Song performed by Glenn Miller
"Juke Box Saturday Night" is a song written by Al Stillman and Paul McGrane[1] that was recorded by Glenn Miller[2] and his Orchestra in 1942 on RCA Victor with vocals by Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke, and The Modernaires. The song was from the 1942 production Stars on Ice.
The Glenn Miller recording peaked at #7 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1942.
Background
The song was first recorded on July 15, 1942 in Chicago by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra on RCA Victor. The 78 single was released in October, 1942, peaking at #7 on the Billboard pop singles chart. The B side was "Sleepy Town Train", recorded the following day. The Stars on Ice cast did the first live performance on July 2, 1942.
Glenn Miller was one of the top-selling musical performers of the 1940s whose recordings were in every jukebox in America. "By the early 1940s, a third of all records played on American jukeboxes were Glenn Miller recording."[3]
The song highlights three top big band leaders of the era, Benny Goodman, Kay Kyser, and Glenn Miller. There are also tributes to Harry James and The Ink Spots, whose styles are invoked.
Cover versions
- "Juke Box Saturday Night" was later covered by Nino and the Ebb Tides,[4] whose version charted at #57 on Billboard's Top 100 on September 4, 1961.[5] This was an updated version of the 1942 song in a rock and roll style.
- The Modernaires recorded a version in 1946 on Columbia Records featuring Paula Kelly with Mitchell Ayres. A soundie was also filmed in 1944 featuring Harriet Clark on vocals with The Modernaires: Tommy Morgan, Hal Dickinson, Fran Scott, and Ralph Brewster.[6] The Modernaires also released an updated version of the song entitled "New Juke Box Saturday Night" in 1953 on Coral Records with George Cates.
- Teresa Brewer recorded the song in 1983.
- Winifred Atwell recorded the song in 1960.
- The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band performed the song during World War II. A recording appeared on the 1955 5 disc LP box set Army Air Force Band and the 2001 remastered 4-disc CD release.
- The New Glenn Miller Orchestra under Ray McKinley performed the song on the 1961 CBS TV series Glenn Miller Time.
- The Glenn Miller Orchestra led by Wil Salden released a version on the eponymous 2017 album.
- Carol Burnett performed the song as part of a medley with the cast of The Carol Burnett Show with Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence on show #917 which aired on January 10, 1976 on CBS.
- Sha Na Na performed the Nino and the Ebbtides version on their eponymous syndicated TV show Sha Na Na in the 1970s.
- In 1985, The Maxwellaires recorded the song.
References
- ^ Grudens, Richard (1999). Jukebox Saturday Night: More Memories of the Big Band Era and Beyond. New York: Celebrity Profile Publishing. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-57579-142-5.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side A.
- ^ INTELLECT: "The Glenn Miller Story" at BYU film series May 22." May 11, 2003. BYU. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ Twist & Shout: The Golden Age of American Rock 'N Roll Volume III 1960-1963. Pierian Press. 2002. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-9646588-4-4.
- ^ "Nino and the Ebb Tides". Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Jukebox Saturday Night". Versions. Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
