Straighten Up and Fly Right

"Straighten Up and Fly Right" is a 1944 song written by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills and performed by The King Cole Trio. The single became the trio's most popular single reaching number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for ten non consecutive weeks. The single also peaked at number nine on the pop charts^[1]. "Straighten Up and Fly Right" also reached number one, for six non consecutive weeks on the Most Played Jukebox Hillbilly Records ^[2].

The song was based on a black folk tale that Cole's father had used as a theme for one of his sermons. A buzzard takes different animals for a joy ride. When he gets hungry, he throws them off on a dive and eats them for dinner. A monkey who had observed this trick goes for a ride; he wraps his tail around the buzzard's neck and gives the buzzard a big surprise by nearly choking him to death.

The song was used in the historical war drama The Tuskegee Airmen and the title was quoted by the pilots when going into battle.

Cover versions

• The Andrews Sisters' version of the song reached number 8 on the charts in 1944. In 1958, The DeJohn Sisters recorded the song, which peaked at number seventy three on the pop chart^[3].
• Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, KGO radio in San Francisco recorded at the Fairmont Hotel. Tiffany Transcriptions 01 (late '40s)
• Linda Ronstadt, For Sentimental Reasons (1986)
• Diana Krall, Stepping Out (1993)
• Sharon, Lois & Bram, Let's Dance! (1995)
• Neal McCoy, The Life of the Party (1999)
• Nnenna Freelon (with Take 6), Soulcall (2000)
• Robbie Williams, Swing When You're Winning (2001)
• Lyle Lovett, Smile (2003)
• Med Flory, The Best Of Supersax And The LA Voices (2006)

References