Various sources will provide different information, but most agree that Doris recorded over 600 songs. That does not count the number of songs that she sang but never recorded. That also does not mean the songs she sang without recording them are not available. If it was a radio show on which she appeared, 90 percent of the time the shows were transcribed, and with diligent search, they can be found today. The same is true for the many songs that became throw-a-ways at Columbia Studios, where she spent all of her recording career. On any given recording session, Doris would sing a number of songs. Many were released as singles or became part of an album. But some also remained on tapes in the studio and were never released. Once in a while, some of these were discovered and were released on an album collection, such as THE 1960'S SINGLES , THE LOST TREASURES, or LISTEN TO DAY (all of which contained unreleased songs and are considered prizes by fans.)
Some fans of Doris have followed her musical career since its beginning. In so doing, their collections often include every single that was ever released. So many of these were never added to album collections and are considered lost today. If they were only released as singles, they only exist on those records originally purchased by diligent fans. Often, the hit side of a record became popular and the flip side was neglected. The hit side was reproduced on an album collection, and once again a song (the flip side) was lost or relegated to obscurity. (The same can be said of the number of songs Doris sang and/or recorded while she was female vocalist with Les Brown and Barney Rapp. For our purposes here, we are not referring back to those at this time.) However, research has shown that one of Doris' up sides with the Brown aggregation is very very hard to find and worth a listen. So, it follows next. It is called "The Deevil, Devil, Divel".
Some fans of Doris have followed her musical career since its beginning. In so doing, their collections often include every single that was ever released. So many of these were never added to album collections and are considered lost today. If they were only released as singles, they only exist on those records originally purchased by diligent fans. Often, the hit side of a record became popular and the flip side was neglected. The hit side was reproduced on an album collection, and once again a song (the flip side) was lost or relegated to obscurity. (The same can be said of the number of songs Doris sang and/or recorded while she was female vocalist with Les Brown and Barney Rapp. For our purposes here, we are not referring back to those at this time.) However, research has shown that one of Doris' up sides with the Brown aggregation is very very hard to find and worth a listen. So, it follows next. It is called "The Deevil, Devil, Divel".
Every so often, one of the neglected sides appears out of nowhere on a radio or tv show, or on some internet website. Fans have been heard to say, "Wow..that is a wonderful record. Why have I never heard it before?" And so, what follows is our attempt to share with you some of those rare recordings by Doris Day that deserve to be heard, not just once, but over and over again. Keep in mind, for the most part, we are not using songs readily available on some of Doris' popular albums. (If the recording is available on youtube, we provide a link. If not, enjoy the audio file.)
Back to 1947 and 1948. Of course, we hope you have heard "It's Magic", "Love Somebody" and the other hits from back then. But there are reclusive others.
It is generally common knowledge among her fans that Doris left the Les Brown Band in 1946. She occasionally sang on the radio and did a stint at The Little Club in New York City. At that time (1947), she got her first contract with Columbia Records and recorded a number of sides before she hit big with "Love Somebody", a million dollar duet with Buddy Clark. Our first selection of rare performances comes from several sources: her co-hosting appearances with Frank Sinatra on "Your Hit Parade" (mostly 1947), her weekly performances as guest artist on "The Bob Hope Show" (radio 1947, 1948) and some of her single releases in '47 and '48 which would be considered rare (as in rarely heard). First up, some links to the songs you can find via you tube links (just click on the song title to reach the link):
It is generally common knowledge among her fans that Doris left the Les Brown Band in 1946. She occasionally sang on the radio and did a stint at The Little Club in New York City. At that time (1947), she got her first contract with Columbia Records and recorded a number of sides before she hit big with "Love Somebody", a million dollar duet with Buddy Clark. Our first selection of rare performances comes from several sources: her co-hosting appearances with Frank Sinatra on "Your Hit Parade" (mostly 1947), her weekly performances as guest artist on "The Bob Hope Show" (radio 1947, 1948) and some of her single releases in '47 and '48 which would be considered rare (as in rarely heard). First up, some links to the songs you can find via you tube links (just click on the song title to reach the link):
"Feudin' and Fightin' " (Your Hit Parade/1947)
"That's My Desire" (Your Hit Parade/1947)
"You Do" (Your Hit Parade/1947)
"Near You" (Your Hit Parade/1947)
And in the audio file below, Doris belts out "I Won't Dance", as a Hit Parade Extra:
The next audio file (below) contains four radio songs . "My Sugar is So Refined" and "South America, Take It Away" are the kind of novelty songs that Doris does best. "I Don't Know Enough About You" (a hit by Peggy Lee) and "More Than You Know" could have been hit singles, had they been recorded and released.
Doris' very first single record release (that had brief sales chart and radio play activity) was called "It Takes Time". It appears in few collections today. However, her first session produced four sides...the other three are readily available on compilations: "Pete", "Tulip or Turnip" and "My Young and Foolish Heart". So we do not include them here.
And now, let's look at some other rarely heard songs by Doris from these years. In the left column below, click on the song title. In the right column, click the audio file. There are some really nice songs on the way...
And now, let's look at some other rarely heard songs by Doris from these years. In the left column below, click on the song title. In the right column, click the audio file. There are some really nice songs on the way...
You Tube Links
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Audio Song Files
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And Then Came "Romance on the High Seas": 1948, 49 and 50
After the movie was released, Doris was "discovered" not only in the U.S. but all over the world. Columbia Records knew they had a "prize property". They had Doris in the recording studio as often as they could get her, and she recorded all kinds of songs for release or for posterity. In this case, we are looking at the ones that are not well known, were minor hits and the ones waiting to still be discovered.
CHECK OUT these tunes, which are currently available on you tube:
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"The Festival of Roses" (1949)
"The Three Rivers" (flip side of "Festival) "The Land of Love" (1949) Hear the flip side, "Last Mile Home", in audio file below this section "It's Better To Conceal Than Reveal" (with Dinah Shore, 1949) "With You Anywhere You Are" (1949) "Darn That Dream" (1950) "I've Forgotten You" (1950) flip side of Dream. "Just An Old Love of Mine" (1950) >hit for Peggy Lee< "Love Ya, Honey" (1950) with Jack Smith from "Moonlight Bay" |
"How It Lies! How It Lies" How It Lies!"(1949)
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1951, 1952, 1953: Three Important Years, Musically
Both Single Selling Records and Album winners combined to make these three years, musically, the most prolific in Doris Day's career as a recording artist. After coming off of a year in 1950 with several hit albums, 1951 produced two #1 albums and a number two and two top ten albums in 1953.
A lot of this has to do with her popular weekly radio show, "The Doris Day Show", on which she had the opportunity to sing a lot of her released records and promote sales. Some of the top rated movies from '5l through '53 which featured a lot of music also helped to promote this; "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Lullaby of Broadway" and "Calamity Jane" helped to
promote Doris Day songs.
At the same time, Doris was often found in the recording studio adding more songs to her repertoire. Below are some of those which are rarely heard today.
A lot of this has to do with her popular weekly radio show, "The Doris Day Show", on which she had the opportunity to sing a lot of her released records and promote sales. Some of the top rated movies from '5l through '53 which featured a lot of music also helped to promote this; "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Lullaby of Broadway" and "Calamity Jane" helped to
promote Doris Day songs.
At the same time, Doris was often found in the recording studio adding more songs to her repertoire. Below are some of those which are rarely heard today.
These rare offerings are surprisingly
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Still more of those rare songs by Doris from 1951 through 1953 still available on you tube as we go to press:
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Doris with a trumpet. It helped to turn the soundtrack from "Young Man With A Horn" a #1 Album Seller in 1951, and two hit singles with Harry James in the same year ("Would I Love You, Love You, Love You" and "Lullaby of Broadway"). Unfortunately, this one with George Siravo and his orchestra only got minor air play. It deserved so much more!
Listen now to some great sides by Doris neglected only because they had the stroke of luck to be placed on the flip side of a monster hit:
Flip side of top ten hit, "Shanghai"
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Flip side of top ten hit, "Mr. Tap Toe"
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Flip side of minor hit, "Domino" in 1951
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And we would be remiss if we didn't share this flip side from "Second Star to the Right", a minor hit recorded with The Four Lads as backup. Those folks in Baltimore, MD who went to Loch Raven Teen Center at the time will remember it well because they voted it #1 on the Weekly Hit Parade there for over 2 months:
Below some audio files of other songs from this time period that deserved a better chance at making it , deserved to be heard or in some cases, at least recorded.
FOR MORE RARE RECORDINGS, GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
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