"Imagination" is a

popular Popularity or social status is the quality of being well liked, admired or well known to a particular group. Popular may also refer to: In sociology * Popular culture * Popular fiction * Popular music * Popular science * Populace, the total ...

song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen and the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was first published in

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * Januar ...

. The two best-selling versions were recorded by the orchestras of Glenn Miller and

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

in 1940.

Composition

Jimmy Van Heusen originally wrote the song when he was a teenager, but with different words. When he later played the tune for Johnny Burke (without the lyrics), Burke wrote the "Imagination" lyrics.

Recordings

The recording by Glenn Miller (vocals Ray Eberle) was released by

Bluebird Records Bluebird Records is a record label best known for its low-cost releases, primarily of kids' music, blues and jazz in the 1930s and 1940s. It was founded in 1932 as a lower-priced RCA Victor subsidiary label of RCA Victor. Bluebird became known ...

as catalog number 10622. It first reached the

Billboard magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the musi ...

Best Seller chart on July 20, 1940 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #3. The recording by Tommy Dorsey was released by

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidi ...

as catalog number 26581. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart at #8 on July 20, 1940, its only week on the chart.

Miki Howard rendition

The song was covered in 1987 by American R&B singer

Miki Howard Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard (born September 30, 1960) is an American singing, singer and actress who had a string of Top 40, top 10 hit songs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, including "Baby, Be Mine (Miki Howard song), Baby, Be Mine" (1987) ...

. Released as the second single from Howard's debut album, '' Come Share My Love''. The song was a top 20 R&B hit, peaking at number 13 on the

Hot R&B Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

chart.

Charts

Other recorded versions

The song has been recorded by, among others: *

Steve Allen Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-cre ...

(released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39589) *

Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Au ...

and his orchestra (recorded February 1940, released by Varsity Records as catalog number 8199) * Chet Baker - '' Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman'' (Pacific Jazz) * Shirley Bassey * Dave Brubeck - ''Plays and Plays and Plays'' (1962) *

Chick Bullock Charles (Chick) Bullock (September 16, 18981900 U.S. Federal Census, Township #5, Silver Bow, Montana, enumeration district 90, page 5. Bullock's birth date is confirmed by his entries in the Social Security Death Index and the California Death ...

and his orchestra (recorded February 21, 1940, released by

Vocalion Records Vocalion Records is an American record company and label. History The label was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Company, a maker of pianos and organs, as Aeolian-Vocalion; the company also sold phonographs under the Vocalion name. "Aeolian" was ...

as catalog number 5434) * June Christy - '' Fair and Warmer!'' (1957); ''A Friendly Session, Vol. 1'' (2000) with the

Johnny Guarnieri John Albert Guarnieri (March 23, 1917 – January 7, 1985) was an American jazz and stride pianist, born in New York City. Career Guarnieri joined the George Hall orchestra in 1937. He is possibly best known for his big band stints with Be ...

Quintet *

Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...

(recorded

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

, released by

Pye Records Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherho ...

as catalog number 7N15517) * Rosemary Clooney - ''

Love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love o ...

'' (1963), and ''

Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Jimmy Van Heusen ''Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Jimmy Van Heusen'' is a 1986 album by Rosemary Clooney, of songs composed by Jimmy Van Heusen. Sammy Cahn, who provided lyrics for 5 of the 10 selections on the album, contributed liner notes for the album. C ...

'' (Concord, 1986) *

Harry Connick, Jr. Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and television host. He has sold over 28million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top60 List of best-selling music artists i ...

on '' 20'' * Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter's orchestra (recorded December 24, 1947, released by Decca Records as catalog number 24696) * Doris Day (recorded November, 1947, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38423, also as catalog number 38698) *Al Donahue and his orchestra (recorded March 18, 1940, released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 5434, also by

Conqueror Records Conqueror Records was a United States-based record label, active from 1928 through 1942. The label was sold exclusively through Sears, Roebuck and Company. History Conqueror was originally owned by the Plaza Music Company, then became part of ...

as catalog number 9453) *

Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peop ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

- '' Triplicate'' (2017) * Billy Eckstine with

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

arr, cond) and his All Stars, including Pete Candoli (tp), Don Fagerquist (tp), Bud Shank (as, fl), Gerald Wiggins (p), Red Callender (b), Larry Bunker (ds). Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on January 2, 1958. *

Percy Faith Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian-American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with popularizing the "easy listeni ...

& His Orchestra with

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

from the album "It's So Peaceful In The Country" *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

(recorded February 15, 1940, released by Decca Records as catalog number 3078B) and recorded live in 1961 at the Crescendo Club in

West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages ...

(released in 2009 in the album '' Twelve Nights In Hollywood''). * Maynard Ferguson - ''Boy With Lots of Brass'' (1957) (vocal by

Irene Kral Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978) was an American jazz singer who was born to Czechoslovakian parents in Chicago, Illinois and settled in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. She died from breast cancer in Encino, California. Kral's ...

) *

The Fleetwoods The Fleetwoods were an American vocal group from Olympia, Washington whose members were Gary Troxel (born November 28, 1939), Gretchen Christopher (born February 29, 1940), and Barbara Ellis (born February 20, 1940). Early history The band mem ...

The Four Freshmen The Four Freshmen is an American male vocal quartet that blends open-harmonic jazz arrangements with the big band vocal group sounds of The Modernaires, The Pied Pipers, and The Mel-Tones, founded in the barbershop tradition. The singers accom ...

- ''Golden Anniversary Celebrations'' (2001) *

Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 1932. ...

- '' Imagination'' (Savoy 1960) *

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

- '' Tough Tenors'' (Jazzland 1960) * Lionel Hampton *

Dick Haymes Richard Benjamin Haymes (September 13, 1918 – March 28, 1980) was an Argentinian singer and actor. He was one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was the older brother of Bob Haymes, an actor, television host, ...

- ''The Complete Capitol Collection'' (2006) *

- '' Come Share My Love'' (1986) * Keith Jarrett - on disc 4 of ''

Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note ''Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note'' ''The complete recordings'' is a 6-CD box set live album by Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio recorded at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City in 1994 and released by ECM Records in October 1995. Totaling mor ...

'' (1994) *

Jazz Lab ''Jazz Lab'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Gigi Gryce, released in 1957 by Columbia.Jazz Lab ''Jazz Lab'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Gigi Gryce, released in 1957 by Columbia.Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

- on the album ''

The Romantic Approach ''The Romantic Approach'' is an album by the Stan Kenton Orchestra recorded in 1961 and released by Capitol Records. It is the first album by the orchestra to be released with a mellophonium section.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed June ...

'' (1961) * Cleo Laine (released 1968 on her album ''That Old Feeling'') * Dean Martin (released October 1960 on his album ''

This Time I'm Swingin'! ''This Time I'm Swingin'!'' is an album recorded by Dean Martin for Capitol Records. The sessions yielding this album's songs were recorded in May 1960. While thirteen tracks were recorded during the three sessions, only twelve of them made it ...

'') * Art Pepper on his 1957 album ''

Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section ''Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section'' is a 1957 jazz album by saxophonist Art Pepper with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones, who were the rhythm section for Miles Davis's quintet at the time. The album is considered a milestone i ...

'' * Lucy Ann Polk - ''Lucy Ann Polk with the Dave Pell Octet'' (1954) * The Quotations recorded a doo-wop version in 1961 on Verve Records (VK10245) * Andy Russell (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 20034) *

Jan Savitt Jan Savitt (born Jacob Savetnick; September 4, 1907 – October 4, 1948), known as "The Stokowski of Swing", from having played violin in Leopold Stokowski's orchestra, was an American bandleader, musical arranger, and violinist. Early life and ...

and his orchestra (recorded January 24, 1940, released by Decca Records as catalog number 2990B) *

Little Jimmy Scott James Victor Scott (July 17, 1925 – June 12, 2014), known professionally as Little Jimmy Scott or Jimmy Scott, was an American jazz vocalist known for his high natural contralto voice and his sensitivity on ballads and love songs. After ...

(released by Savoy Records as catalog number 1174) *

Rocky Sharpe & the Replays Rocky Sharpe and the Replays is an English doo-wop/rock and roll revival group who first found fame in the late 1970s. The usual line-up of the group was Rocky Sharpe (born Robert Podsiadły, 26 November 1952 – 5 December 2019), Helen Highwat ...

had a UK Top 40 hit with a Doo-wop version in 1979. *

Dinah Shore Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...

(recorded February 21, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10668) * Frank Sinatra and

- ''Legendary Sides'' (1997) * Kate Smith (recorded May 1, 1940, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35486) * Keely Smith - '' I Wish You Love'' (1957) *

Jeri Southern Jeri Southern (born Genevieve Lillian Hering, August 5, 1926 – August 4, 1991) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Early years Born Genevieve Lillian Hering in Royal, Nebraska, United States, Southern was the granddaughter of a German pi ...

- ''Bygone Days'' (2009), ''

Romance in the Dark ''Romance in the Dark'' is a 1938 American comedy musical film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd. It is one of five films produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Gladys Swa ...

'' (2009) *

Jess Stacy Jesse Alexandria Stacy (August 11, 1904 – January 1, 1995) was an American jazz pianist who gained prominence during the swing era. He is perhaps best known for his years with the Benny Goodman band during the late 1930s, particularly his pe ...

(released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1136) *

Jo Stafford Jo Elizabeth Stafford (November 12, 1917July 16, 2008) was an American traditional pop music singer, whose career spanned five decades from the late 1930s to the early 1980s. Admired for the purity of her voice, she originally underwent classi ...

on her album ''

Jo + Jazz ''Jo + Jazz'' is a 1960 album recorded by Jo Stafford on Columbia Records. The album was also re-released in 1993 by Corinthian Records. For this album, Stafford is backed by a line-up of noted jazz musicians including Conte Candoli, Don Fagerq ...

'' (1960) * Sonny Stitt ''

Kaleidoscope A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a regular symmetrical pattern when v ...

'' (Prestige 1952) * Ted Straeter and his orchestra (recorded February 21, 1940, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35402) *

Fred Waring Fredrick Malcolm Waring Sr. (June 9, 1900 – July 29, 1984) was an American musician, bandleader, and radio and television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing". He was also ...

and his orchestra (recorded June 28, 1944, released by Decca Records as catalog number 29219) * Fran Warren on her album ''Hey There! Here's Fran Warren'' released in 1957 By Pickwick * Joe Williams *Florence Wright (recorded February 11, 1950, released by

National Records National Records was a record label that was started in New York City by Albert Green in 1945 and lasted until early 1951. Big Joe Turner was signed at the beginning and remained until 1947. Billy Eckstine was also a big seller for the label as w ...

as catalog number 9105) *

Joe Lovano Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz saxophonist, alto clarin ...

on his 1996 album '' Celebrating Sinatra'' *

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Biography Young is commonly said to ...

and orchestra (released by Decca Records as catalog number 28570) * Michigan Jake 2001 barbershop quartet champions. Released on their album "For the Record". Song arranged by Lou Perry. (2000) *Trio Désolé featuring Lorraine Caron (recorded in 2013 and released on their album "Sweet Surrender") arrangement and Piano by Floyd Pientka, Anders Dahlberg on Bass.

References

External links

Jimmy Van Heusen Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imagination (1940 Song) 1940 songs Songs with lyrics by Johnny Burke (lyricist) Songs with music by Jimmy Van Heusen Glenn Miller songs Tommy Dorsey songs Shirley Bassey songs Petula Clark songs Rosemary Clooney songs Harry Connick Jr. songs Bing Crosby songs Doris Day songs Jimmy Dorsey songs Ella Fitzgerald songs The Fleetwoods songs Miki Howard songs Dean Martin songs Dinah Shore songs Frank Sinatra songs Jo Stafford songs 1987 singles Song recordings produced by LeMel Humes Bluebird Records singles Atlantic Records singles