The Styrous® Viewfinder: 78 RPMs 10: Frank Sinatra & Harry James On a Little Street In Singapore

October 13, 2021

78 RPMs 10: Frank Sinatra & Harry James On a Little Street In Singapore

Harry James & Frank Sinatra ~ On a Little Street in Singapore

78 RPM record

On October 13, 1939, I can’t believe that was 82 years ago, Harry James and his band, with Frank Sinatra singing, recorded On a Little Street in Singapore. This recording is a reissue as the original issue gave James top billing over Sinatra.

The trumpet of James is beautiful, of course, as it soars through the song and Sinatra is suave and sexy as he always was back then.

I have loved On a Little Street in Singapore with its gentle and slow but bouncy beat and romantic lyrics all my life (link below).

On A Little Street In Singapore

On a little street in Singapore
With me - beside a lotus covered door
A veil of moonlight on her lovely face
How pale the hands that held me in embrace

My sails tonight are filled with perfume of Shalimar
With temple bells that guide me to her shore
And then I hold you in my arms
And love the way I loved before
On a little street in Singapore

On a little street in Singapore
With me - beside a lotus covered door
A veil of moonlight on her lovely face
How pale the hands that held me in embrace

It is a jazz song written by Peter DeRose and Billy Hill. Though it's obscure now, the song was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Other artists who covered the tune included crooner Kenny Baker, Glenn Miller with tenor Ray Eberle and Jimmy Dorsey with Bob Eberle (Ray's brother).

Baker's version is slower than the Sinatra/James rendition and it is oriental sounding with minor key modulations not in the original version and when Miller and Eberle covered the song, their tempo was faster and a bit livelier.

Glenn Miller & Ray Eberle
date & photographer unknown

In the fifties it was The Three Suns, slow, smooth and dreamy with xylophone, accordion, slide guitar and electric organ, also with an oriental flavor. Then there was Dave Brubeck with Paul Desmond on sax (jazzy, of course) with no vocal, as was Harold Land with sax and Kenny Dorham on trumpet with their version.

In the seventies Bert Kaempfert pizzscatoed his way through it, the Manhattan Transfer and even Bob Dylan covered it! (link below) Dylan! Can you believe it?

The Manhattan Transfer (Tim Hauser, Laurel Massé, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel) 1978 cover is faster than the Sinatra/James rendition and it is my favorite version of the song; it is up to date, well, in 1978 it was (link below). The harmonizing by the group is flawless and Alan Paul has the type of tenor voice and killer looks that teenage girls swooned over in the forties.

Manhattan Transfer - 1985

(top: Tim Hauser, Alan Paul

bottom: Laurel Massé & Janis Siegel)

photo by Nancy Clendaniel

Harry James was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized and was active again with his band from then until his death in 1983. He was especially known among musicians for his technical proficiency as well as his tone, and was an influence on new trumpet players from the late 1930s into the 1940s. He was also an actor in a number of films that usually featured his band.

Harry James and his band

date & photographer unknown

Harry James was a heavy smoker, drinker and gambler. In 1983 he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but continued to work. He played his last professional job, with the Harry James Orchestra, on June 26, 1983 in Los Angeles, dying just nine days later in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 5, 1983; he was 67 years old. Frank Sinatra gave the eulogy at his funeral, held in Las Vegas.

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - On A Little Street In Singapore, written by Hill*, De Rose*

Side 2:

B - Every Day Of My Life, written by Hays*, James*, Beck*

Credits:

    Alto Saxophone [Uncredited] – Claude Lakey, Dave Matthews (2)
    Bass [Uncredited] – Thurman Teague
    Directed By – Harry James (2)
    Drums [Uncredited] – Mickey Scrima (tracks: B), Ralph Hawkins (tracks: A)
    Guitar [Uncredited] – Bryan Kent
    Piano [Uncredited] – Jack Gardner
    Tenor Saxophone [Uncredited] – Bill Luther, Drew Page
    Trombone [Uncredited] – Bruce Squires (tracks: B), Dalton Rizzotto (tracks: B), Russell Brown (tracks: A), Truett Jones
    Trumpet [Uncredited] – Claude Bowen, Harry James (2), Jack Palmer, Jack Schaeffer
    Vocals – Frank Sinatra

Notes:

Obviously re-released, giving Frank top billing. He only sings toward the end of each song.
A side originally recorded Chicago, Oct. 13, 1939; B side originally recorded Hollywood, Nov. 8, 1939.

Performance credits from Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942): A-K

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): WC 2798
    Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): LA 2047
    Matrix / Runout (A side stamped variant 1): W2798A
    Matrix / Runout (B side stamped variant 1): LA2047A
    Matrix / Runout (A side stamped variant 2): WC2798A B 18 H
    Matrix / Runout (B side stamped variant 2): LA2047A B J

Frank Sinatra With Harry James And His Orchestra – On A Little Street In Singapore / Every Day Of My Life
Label: Columbia – 36700
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Country: US
Released: Apr 1944
Genre: Jazz, Pop
Style: Big Band, Vocal

Viewfinder links:

Dave Brubeck

Jimmy Dorsey

Bob Dylan

Bob Eberly

Ray Eberle

Harry James

Bert Kaempfert

Manhattan Transfer

Glenn Miller

Alan Paul

Frank Sinatra