Imagination (1940 song)
"Imagination" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen and the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was first published in 1940. The two best-selling versions were recorded by the orchestras of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey 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, Burke wrote the "Imagination" lyrics.Recordings
The recording by Glenn Miller was released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10622. It first reached the Billboard magazine 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 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. 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 chart.Other recorded versions
The song has been recorded by, among others:- Steve Allen
- Georgie Auld and his orchestra
- Chet Baker – Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman
- Shirley Bassey
- Dave Brubeck – Plays and Plays and Plays
- Chick Bullock and his orchestra
- June Christy – Fair and Warmer! ; A Friendly Session, Vol. 1 with the Johnny Guarnieri Quintet
- Petula Clark
- Rosemary Clooney – Love, and Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Jimmy Van Heusen
- Harry Connick, Jr. on 20
- Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter's orchestra
- Doris Day
- Al Donahue and his orchestra
- Jimmy Dorsey
- Bob Dylan – Triplicate
- Billy Eckstine with Pete Rugolo arr, cond) and his All Stars, including Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Bud Shank, Gerald Wiggins, Red Callender, Larry Bunker. Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on January 2, 1958.
- Percy Faith & His Orchestra with Mitch Miller from the album "It's So Peaceful In The Country"
- Ella Fitzgerald and recorded live in 1961 at the Crescendo Club in West Hollywood.
- Maynard Ferguson – Boy With Lots of Brass
- The Fleetwoods
- The Four Freshmen – Golden Anniversary Celebrations
- Curtis Fuller – Imagination
- Johnny Griffin – Tough Tenors
- Lionel Hampton
- Dick Haymes – The Complete Capitol Collection
- Miki Howard – Come Share My Love
- Keith Jarrett – on disc 4 of Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note
- Jazz Lab – Jazz Lab
- Stan Kenton – on the album The Romantic Approach
- Cleo Laine
- Dean Martin
- Art Pepper on his 1957 album Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section
- Lucy Ann Polk – Lucy Ann Polk with the Dave Pell Octet
- The Quotations recorded a doo-wop version in 1961 on Verve Records
- Andy Russell
- Jan Savitt and his orchestra
- Little Jimmy Scott
- Rocky Sharpe and the Replays had a UK Top 40 hit with a Doo-wop version in 1979.
- Dinah Shore
- Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey – Legendary Sides
- Kate Smith
- Keely Smith – I Wish You Love
- Jeri Southern – Bygone Days, ''Romance in the Dark''