"Old Devil Moon" is a

popular song Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Funk ...

composed by

Burton Lane Burton Lane ( Levy; February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist primarily known for his theatre and film scores. His most popular and successful works include ''Finian's Rainbow'' in 1947 and '' On a Clear Day You ...

, with lyrics by

Yip Harburg Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg; April 8, 1896 – March 5, 1981) was an American popular song lyricist and librettist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" ( ...

for the 1947 musical ''

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was r ...

''. It was introduced by

Ella Logan Ella Logan (born Georgina Armour Allan; 6 March 1913 – 1 May 1969) was a Scottish-American actress and singer who appeared on Broadway, recorded and had a nightclub career in the United States and internationally. Early years Logan was bo ...

and Donald Richards in the Broadway show. The song takes its title from a phrase in "Fun to Be Fooled", a song that Harburg wrote with

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ' ...

and

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

for the 1934 musical '' Life Begins at 8:40''. In the 1968 film version, the song was performed by

Don Francks Don Harvey Francks (February 28, 1932 – April 3, 2016), also known by his stage name Iron Buffalo, was a Canadian actor, musician and singer. Career Don Harvey Francks was born on February 28, 1932, and was adopted shortly after his birth. H ...

and Petula Clark.

Notable recordings

Margaret Whiting Margaret Eleanor Whiting (July 22, 1924 – January 10, 2011) was an American popular music and country music singer who gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s.Mapes, Jillian.Margaret Whiting, Iconic Standards Singer, Dies at 86. ''Billboard' ...

- her single release reached the No. 11 spot in the ''Billboard'' charts in 1947. * Gene Krupa and His Orchestra (vocal by Carolyn Grey) - this also reached the ''Billboard'' charts briefly in 1947 in the No. 21 position. *

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

– ''

Blue Haze ''Blue Haze'' is a compilation album of tracks recorded in 1953 and 1954 by Miles Davis for Prestige Records. Overview The album is a reissue in 12" format of the 10" LP ''Miles Davis Quartet'' (PRLP 161), with " I'll Remember April" added. Tr ...

'' (1954) *

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and " The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine Grammy Award ...

- a single release (1954). *

Mickey Baker MacHouston "Mickey" Baker (October 15, 1925 – November 27, 2012) was an American guitarist, best known for his work as a studio musician and as part of the recording duo Mickey & Sylvia. Early life Baker was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His ...

(1955) * Jack Pleis, His Piano, Orchestra and Chorus – ''Broadway Goes Hollywood'' (1955) *

Bob Dorough Robert Lrod Dorough (December 12, 1923 – April 23, 2018) was an American bebop and cool jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Dorough became famous as the composer and performer of songs in the TV series ''School ...

- ''Devil May Care'' (1956) *

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

- '' Songs for Swingin' Lovers'' (1956) * Jay Jay Johnson - ''Jay'' (1956) * Andrew Hill Trio – ''So in Love'' (1956) * Morton Gould & His Orchestra - ''Blues in the Night'' (1957) *

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...

- ''

A Night at the Village Vanguard ''A Night at the Village Vanguard'' is a live album by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins released on Blue Note Records in 1958. It was recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York City in November 1957 from three sets, two in the evening and one in t ...

'' (1957) * Anita O'Day - '' Anita Sings the Most'' (1957) * Jimmy Smith - '' Plays Pretty Just for You'' (1957) *

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

- ''

(Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You ''(Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You'' is an album by jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker. It follows a formula similar to two other Baker albums, '' Chet Baker Sings'' (1954) and '' Chet Baker Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman ...

'' (1958) *Totlyn Jackson ith Lance Hayward- ''Lance Hayward at the Half Moon'' (1958), ''Jamaica Jazz 1931-1962'' * Lurlean Hunter - ''Stepping Out'' (1958) *

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

- '' Jump for Joy'' (1958) *

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

- '' That's Entertainment'' (1960) *

Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones, July 2, 1930) is an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and educator. For six decades, he has been one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. Biography Early life Jamal was born Fr ...

- '' Poinciana'' (1963) *

Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging so ...

with

Hubert Laws Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...

- ''Goodbye'' (1974) *

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...

& Joe Farrell - ''Benson & Farrell'' (1976) *Peter Magadini - ''Bones Blues'' featuring

Don Menza Don Menza (born April 22, 1936) is an American jazz saxophonist. Career Menza was born in Buffalo, New York. After serving in the U.S. Army, he was part of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra from 1960 to 1962 and then briefly worked for Stan Kenton ...

, Wray Downs (1977) * Carmen McRae - '' The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets'' (1987) *

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'. Nancy Sinatr ...

- As vinyl 7" single / Reprise Records 0789 (1969). Also on her '' Nancy'' CD re-issue by Sundazed Records (1996) SC 6058 * Mel Torme – '' Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley'' (1960) *

Jamie Cullum Jamie Cullum (born 20 August 1979) is an English jazz-pop singer, songwriter and radio presenter. Although primarily a vocalist and pianist, he also accompanies himself on other instruments, including guitar and drums. He has recorded nine stu ...

– '' Twentysomething'' (2003) *

Carmen Lundy Carmen Latretta Lundy (born November 1, 1954) is an American jazz singer. She has been performing for three decades, with a focus on original material. She has been positively compared with Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Lu ...

– ''Old Devil Moon'' (1997) * David Campbell - '' Taking the Wheel'' (1997) *

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song " Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano" ...

- '' At Long Last'' (with the

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

Orchestra) (1998) * Cheyenne Jackson - ''

The Power of Two ''The Power of Two'' is a 2009 studio album by American vocalists Michael Feinstein and Cheyenne Jackson arranged by John Oddo. Reception The AllMusic review by William Ruhlmann awarded the album three stars and said "From the beginning, the ...

'' (2009) (who also starred as Woody in the 2009 revival of ''

'') *

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 ...

- ''At the Rendezvous, Vol 2'' (2000) (vocal by Ann Richards) * Josh Groban - '' Stages'' (2015) * McCoy Tyner Trio - ''

Reaching Fourth ''Reaching Fourth'' is the second album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner which was released on the Impulse! label in 1963. It features performances by Tyner with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Roy Haynes. Reception The Allmusic review by Scott ...

'' (1962)

References

External links

SoundCloud performance
by the late Piero Cusato 1947 songs Carmen McRae songs Frank Sinatra songs Lena Horne songs Songs from musicals Songs with lyrics by Yip Harburg Songs with music by Burton Lane {{Show-tune-stub