Polka Dots and Moonbeams explained

"Polka Dots and Moonbeams" is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke, published in 1940. It was Frank Sinatra's first hit recorded with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

During the song's first year, a fashion designer even created a "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" fabric print as part of a series of prints inspired by popular music.^[1]

Other recordings

The song is one of the top 100 most-frequently recorded jazz standards with arrangements by Gil Evans and others, with notable recordings by:^[2]

• Blue Mitchell,^[3]
• Lester Young - 1952^[4]
• Bud Powell on his 1954 album The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 2^[5]
• Mel Tormé on his 1955 album It's a Blue World^[6]
• Sarah Vaughan for the 1957 album Swingin' Easy^[7]
• Chet Baker on his 1958 album Chet Baker in New York^[8]
• Connie Stevens on her 1958, debut album Conchetta^[9]
• Wes Montgomery on his 1960 album The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery^[10]
• Lou Donaldson on his 1962 Gravy Train^[11]
• The Bill Evans Trio on their 1962 album Moon Beams^[12]
• Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons on the 1970 album, The Chase!^[13]
• American songwriter and guitarist John Denver also covered the song on his 1976 Spirit album. ^[14]
• Ella Fitzgerald on her 1979 album Fine and Mellow^[15]
• Gerry Mulligan on the 2006, CD release California High School^[16]
• Bob Dylan covered this song in his 2016 album Fallen Angels^[17]

Notes and References

1. (No author.) "Song hit dress patterns for music as you walk," Winnipeg Free Press, June 22, 1940, Magazine section, page 8. Accessed June 27, 2013.
2. http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/polkadotsandmoonbeams.htm "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" at jazzstandards.com
3. Dave Gregg. "Off the record" (music review column), Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO), May 21, 1967, Showtime magazine section, page 9: "... Blue can play with tenderness without slopping over into mawkish sentimentality. Just listen to his treatment of the gorgeous ballad, 'Polka Dots and Moonbeams.' " .
4. Web site: www.discogs.com. www.discogs.com. August 12, 2024.
5. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 12, 2024.
6. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 8, 2024.
7. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 9, 2024.
8. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 10, 2024.
9. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. August 13, 2024.
10. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 11, 2024.
11. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 12, 2024.
12. Web site: www.discogs.com. www.discogs.com. August 9, 2024.
13. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 11, 2024.
14. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 10, 2024.
15. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 13, 2024.
16. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 12, 2024.
17. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. August 9, 2024.