I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling
Encyclopedia
"I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" is a popular
song
with music by Fats Waller
and Harry Link
and lyrics by Billy Rose
, published in 1929
. In 1929, right after its publication, a very large number of different recordings were made (see below); afterwards, the song has become a popular standard, recorded by many people.
, archival footage is used to show Fanny Brice
giving a private roof-top performance of the song for the main character (played by Woody Allen
).
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
with music by Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
and Harry Link
Harry Link
Harry Link, born Harry Linkey was an American songwriter. He wrote or co-wrote several well-known jazz standards....
and lyrics by Billy Rose
Billy Rose
William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"...
, published in 1929
1929 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Pianist and composer Abram Chasins makes his professional debut playing his own piano concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra.*January 11 – Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater is premiered....
. In 1929, right after its publication, a very large number of different recordings were made (see below); afterwards, the song has become a popular standard, recorded by many people.
Recorded versions
- Gene AustinGene AustinGene Austin was an American singer and songwriter, one of the first "crooners". His 1920s compositions "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" and "The Lonesome Road" became pop and jazz standards.-Career:...
(recorded June 26, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 22033, with the flip side "Maybe Who Knows") - Smith BallewSmith BallewSmith Ballew was an American actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and finally, a Western singing star....
and his orchestra (recorded April 3, 1929, released by OKeh RecordsOkeh RecordsOkeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
as catalog number 41238, with the flip side "A Garden in the RainA Garden in the Rain"A Garden in the Rain" is a popular song.The music was written by Carroll Gibbons, the lyrics by James Dyrenforth. The song was published in 1928.The song had two periods of great popularity: in 1929 and in 1952....
" - Continental Dance Orchestra (recorded April 17, 1929, released by Oriole RecordsOriole RecordsOriole Records may refer to:* Oriole Records * Oriole Records...
as catalog number 1581, with the flip side "She's Got Great Ideas", also by Jewel RecordsJewel RecordsJewel Records was a record label which discs were pressed by the Scranton Button Company. Jewel is one of the big three record companies out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The two most famous, King Records and Fraternity Records, were responsible for several hits over the years from a wide range of genres...
as catalog number 5619, with the flip side "Huggable Kissable You") - Jesse CrawfordJesse CrawfordJesse Crawford , was a US pianist and organist. He was well known in the 1920s as a theater organist for silent films and was avery popular gramophone record recording artist. In the 1930s, he switched to the Hammond organ and became a freelancer...
(organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
instrumental; recorded May 7, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 21981, with the flip side "She's a New Kind of Old-Fashioned Girl") - Gay Ellis (vocal: Annette HanshawAnnette HanshawCatherine Annette Hanshaw was born at her parents' residence in New York City on October 18, 1901. [Ed. While Annette sometimes gave her birth date as 1910, nephew Frank W. Hanshaw III confirms 1901 as the date on Annette's birth certificate.]-Biography:...
; recorded May 9, 1929, released by Supertone RecordsSupertone RecordsSupertone Records was a United States record label of the 1920s. Supertone Records were marketed by Sears, Roebuck & Co..Supertone was one of several record disc brand names marketed by Sears....
as catalog number 1021P, with the flip side "Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home?") - Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
and the Daydreamers (recorded December 23, 1947, released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog number 24332, with the flip side "My Baby Likes to Be-bop") - Gotham Rhythm Boys (recorded June 19, 1929, released by Jewel RecordsJewel RecordsJewel Records was a record label which discs were pressed by the Scranton Button Company. Jewel is one of the big three record companies out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The two most famous, King Records and Fraternity Records, were responsible for several hits over the years from a wide range of genres...
as catalog number 5663, with the flip side "You're Just an Armful of Love") - Earl HinesEarl HinesEarl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
(released 19521952 in music-Events:*February 26 - Jo Stafford marries bandleader/arranger Paul Weston.*March 21 - First reported Rock and roll riot breaks out at Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland, Ohio...
by Brunswick RecordsBrunswick RecordsBrunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
as catalog number 80190, with the flip side "My Fate Is In Your Hands ") - Annette HanshawAnnette HanshawCatherine Annette Hanshaw was born at her parents' residence in New York City on October 18, 1901. [Ed. While Annette sometimes gave her birth date as 1910, nephew Frank W. Hanshaw III confirms 1901 as the date on Annette's birth certificate.]-Biography:...
(recorded May 9, 1929, released by Diva RecordsDiva RecordsDiva Records was a United States based record label from 1925 to 1931. The label was a subsidiary of Columbia Records marketed by the W.T. Grant department store chain. Diva Records were acoustic through early 1929...
as catalog number 2915-G, by Harmony RecordsHarmony RecordsHarmony Records was a label owned by Columbia Records. It was originally used as a label for low-price 78 rpm records in the 1920s and 1930s; subsequently it was revived as a label for budget albums of reissued tracks during the 1950s with nine or ten songs per album...
as catalog number 915-H, and by Velvet Tone RecordsVelvet Tone RecordsVelvet Tone Records was a United States based record label, active from 1925 through 1932. It was produced by Columbia Records and contained material identical to that of Columbia's two other low price labels, Harmony Records and Diva Records....
as catalog number 1915-V. - Earl HinesEarl HinesEarl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
Trio (recorded February 26, 1944, released by Signature RecordsSignature RecordsSignature Records was a mid-20th century United States based record label. Noted Signature recording artists included Anita O'Day, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Lawrence, Ray Anthony, Barbara McNair, Monica Lewis, Dickie Thompson, Jane Harvey, Kay Thompson and Alan Dale. Bob Thiele produced records for...
as catalog number 28109, with the flip side "Squeeze MeSqueeze Me"Squeeze Me" is a 1925 jazz standard composed by Fats Waller. It was based on an old blues song called "The Boy in the Boat". The lyrics were credited to publisher Clarence Williams, although Andy Razaf has claimed to have actually written the lyrics....
") - James P. JohnsonJames P. JohnsonJames P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
(recorded June 8, 1944, released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog number 23593, with the flip side "Honeysuckle RoseHoneysuckle Rose (song)"Honeysuckle Rose" is a 1928 song composed by Fats Waller, whose lyrics were written by Andy Razaf. Fats Waller's 1934 recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999....
") - Art Kassel and his orchestra (recorded 19471947 in music-Events:*August 7 – Carlo Bergonzi makes his professional debut as Schaunard in La Bohème at the Arena Argentina in Catania.*October – Enrico De Angelis leaves Quartetto Cetra to join the army...
, released by Mercury RecordsMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
as catalog number 5088, with the flip side "In a Little Book Shop") - Harold LambertHarold LambertHarold Lambert is a British medical doctor known for his work dealing with infectious diseases. He helped in the development of pyrazinamide as a treatment for tuberculosis and also did some of the earliest research into mescaline.-External links:...
(recorded April 5, 1929, released by Vocalion RecordsVocalion RecordsVocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
as catalog number 15800, with the flip side "Coquette") - Sam LaninSam LaninSam Lanin was an American jazz bandleader.Lanin's brothers, Howard and Lester, were also bandleaders, and all of them had sustained, successful careers in music. Lanin was one of ten children born to Russian-Jewish immigrants who emigrated to Philadelphia in the decade of the 1900s...
's University Orchestra (recorded May 23, 1929, released by Supertone RecordsSupertone RecordsSupertone Records was a United States record label of the 1920s. Supertone Records were marketed by Sears, Roebuck & Co..Supertone was one of several record disc brand names marketed by Sears....
as catalog number 9437, with the flip side "What a Day") - Miff MoleMiff MoleIrving Milfred Mole, better known as Miff Mole was a jazz trombonist and band leader. He is generally considered as one of the greatest jazz trombonists and credited with creating "the first distinctive and influential solo jazz trombone style." His major recordings included "Slippin' Around",...
and his Little Molers (recorded April 19, 1929, released by OKeh RecordsOkeh RecordsOkeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
as catalog number 41232, with the flip side "That's a PlentyThat's a Plenty (song)"That's a Plenty" is a 1914 ragtime piano piece composed by Lew Pollack. Lyrics by Ray Gilbert were added later to turn the ragtime piece into a vocal song . Freddy Martin and His Orchestra recorded a version of "That's A Plenty" in 1950. Sheet music from the 1950 version featuring Freddy Martin on...
") - Joe MorrisJoe MorrisJoe Morris is the name of:* Joe Morris , British film writer, producer and director. * Joe Morris , American jazz guitarist * Joe Morris , American studio drummer...
and his orchestra (recorded May 23, 1929, released by Champion RecordsChampion RecordsThe name Champion Records has been used by at least four record labels.An early Champion label was produced by Gennett Records as an inexpensive label that featured country or "hillbilly" artists, as well as popular bands, hot jazz and blues...
as catalog number 15738, with the flip side "The One in the World") - The Mystery Girl (recorded May 14, 1929, released by Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog number 1839D, with the flip side "I'd Do Anything for You") - Cliff RobertsCliff RobertsCliff Roberts was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for one season for the Oakland Raiders.-References:...
and his orchestra (recorded April 19291929 in music-Events:*January 1 – Pianist and composer Abram Chasins makes his professional debut playing his own piano concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra.*January 11 – Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater is premiered....
, released by Romeo RecordsRomeo RecordsRomeo Records was a record label based in the United States of America in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a subsidiary of Cameo Records, manufactured to be sold exclusively at the S. H. Kress & Co. department store chain...
as catalog number 967, with the flip side "I'm Longing to Belong to Someone") - Joan Shaw with Russ Case's orchestra (recorded 19501950 in music-Events:*January 3 – Sam Phillips launches Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.*August – Herbert Howells' Hymnus Paradisi is premiered at the Three Choirs Festival.*Malcolm Sargent becomes chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra....
, released by MGM RecordsMGM RecordsMGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
as catalog number 10789B, with the flip side "I Had a Talk with the Wind and the Rain") - Ted Wallace Campus Boys (recorded May 8, 1929, released by Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog number 1833D, with the flip side "Jericho") - Thomas "Fats" WallerFats WallerFats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
(recorded August 2, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 22092, with the flip side "Love Me or Leave MeLove Me or Leave Me (song)"Love Me or Leave Me" is a U.S. popular song from the 1920s.The music was written by Walter Donaldson and the lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was introduced in the Broadway play, Whoopee!, which opened in December 1928...
")
In popular culture
In the 1983 film ZeligZelig
Zelig is a 1983 American mockumentary film written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Allen and Mia Farrow. Allen plays Zelig, a curiously nondescript enigma who is discovered for his remarkable ability to transform himself to resemble anyone he's near.The film was shot almost entirely in...
, archival footage is used to show Fanny Brice
Fanny Brice
Fanny Brice was a popular and influential American illustrated song "model," comedienne, singer, theatre and film actress, who made many stage, radio and film appearances and is known as the creator and star of the top-rated radio comedy series, The Baby Snooks Show...
giving a private roof-top performance of the song for the main character (played by Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
).