My Foolish Heart (song)

The music was composed by Victor Young, and the lyric was written by Ned Washington. The song was introduced by the singer Martha Mears in the 1949 film of the same name. The song failed to escape critics' general laceration of the film. Time wrote in its review that "nothing offsets the blight of such tear-splashed excesses as the bloop-bleep-bloop of a sentimental ballad on the sound track."[1] Nevertheless, the song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1949 but lost out to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser.

In addition to the numerous covers that have followed its official release, this song has entered fully what could be described as the collective unconscious. Artists such as Hozier have hinted at this song. The Irish singer has alluded the song in his own song called "Almost" published through the release of his sophomore album, Wasteland, Baby!, the lyrics being: "Be still "My Foolish Heart"/Don't ruin this on me".

• The song was also a popular success, with two recordings of the song listed among the top 30 on the Billboard charts in 1950. Gordon Jenkins's recording of "My Foolish Heart", Sandy Evans, vocal, reached the Top Ten on the charts. However, Billy Eckstine's version became a million-seller, spending 19 weeks on the charts and peaking at number 6. Other successful versions in 1950 were by Mindy Carson, Margaret Whiting, Richard Hayes and by Hugo Winterhalter.[2]
• Bing Crosby debuted his version on radio on The Bing Crosby – Chesterfield Show, broadcast Wednesday March 8, 1950.[3]
• The Flamingos - 1960 from their album "Flamingo Favourites"
• Allan Jones with orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell recorded it in London on July 14, 1950. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 9948 and IP 607.
• Lesley Gore on her 1963 album Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts.
• Cliff Richard on his 1965 album, Love is Forever.
• The Arbors on their 1966 album Symphony For Susan.[4]
• Astrud Gilberto on her 1967 album Beach Samba.
• Bobby Hackett on his 1967 album That Midnight Touch.
• The original recording was in G major with string instruments. Frank Sinatra sang the song in A♭ major and Bill Evans performed it in B♭ major. Bill Evans performed it in A major on his album Waltz for Debby (1962). Evans accompanied Tony Bennett's cover of the song in their 1975 album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
• Oscar Peterson recorded an interpretation of the song in 1963 with an orchestral arrangement by Nelson Riddle on Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle.
• John McLaughlin on his 1978 album Electric Guitarist.
• Carmen McRae on her 1981 CD Recorded Live at Bubba's
• Elkie Brooks on her 1984 Screen Gems album.
• Frank Sinatra recorded the song in 1988, making it his last solo recording.
• American jazz singer Jay Clayton on her 1991 album Live at Jazz Alley.
• John Abercrombie and Don Thompson on 1991 album Witchcraft.
• Roberta Flack on her 1991 album Set the Night to Music: issued as the A-side and B-side#B-side to the single "You Make Me Feel Brand New".[5]
• Susannah McCorkle on her 1992 album I'll Take Romance[6]
• American jazz singer Jimmy Scott on his 1992 album All the Way.
• French jazz pianist Michel Graillier on his 1996 album Sweet Smile Sketch.
• English synthpop duo Erasure on their 1997 album "Buried Treasure".
• Kurt Elling on his 1999 album Live in Chicago.
• Swedish jazz pianist Jan Lundgren and American singer Stacey Kent recorded the song on their 2000 album Jan Lundgren Trio Plays the Music of Victor Young.
• Jacky Terrasson and Stefon Harris included the song in their 2001 album Kindred.
• French pianist Antoine Hervé on his 2002 album Summertime.
• Swedish singer and trombonist Nils Landgren on his 2002 album Sentimental Journey.
• American jazz pianist Marc Copland on his 2005 album Some Love Songs.
• American jazz singer Mark Murphy on his 2007 album Love is What Stays.
• Jazz pianist Eliane Elias included the composition in her 2008 album Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans.
• Italian jazz pianist Renato Sellani on his 2008 album My Foolish Heart.
• British rock singer Rod Stewart on his 2010 album Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V.
• John Scofield covered "My Foolish Heart" live at the New Morning in Paris in 2010.[7]
• American jazz pianist Jessica Williams recorded the song on her 2014 album With Love.
• Danish Jazz bassist Mads Vinding on his 2017 trio album Yesterdays.

• "My Foolish Heart" - Lead sheet at wikifonia.org