It's Only a Paper Moon

It was originally titled "If You Believed in Me," but later went by the more popular title "It's Only a Paper Moon."[2] The song was written for an unsuccessful 1932 Broadway play called The Great Magoo that was set in Coney Island.[3] Claire Carleton first performed this song on December 2, 1932.[4] It was used in the movie Take a Chance in 1933 when it was sung by June Knight and Charles "Buddy" Rogers. Paul Whiteman recorded a hit version later that year, featuring Bunny Berigan on trumpet and Peggy Healy on vocals. Another popular 1933 recording was done by Cliff Edwards.[5]

The song's lasting fame stems from its revival by popular artists during the last years of World War II, with hit recordings being made by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Goodman (vocal by Dottie Reid).[6] It is now regarded as a jazz and pop standard, and has been recorded by numerous artists over the years.

• Chet Baker[1]
• Art Blakey[1]
• Dion and the Belmonts
• Nat King Cole
• Nat King Cole Trio[1]
• Natalie Cole – Unforgettable... with Love (1991)
• Sammy Davis Jr. – The Nat King Cole Songbook (1965)
• Perry Como[7]
• Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded the song for Crosby's radio show and it was heard on the March 26, 1953 broadcast[8] and released on the album Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions (2010).[9]
• Miles Davis[1]
• Kenny Drew Trio[1]
• Cliff Edwards[1]
• Ella Fitzgerald with The Delta Rhythm Boys – recorded 27 March 1945 for Decca[10]
• Benny Goodman (feat. Dottie Reid)[1]
• Stephane Grappelli[1]
• Lionel Hampton[1]
• Paul McCartney – Kisses on the Bottom (2012)
• Harry Nilsson – A Touch More Schmilsson in the Night (1988)
• Oscar Peterson[1]
• James Taylor – A League of Their Own: Music from the Motion Picture (1992), American Standard (2020)
• John Pizzarelli – Dear Mr. Cole (1994)
• Django Reinhardt[1]
• George Shearing – Paper Moon: Songs of Nat King Cole (1995)[11]
• Frank Sinatra – Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (1961)
• Mel Tormé – Mel Tormé at the Crescendo (1957)
• Paul Whiteman Orchestra[1]
• Lee Wiley
• Lena Zavaroni
• James Darren sang the song in character as Vic Fontaine in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode of the same name.

• The song features in the 1973 film Paper Moon.[12]

• List of 1930s jazz standards