Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby

"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" is a song written by Louis Jordan and Billy Austin. The song's first recording, by Jordan, was made on October 4, 1943.[1] It was released as the B-side of a single with "G.I. Jive" with the title "Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)". The song reached No. 1 on the US folk/country charts,[2] number two for three weeks on the pop chart, and number three on the R&B chart.[3]

"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"
Single by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
A-side"G.I. Jive"
Released1944 (1944)
RecordedOctober 4, 1943
GenreRhythm and blues
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Billy Austin, Louis Jordan

In the 1932 American film Harlem Is Heaven, dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, accompanied by jazz pianist Putney Dandridge, sings "Is You Is or Is You Ain't." The song in the film has different lyrics, but, in addition to its title, its melody is at times similar to that later used for "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby."[4]

Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters recorded the song on June 30, 1944 for Decca Records[5][6] and it too reached the No. 2 spot in the Billboard charts during a 12-week stay.[7]

The song was covered by Ira "Buck" Woods as Tom Cat in the 1946 Tom & Jerry short Solid Serenade. More recently it was performed in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel by Sterling K. Brown.[8] It has also been performed by the swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Other cover versions

The famous rhythm and blues standard has been recorded by more than 130 different artists over the years.[9] The most notable versions include:

It is featured in S1, Episode 3 of the TV series "Lovecraft Country", and S1, Episode 7 ("Ends") of the TV Series "Spaced".

References
  1. "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 184.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 309.
  4. "Harlem is Heaven--Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake, 1932 Film", posted by Alan Eichler, February 14, 2016 YouTube. Retrieved January 29, 2018. Bill Robinson and Putney Dandridge's performance of "Is You Is or Is You Ain't" begins in the noted copy of Harlem Is Heaven at the 40:15 mark in the film's presentation.
  5. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  6. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633239/m1/#track/3
  7. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 113. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  8. "All The Songs In 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3". Bustle. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  9. "Cover versions of Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby by Louis Jordan". Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. "Sinatra, The Main Event - Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)". Retrieved 9 June 2020.



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