937 releases by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
and by Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra
.
Before it had been recorded or even published, Fred Astaire
had sung "So Rare" on his radio show The Packard Hour. This was the recollection of Jess Oppenheimer
, then a writer for the show, who recommended the song on behalf of his friend Jerry Herst, then an "aspiring songwriter". According to Oppenheimer, this led to "So Rare" being "snapped up by a publisher who heard it on the program".
Since 1937 "So Rare" has been recorded by numerous artists, but it notably became a late-career hit in 1957 for Jimmy Dorsey
, reaching #2 on the Billboard magazine Top 40. Recorded on 11 November 1956 and released on the Cincinnatti label Fraternity
, Jimmy Dorsey's version became the highest charting song by a big band
during the first decade of the rock and roll
era. Credited on the label to "Jimmy Dorsey with Orchestra and Chorus", the vocals are by the Artie Malvin Singers.
Review of The Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey (1957) at AllMusic.com, Dorsey's final album with four tracks from the "So Rare" sessions
Jerry Herst
Jerome P. Herst , known as Jerry Herst, was a songwriter who collaborated with Jack Sharpe on a number of compositions, notably "So Rare", a much-recorded song that was published in 1937....
and lyricist Jack Sharpe
Jack Sharpe (songwriter)
John Rufus Sharpe III , known as Jack Sharpe, was an American songwriter, music publishing executive and author. He is best known for "So Rare", published in 1937, which he wrote with composer Jerry Herst....
. It became a hit for Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
in 1957.
The version by Carl Ravell and his Orchestra
Carl Ravazza
Carl Ravazza , also known professionally as Carl Ravell, was an American violinist, vocalist and bandleader....
, from a session on 4 June 1937, may be the earliest recording of the song, although it is unclear whether it was the first released version. The earliest popular versions of "So Rare" were the 1937 releases by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
and by Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra
Gus Arnheim
Gus Arnheim was an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s...
.
Before it had been recorded or even published, Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
had sung "So Rare" on his radio show The Packard Hour. This was the recollection of Jess Oppenheimer
Jess Oppenheimer
Jess Oppenheimer a radio and television writer, producer, and director, was producer and head writer of the CBS sitcom I Love Lucy.Lucille Ball called Oppenheimer "the brains" behind I Love Lucy...
, then a writer for the show, who recommended the song on behalf of his friend Jerry Herst, then an "aspiring songwriter". According to Oppenheimer, this led to "So Rare" being "snapped up by a publisher who heard it on the program".
Since 1937 "So Rare" has been recorded by numerous artists, but it notably became a late-career hit in 1957 for Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
, reaching #2 on the Billboard magazine Top 40. Recorded on 11 November 1956 and released on the Cincinnatti label Fraternity
Fraternity Records
Fraternity Records was a small record label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was started by Harry Carlson and silent partner Dr. Ashton Welsh in 1954.The first hit was local girl Cathy Carr's rendition of a Tin Pan Alley song, "Ivory Tower" in 1956...
, Jimmy Dorsey's version became the highest charting song by a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
during the first decade of the rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
era. Credited on the label to "Jimmy Dorsey with Orchestra and Chorus", the vocals are by the Artie Malvin Singers.
Recorded versions (partial list)
- Carl Ravell and his OrchestraCarl RavazzaCarl Ravazza , also known professionally as Carl Ravell, was an American violinist, vocalist and bandleader....
(1937) - Henry King & His Orchestra (1937)
- Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove OrchestraGus ArnheimGus Arnheim was an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s...
(1937) - Jimmy Ray & the Southern Serenaders (1937)
- Guy Lombardo and his Royal CanadiansGuy LombardoGaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
(1937) - Edgar Hayes QuintetEdgar HayesEdgar Hayes was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.Hayes attended Wilberforce University, where he graduated with a degree in music in the early 1920s. In 1922 he toured with Fess Williams, and formed his own group, the Blue Grass Buddies, in Ohio in 1924...
(1942) - Marian McPartlandMarian McPartlandMargaret Marian McPartland, OBE is an English-born jazz pianist, composer, writer, and the host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio, NPR.-Early life:...
and George ShearingGeorge ShearingSir George Shearing, OBE was an Anglo-American jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for MGM Records and Capitol Records. The composer of over 300 titles, he had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s...
(1953) - Toots Thielmans (c.1955)
- Jimmy DorseyJimmy DorseyJames "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
(1957) - The Kirchin BandIvor KirchinIvor Kirchin Ivor was the Band leader of The Kirchin Band, father to Basil Kirchin.Father, Ivor Kirchin was the Leader, Drummer, Singer, Conductorand Business Manager for this popular big band formed in 1952...
& The Bandits (1957) - Frank Chacksfield & his OrchestraFrank ChacksfieldFrank Chacksfield was an English pianist, organist, composer and conductor of popular light orchestral easy listening music, who had great success in Britain and internationally in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:...
(1958) - Jimmy Carroll Orchestra (195?)
- Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
(1959) - Dick Richards & his Orchestra (1959)
- Bobby Byrne And The Alumni Orchestra (1959)
- Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
(1960) - Mavis Rivers (1960)
- Esquivel y su OrquestaJuan García EsquivelJuan García Esquivel often simply known as Esquivel!, was a Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of lounge music and jazz with Latin...
(1960) - Mose AllisonMose AllisonMose John Allison, Jr. is an American jazz blues pianist and singer.-Biography:...
(1961) - King CurtisKing CurtisCurtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
(1961) - Bill BlackBill BlackWilliam Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
(1962) - Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
(1964) - Ray ConniffRay ConniffJoseph Raymond Conniff was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s.-Biography:...
(1965) - The Voices of East Harlem (1974)
- Joe PassJoe PassJoe Pass was an Italian-American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century...
and Jimmy RowlesJimmy RowlesJimmy Rowles was an American jazz pianist who was best known as an accompanist. He also released a number of albums under his own name, and explored various idioms including swing and cool jazz. - Biography :Born in Spokane, Washington, Rowles studied at Gonzaga College in Spokane, Washington...
(1981)
External links
Lead sheet for "So Rare" at WikifoniaReview of The Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey (1957) at AllMusic.com, Dorsey's final album with four tracks from the "So Rare" sessions