A 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 was first recorded by the composer, Carroll Gibbons with The Savoy Hotel Orpheans and vocals by George Metaxa (later spelled: Georges Metaxa), in July 1928.

The song had two periods of great popularity: in 1929 and in 1952.^[1]

In 1929, the biggest hit versions were by Gene Austin, by John McCormack, and by George Olsen's orchestra with a vocal by Fran Frey. All three versions were released by Victor Records: Austin's as catalog number 21915,^[1][2] McCormack's as catalog number 1400,^[1] and Olsen's as catalog number 21942.^[1][2]

In 1952 the most popular version was recorded by The Four Aces in the 1950s. Their recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 27860.^[3] It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on December 28, 1951 and lasted 7 weeks on the chart, peaking at #14.^[4] The flip side, "Tell Me Why," was an even bigger hit for the Aces, reaching #2 on the chart. The same recording of "A Garden in the Rain"/"Tell Me Why" was also released in the United Kingdom by Brunswick Records in 1952 as catalog number 04883^[5]

Other recordings

• Gene Austin (recorded March 13, 2011

, released by Victor Records as catalog number 21915, with the flip side "Dream Mother",^[2] also released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 7557, with the flip side "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"^[6])

• Smith Ballew and his orchestra (recorded April 11, 1929, released by OKeh Records as catalog number 41238, with the flip side "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling"^[7])
• Blue Barron and his orchestra (recorded July 15, 1938, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 7711, with the flip side "While Others Are Building Castles"^[6])
• Earl Burtnett's Biltmore Trio (recorded April 1, 1929, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 4336, with the flip side "Love Me or Leave Me"^[8])
• Milton Charles (Organ instrumental, recorded June 11, 1929, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 1872D, with the flip side "Pagan Love Song"^[9])
• Perry Como (with Russ Case's Orchestra) (recorded March 14, 1946,^[10] released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1916, with the flip side "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby",^[11] re-released as catalog number 20-4445, with the flip side "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight"^[10][12])
• Vic Dana Reached Billboard #97 on 10/25/64 (Dolton label)
• Four Young Men (released 1962 by Dore Records as catalog number 621, with the flip side "That Man Paul"^[13])
• Connie Francis (on MGM album E-3776 (mono)/SE-3776 (stereo), My Thanks to You, released 1959)
• Jane Froman (recorded September 1946, released by Majestic Records as catalog number 1086, with the flip side "For You, for Me, for Evermore"^[14])
• Jerry Gray and his orchestra (recorded January 14, 1952, released by Decca Records as catalog number 27976, with the flip side "Unforgettable"^[3]
• The Harmonians (recorded April 4, 1929, released by Supertone Records as catalog number 1053P, with the flip side "If You Believed in Me"^[15])
• Skitch Henderson (recorded 1946, released by Capitol Records as catalog number 331, with the flip side "And So to Bed"^[16])
• Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, on their 1978 Warner Bros. Records album It Happened One Bite
• Diana Krall (recorded August 26, 1997, released by Impulse! Records on the album Love Scenes)
• Ray Martin and his orchestra
• George Olsen and his orchestra (recorded April 10, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 21942B, with the flip side "Dream Mother"^[2])
• Vincent Richards and his orchestra (recorded May 13, 1929, released by Romeo Records as catalog number 972,^[17] also released by Lincoln Records as catalog number 3197, both releases with the flip side "In A Great Big Way"^[18])
• Willard Robison (recorded March 15, 1929, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 1772D, with the flip side "Blue Hawaii"^[9])
• Dave Rubinoff and his orchestra (recorded April 10, 1929, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 4344, with the flip side "Blue Hawaii"^[8])
• Frank Sinatra (recorded June 12, 1962, released by Reprise Records on the album Frank Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain)
• The Virginia Creepers (vocal: C. Hale) (recorded May 13, 1929, released by Pathé Records as catalog number 36975, with the flip side "Old-Fashioned Lady"^[19])
• Henry Wells and his orchestra (recorded February 27, 1940, released by Decca Records as catalog number 3134A, with the flip side "Home"^[20])

In popular culture

• The recording by Blue Barron and his orchestra featured in the film "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" (2007).

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gardner, Edward Foote (2000). Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-789-1. 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Victor Records in the 21500 to 21999 series
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series
4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. 
5. ↑ Brunswick Records in the 03384 to 04999 series
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bluebird Records in the 7500 to 7999 series
7. ↑ OKeh Records in the 41000 to 41499 series
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Brunswick Records in the 4000 to 4499 series
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Columbia Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Perry Como discography listing for "A Garden in the Rain"
11. ↑ RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series
12. ↑ RCA Victor Records in the 20-4000 to 20-4999 series
13. ↑ Dore Records in the 500 to 849 series
14. ↑ Majestic Records in the listed series
15. ↑ Supertone Records in the listed series
16. ↑ Capitol Records in the 100 ro 499 series
17. ↑ Romeo Records in the 500 to 999 series
18. ↑ Lincoln Records in the 3000 to 3395 series
19. ↑ Pathé Records in the 3655 to 36999 series
20. ↑ Decca Records in the 3000 to 3499 series