| "G.I. Jive" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Johnny Mercer | |
| Released | 1944 |
| Genre | R&B |
| Songwriter(s) | Johnny Mercer |
"G.I. Jive" is a 1944 song written and originally performed by Johnny Mercer. [1]
Background
Mercer intended to write a song that the soldiers would like, [1] and the song was the biggest hit of all the songs dealing with soldier life during World War II. [2]
Chart performance
The single was a hit twice in 1944 by two different performers: Johnny Mercer hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for one week and peaked at number thirteen on the pop charts. [3] Three months later, Louis Jordan, also made it to number one on both the Harlem Hit Parade and the pop chart with "G.I. Jive". [4] The B-side to Jordan's version, " Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby", was also a successful release.
Other versions
- Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five recorded “G.I. Jive” for Decca in 1944 (the B-side being “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?”)
- Deana Martin recorded "G.I. Jive" on her 2013 album Destination Moon.
- Phil Harris sang a version on the June 4, 1944 episode of The Jack Benny Program.
References
- ^ a b Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side A.
- ^ Jones, John Bush (2006). The Songs That Fought the War. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England. p. 114. ISBN 1584654430.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 395.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 309.
Related topic
- GI Jive AFRS radio program by the same name