STELLA BY STARLIGHT
Music: Victor Young- Lyrics: Ned Washington
Year: 1946
Origin of th song
Victor Young composed 'Stella by Starlight' for the film Uninvited, produced by Paramount Pictures, directed by Lewis Allen and starring Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey and Gail Russell, which premiered in New York on 26 February 1944.
At one point in the film, Milland's character plays a piece on the piano. Stella (Gail Russell), as she looks out the window, asks him the name of the melody, to which he responds: It is a serenade entitled 'To Stella by Starlight'.
Although written as an instrumental piece, the producers thought that adding a letter would increase the chances of becoming a popular hit, which would also be beneficial in promoting the film. In 1946, Young sent the score to Ned Washington, who was immediately confronted with a problem. The song already had a name, so it needed to be incorporated into the lyrics. The result was quite rare, since the title is not at the beginning or the end of the song, but at an intermediate point.
In addition to 'Stella by Starlight', Young and Washington co-authored, among other songs, 'My Foolish Heart' (1949) and '(I Don't Stand A) Ghost of a Chance (With You)' (1932), the latter in collaboration with Bing Crosby.
Versions in the top chats
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DAY OF
ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
1947.02.17 |
1947.05.10 |
1 |
21 |
Instrumental |
|
|
Frank Sinatra |
1947.03.11 |
1947.07.12 |
4 |
21 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Axel Stordahl Orchestra |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1952.01.22 |
Charlie Parker (as), Chris Griffin, Al Porcino, Bernie Privin (tp), Will Bradley, Bill Harris (tb), no identificado (fl, ob), Toots Mondello, Murray Williams (as), Art Drellinger, Hank Ross (ts), Stan Webb (bars), Lou Stein (p), Art Ryerson (g), Bob Haggart (b), Don Lamond (d), string section, Joe Lippman (dir) |
|
|
1952.12.12 |
Stan Getz (ts), Duke Jordan (p), Jimmy Raney (g), Bill Crow (b), Frank Isola (d) |
|
|
Stan Kenton Orchestra |
1953.01.18 |
Stan Kenton (p, dir), Buddy Childers, Maynard Ferguson, Conte Candoli, Don Dennis, Ruben McFall (tp), Bob Burgess, Frank Rosolino, Keith Moon, Bill Russo, George Roberts (tb), Lee Konitz, Vinnie Dean (as), Richie Kamuca, Bill Holman (ts), Bob Gioga (bars), Sal Salvador (g), Don Bagley (b), Stan Levy (d) |
|
1953.09.?? |
Bud Powell (p) |
|
|
1955.08.18 |
Nat Cole (p), Jack Cave (tpa), Bill Miller (p), John Collins (g), Charles P. Harris (b), Lee Young (d), string section, Nelson Riddle (dir) |
|
|
1958.05.26 |
Miles Davis (tp), Cannonball Adderley (as), John Coltrane (ts), Bill Evans (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d) |
|
|
Donald Byrd Quintet |
1958.10.29 |
Donald Byrd (tp), Bobby Jaspar (fl, ts), Walter Davis Jr. (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d) |
|
1963.02.09 |
Bill Evans (p) |
|
|
1965.12.23 |
Miles Davis (tp), Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b), Tony Williams (d) |
|
|
Lee Konitz &
Martial Solal |
1968.10.12 |
Lee Konitz (as), Martial Solal (p) |
|
1973.08.28 |
Joe Pass (g) |
|
|
Monty Alexander Quintet |
1980.03.?? |
Monty Alexander (p), Gerald Wiggins (b), Frank Gant (d), Othello Molineaux (sd), Robert Thomas (per) |
|
Keith Jarrett Trio |
1985.07.02 |
Keith Jarrett (p), Gary Peacock (b), Jack DeJohnette (d) |
|
Joe Henderson Trio |
1985.11.15 |
Joe Henderson (ts), Ron Carter (b), Al Foster (d) |
|
1987.06.14 |
Chet Baker (tp), Harold Danko (p), Hein Van Der Geyn (b), John Engels (d) |
|
|
1989.??.?? |
George Benson (g), McCoy Tyner (p), Ron Carter (b), Herlin Riley (d), unidentified brass,
string section |
|
|
Brad Mehldau & Marian McPartland |
1996.09.12 |
Brad Mehldau, Marian McPartland (p) |
|
2002.06.?? |
John McLaughlin (g), Helmut Schartlmüller (b) |
|
|
Joe Lovano Quartet |
2003.06.11 |
Joe Lovano (ts), Hank Jones (p), George Mraz (b), Paul Motian (d) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1947.03.11 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Ray Linn, Leonard Mach, Zeke Zarchy (tp), Dave Hallett, George Jenkins, Pullman Pederson (tb), Vincent DeRosa (tpa), Heine Beau, Fred Dornbach, Herbert Haymer, Jules Kinsler, Fred Stulce (sax), Mark McIntyre (p), Allan Reuss (g), Philip Stephens (b), Ray Hagan (d), string section, Axel Stordahl (dir) |
|
|
1954.08.21 |
Chris Connor (voc), Don Burns (aco), Ronnie Odrich (cl), Joe Cinderella (g), Vinnie Burke (b), Art Mardigan (d) |
|
|
1956.11.?? |
Johnny Hartman (voc), Frank Hunter Orchestra |
|
|
1961.04.06 |
Tony Bennett (voc), Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen (tp), Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak (tb), Danny Bank, Ed Caine, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque (sax), Bernie Leighton (p), Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne (g), Milt Hinton (b), Eddie Costa (vib), Herb Lovelle (d), Ralph Burns (dir) |
On cinemas
The song 'Stella by Starlight” is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL TITLE |
TITLE IN SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
Uninvited |
Los intrusos |
1946 |
Ray Milland playing the piano (dubbed) |
|
The Nutty Professor |
El profesor chiflado |
1963 |
Stella Stevens |
|
Paternity |
Un padre fuera de serie |
1981 |
|
|
Terms Of Endearment |
La fuerza del cariño |
1983 |
|
|
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter |
Viernes 13. Último capítulo |
1984 |
|
|
New York Stories |
Historias de Nueva York |
1989 |
Episode 'Life Lessons' |
|
Whispers In The Dark |
Susurros en la oscuridad |
1992 |
|
|
Beverly Hill Cops III |
Superdetective en Hollywood III |
1994 |
|
|
Casino |
Casino |
1995 |
Ray Charles |
|
Sabrina |
Sabrina (y sus amores) |
1995 |
|
|
Eye For An Eye |
Ojo por ojo |
1996 |
|
|
Face / Off |
Cara a cara |
1997 |
|
|
A Night at the Roxbury |
Movida en el Roxbury |
1998 |
|
|
Bajo las estrellas |
Bajo las estrellas |
2007 |
Enrique Morente |