| "Stardust" is an American
popular song composed in 1927 by
Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics added in 1929 by
Mitchell Parish. Carmichael first recorded the song, originally
titled "Star Dust", at the
Gennett Records studio in
Richmond, Indiana. The song, "a song about a song about love",[1]
played in an idiosyncratic melody in medium tempo, became an
American standard, and is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th
century, with over 1,500 total recordings.[2]
In 2004, Carmichael's original 1927 recording of the song was one of 50
recordings chosen by the
Library of Congress to be added to the
National Recording Registry. "Stardust" is considered by many the
finest song ever written.
According to Carmichael, the inspiration for "Stardust" (the song's
original title was "Star Dust", which has long been compounded into
"Stardust")[3]
came to him while he was on the campus of his alma mater, Indiana
University, in
Bloomington, Indiana. He began whistling the tune, then rushed to
the Book Nook, a popular student hangout, and started composing. He
worked to refine the melody over the course of the next several months,
likely in Bloomington or Indianapolis (sources cite various locations,
and Carmichael himself liked to embellish the facts about the song's
origins).[4]
"Stardust" was first recorded in
Richmond, Indiana, for
Gennett Records (Gennett 6311) by Carmichael, with Emil Seidel and
his Orchestra and the Dorsey brothers as "Hoagy Carmichael and His
Pals," on October 31, 1927, as a peppy (but mid-tempo)
jazz
instrumental. Carmichael said he was inspired by the types of
improvisations made by
Bix Beiderbecke.[5]
The tune at first attracted only moderate attention, mostly from fellow
musicians, a few of whom (including
Don Redman) recorded their own versions of Carmichael's tune. (The
Redman arrangement was issued on OKeh as by The Chocolate Dandies,
but was in reality the moonlighting
McKinney's Cotton Pickers who were exclusive Victor recording
artists.)
Mitchell Parish wrote lyrics for the song, based on his own and
Carmichael's ideas, which were published in 1929. A slower version had
been recorded in October 1928, but the real transformation came on May
16, 1930, when bandleader
Isham Jones recorded it as a sentimental ballad.[6]
“Stardust” is a 32-bar melody with a slightly unusual ABAC structure. It
is preceded by a 16-bar verse (which some performers omit). The verse
and chorus have the same final cadence, though other than that they are
musically distinct... |
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