Guilty (Richard Whiting, Harry Akst and Gus Kahn song) explained
"Guilty" is a popular song published in 1931. The music was written by Richard A. Whiting and Harry Akst. The lyrics were written by Gus Kahn. Popular recordings in 1931 were by Ruth Etting, Wayne King and by Russ Columbo.[1]
The song was later popularized by Margaret Whiting (Richard Whiting's daughter) and by Johnny Desmond in 1946. The Whiting recording was made on October 9, 1946, and released by Capitol Records (catalog number 324). It reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart. The Desmond recording was made on December 6, 1946, and released by RCA Victor (catalog number 20-2109). It reached No. 12 on the Billboard chart.
An early version was featured on the soundtrack of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 film, Amélie: this was a Decca recording made on December 2, 1931 by Al Bowlly, a popular British singer of the 1930s, accompanied by Roy Fox and his Orchestra.[2] [3] Bowlly also recorded the song on several other occasions.
Other recordings
- Steve Conway, released by Columbia in 1947[4]
- Bing Crosby on November 7, 1931, recorded on radio, for Cremo Cigars
- Ruth Etting on September 1, 1931, originally issued on Columbia 2529-D (Matrix 151761-3). Charted at No. 4.[5]
- Ella Fitzgerald on January 24, 1947, released by US Decca Records (catalog number 23844)
- The Four Freshmen on their 1955 album 4 Freshmen and 5 Trombones
- Billie Holiday on December 27, 1946, for Decca Records.[6] [7]
- Eve Lombard on April 17, 1947, released by UK Decca Records (catalog number F 8773)
- Tony Martin on August 21, 1946, released by Mercury Records (catalog number 3042[8]) with the flip side "Dreamland Rendezvous"
- David Simard and the Da Da's on October 1, 2011
- The Skyrockets Orchestra, Conductor: Paul Fenoulhet Vocal: Doreen Lundy on July 13, 1947, released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label (catalog number BD 5984)
- Mel Tormé and the Mel-Tones on September 10, 1946, released by Musicraft Records (catalog number 428)
- Billy Eckstine on 1961, Broadway, Bongos and Mr. B (studio album. Orch. and arr. by Hal Mooney, Roulette Records)
Notes and References
- Book: Whitburn . Joel . Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 . registration . 1986 . Record Research Inc. . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . 0-89820-083-0 . 505.
- Web site: Al Bowlly Discography - 1931 . 2007-08-19 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011230043/http://www.btinternet.com/~I.Rogers/1931.html . October 11, 2012 .
- http://www.memorylane.org.uk/discography.htm Discography
- Book: Henson, Brian. First hits, 1946-1959. 1989. Boxtree. Colin Morgan. 1-85283-268-1. London. 19389211.
- Web site: Guilty . 2007-08-19 . 2007-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152941/http://www.ruthetting.com/songs/guilty.asp . dead .
- Web site: Billie Holiday - Guilty. 23 April 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160117002659/http://www.billieholiday.be/Songs/Song0094.htm. 17 January 2016.
- Web site: Billie Holiday Studio Songs. 23 April 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100528124535/http://www.billieholidaysongs.com/all_songs.htm. 28 May 2010.
- http://78discography.com/Merc030.htm Mercury Records in the 3001 to 3072 range
