I Hear a Rhapsody

"I Hear a Rhapsody" is a 1941 pop song that became a jazz standard, composed by George Fragos, Jack Baker and Dick Gasparre. In 1941 it was a top 10 hit for three separate artists, Charlie Barnet, Jimmy Dorsey and Dinah Shore.^[1] “I Hear a Rhapsody” was at the top of "Your Hit Parade" in 1941. It was featured in the 1952 film noir Clash by Night, in which it was sung by Tony Martin. The sound track featured jazz notables such as pianist Gerald Wiggins, alto saxophonist Benny Carter, and tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. The film, directed by Fritz Lang, involved a love triangle in a small fishing village and starred Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan, and Paul Douglas.

The impassioned melody is well fitted with a romantic lyric in which the mere presence of the loved one inspires heavenly music: “My darling, hold me tight and whisper to me, Then soft through the starry night I hear a rhapsody.”

Versions

• Frank Sinatra on "I Hear a Rhapsody / I Could Write a Book" single, 1952 (10" release on I've Got a Crush on You, 1954)
• George Shearing on When Lights Are Low, 1955; with Jim Hall on First Edition, 1982; I Hear a Rhapsody - Live at the Blue Note, 1992
• Zoot Sims with Bob Brookmeyer on Tonite's Music Today, 1956
• Billy Eckstine on Once More with Feeling, 1960
• Jackie McLean on Makin' the Changes, 1960
• John Coltrane on Lush Life, 1961
• Art Blakey on Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!, 1961
• Bill Evans & Jim Hall on Undercurrent, 1962
• Don Friedman on Circle Waltz, 1962

References