Temptation (1933 song)
| "Temptation" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Bing Crosby | |
| Published | 1933 |
| Writer | Arthur Freed (lyrics) |
| Composer | Nacio Herb Brown |
| Cover versions | |
| Perry Como, the Everly Brothers | |
"Temptation" is a popular song, published in 1933, with music written by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed. The song was used in the film Singin' in the Rain (1952) and later in the 1983 musical based on the film, and is prominently featured in Valerio Zurlini's Violent Summer (1959).
The song was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1933 film Going Hollywood. Crosby recorded the song with Lennie Hayton's orchestra on October 22, 1933. He recorded it again with John Scott Trotter's Orchestra on March 3, 1945.
Recordings by Perry Como[1]
- In mid-February, 1945, for a radio program, issued as a V-Disc.
- On March 27, 1945, issued as:
- an RCA Victor 78rpm single, catalog number 20-1658-B with flip side "I'll Always Be With You" (Chart position #15 in the US)
- an RCA Victor 78rpm single, catalog number 20-1919-A with flip side "Goodbye Sue"
- an HMV 78rpm single, catalog number BD-1153 with flip side "Surrender"
- an RCA Victor 78rpm single, catalog number 20-3298-B and 45rpm single, catalog number 47-2886, with flip side "Prisoner of Love"
- On January 7, 1974, for an album, issued as:
- In 1980 at a live performance July 29-31, issued on an RCA 12" stereo LP album Perry Como Live On Tour (catalog number AQL1-3826)
Other notable recordings
Other versions of the song were recorded by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra on September 7, 1940 and by Mario Lanza in 1952. Andy Williams, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and others also recorded the song.
A parody version, entitled "Tim-tay-shun", was recorded in a country music style by Red Ingle with a vocal by "Cinderella G. Stump" (actually a pseudonym for Jo Stafford) in 1947.
African-American crooner Billy Eckstine recorded his version December 30, 1947.
The Everly Brothers' version (b/w "Stick With Me Baby", Warner Bros. Records WB5220) released in May 1961 reached #1 in the UK charts.
Charlie Parker recorded an instrumental version on the Verve label.
Released on her posthumous album in 2003, Wildwood Flower, another version of the song was recorded by June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. The song was also performed live by the legendary duo in 2002.
Other performances
An interpretation was featured in the very first episode of The Muppet Show, with Miss Piggy, four chickens, four frogs, and two males pigs being led by Kermit the Frog in the Muppet Glee Club, Miss Piggy sang a solo in the third verse until the end, her voice being performed by Richard Hunt instead of Frank Oz, her then-regular performer. In a later episode, three octopi played the song on the drums and kazoo. Animal took offense to their bad playing, and attacked them.
This song is currently played by "Ohio's Pride", The University of Akron Marching Band.
The Michigan Marching Band has been playing a version of Temptation arranged by Jerry Billik for over 40 years. It also plays a shortened version whenever an opponent is stopped on third down. It also plays the song, in full, during the post-game performance, followed by Hawaiian War Chant, because according to announcer Carl Grapentine, "you can't have one without the other." The same arrangement is also used by the University of Michigan Athletic Bands, including the Hockey, Women's Volleyball and the Men's and Women's Basketball Bands.
The song "Remember," performed by Josh Groban and Tanja Tzarovska for the 2004 film Troy, is largely based upon the melody of "Temptation."
References
- Who Wrote that Song Dick Jacobs & Harriet Jacobs, published by Writer's Digest Books, 1993
| Preceded by "Runaway" by Del Shannon |
UK number one single The Everly Brothers' version July 20, 1961 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Well I Ask You" by Eden Kane |
