The Songs of Jimmy van Heusen: Swinging On A Star - His 52 Finest 1933-1962

A superb addition to Retrospective’s invaluable series of the great songwriters: a star-studded roster sings the 52 finest of the inimitable songs of Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990). The name Chester Babcock may be vaguely familiar to film fans as the character played by Bob Hope in his famous series of ‘Road’ films with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, but, as an ‘in’ joke, Hope stole it from the man who provided all the songs. The real Chester Babcock decided that his was not a name to conjure with and instead borrowed one from a shirt manufacturer! As “Jimmy Van Heusen” he justly numbers among the all-time greats of American songwriters.

Swinging On A Star presents the most comprehensive survey available: 52 selected gems, from his early Cotton Club days (There’s A House In Harlem For Sale, 1933) to his final Oscar winner: Call Me Irresponsible, 1962. In between are so many huge hits, such as Imagination (immortalised by Ella Fitzgerald), Polka Dots And Moonbeams, Like Someone In Love, But Beautiful, It Could Happen To You, Darn That Dream and our title number, Swinging On A Star – all of which have over a hundred different recordings currently listed. In each case here the original artist or noted interpreter has been chosen. Bing Crosby was Jimmy’s greatest champion and the ‘Old Groaner’ contributes 14 songs, including several duets with the likes of Judy Garland and Rosemary Clooney. Seven songs started life in the ‘Road’ series of films, although one of them (But Beautiful) is sung here by Van Heusen’s other top mouthpiece, Frank Sinatra, who also sings ten others, including Nancy With The Laughing Face, written for his young daughter, and the Oscar-winners All The Way and High Hopes. Many other greats of the era are featured: Mildred Bailey, Benny Goodman, Jo Stafford, Glenn Miller, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong…