Beyond the Blue Horizon (song)
{{short description|1930 single by Jeanette MacDonald}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Beyond the Blue Horizon
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jeanette MacDonald
| album =
| released = November 1930
| recorded = August 4, 1930
| studio = Hollywood Recording Studio
| venue =
| genre = Popular
| length =
| label = Victor
| composer = Richard A. Whiting and W. Franke Harling
| A-side = Always, in All Ways
| lyricist = Leo Robin
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
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}}
"Beyond the Blue Horizon" is a 1930 song composed by Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting, and W. Franke Harling, and was first performed by Jeanette MacDonald in the 1930 film Monte Carlo. It was released that November as a single on a 78 rpm disc along with the song "Always, in All Ways" on Victor Records.{{cite web |title=Victor 22514 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/20073/Victor_22514 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings |access-date=May 8, 2019}} Four takes{{cite web |title=Victor matrix PBVE-61008. Beyond the blue horizon / Jeanette MacDonald |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800031452/PBVE-61008-Beyond_the_blue_horizon |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings |access-date=May 8, 2019}} were recorded on August 4 at the Hollywood Recording Studio,{{sfn|Hollywood Diva|1998|page=376}} conducted by LeRoy Shield,{{sfn|Hollywood Diva|1998|page=376}} with MacDonald and the vocal group The Rounders; the second take was chosen for release.
The song reached #9 in the United States[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Beyond+the+Blue+Horizon+by+Jeanette+MacDonald&id=118801 Jeanette MacDonald, "Beyond the Blue Horizon" Chart Positions] Retrieved January 3, 2015 and became MacDonald's signature song, selling over 12,000 copies; it was re-released in 1944. MacDonald would also perform it in the movie Follow the Boys in 1944,{{sfn|Hollywood Diva|1998|page=267-8}} and frequently performed it on tours.{{sfn|Hollywood Diva|1998|page=350}} She also re-recorded the song for the albums Favorites{{cite web |title=Jeanette MacDonald – Favorites |url=https://www.discogs.com/Jeanette-MacDonald-Favorites/release/13244035 |website=Discogs |access-date=May 8, 2019}} and Favorites in Hi-Fi (1959).{{cite web |title=Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy – Favorites In Hi-Fi |url=https://www.discogs.com/Jeanette-MacDonald-Nelson-Eddy-Favorites-In-Hi-Fi/master/319582 |website=Discogs |access-date=May 8, 2019}}
Cover versions
- George Olsen and His Orchestra released a version in 1930. The song reached #5 in the United States.[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Beyond+the+Blue+Horizon+by+George+Olsen+and+His+Orchestra&id=115996 George Olsen and His Orchestra, "Beyond the Blue Horizon" Chart Positions] Retrieved January 3, 2015
- Phil Spitalny and His Orchestra released a version in 1930. The song reached #18 in the United States.[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Beyond+the+Blue+Horizon+by+Phil+Spitalny+%26+His+Orchestra&id=116591 Phil Spitalny and His Orchestra, "Beyond the Blue Horizon" Chart Positions] Retrieved January 3, 2015
- Vincent Lopez released a version in 1932.{{cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Edwin M. |title=The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 through 1932 |date=11 August 2004 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-2029-2 |page=343 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rg-UBJaPD-sC&pg=PA343}}
- Artie Shaw and His Symphonic Swing Orchestra recorded an instrumental version on 3 September 1941
- Clifford Jordan released a version on his 1957 album Cliff Jordan.
- Jack Pleis, His Piano, Chorus and Orchestra released a version in 1957 on his album Strings and Things.{{cite news |title=Strings and Things |work=Billboard |date=February 2, 1957 |page=30}}
- Jane Morgan - from her album Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (1958).{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jane-Morgan-Something-Old-Something-New-Something-Borrowed-Something-Blue/master/1164861|website=Discogs.com|access-date=December 29, 2017}}
- Frankie Laine - included in his album Call of the Wild (1962).{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Frankie-Laine-Call-Of-The-Wild/master/552902|website=Discogs.com|access-date=December 29, 2017}}
- Johnny Mathis released a version on his 1964 album The Wonderful World of Make Believe.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-wonderful-world-of-make-believe-mw0001879148 Johnny Mathis, The Wonderful World of Make Believe] Retrieved January 3, 2015
- Michael Nesmith released a version on his 1970 album Magnetic South and featured on his 1993 album Complete First National Band Recordings.
- In 1974, Lou Christie released a version. The song reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the adult contemporary chart.[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Beyond+the+Blue+Horizon+by+Lou+Christie&id=26539 Lou Christie, "Beyond the Blue Horizon" Chart Positions] Retrieved January 3, 2015 It also reached #57 in Canada.[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5033b&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 Lou Christie, "Beyond the Blue Horizon" Canadian Chart Position] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311154546/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5033b&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 |date=2016-03-11 }} Retrieved January 9, 2015
- Miharu Koshi released a version on her 1987 album Echo De Miharu.
- NXGHT! & DJ ZAP released a brazilian funk version.{{Cite web |title=BLUE HORIZON FUNK by NXGHT! stats and listeners – volt.fm |url=https://volt.fm/album/130672280/blue-horizon-funk-by-nxght |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=volt.fm |language=en}}
In popular culture
- A version of this was the lead-in theme song for the old radio talk show Tex and Jinx (1948-1952).
- The boxing venue The Blue Horizon was renamed in 1961 after the song by Jimmy Toppi Sr.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
- The song featured in The Godfather Part III.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
- The song is listed on the Great American Songbook as one of the best songs written from the 1920s through the 1950s.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
- Alexander Courage stated he received inspiration from "Beyond the Blue Horizon" when writing "Theme from Star Trek".[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvftpMe97_0 Alexander Courage on writing the Star Trek theme song] Retrieved January 3, 2015
- The song is heard in a 1978 TV commercial for the United States Virgin Islands Tourism Bureau.
- The song as recorded by Lou Christie was featured in the 1988 film Rain Man, and the 1991 film Dutch.
- The song was featured in the soundtrack for the period piece video game "Mafia".
Book source
- {{cite book|last1=Turk|first1=Edward Baron|title=Hollywood Diva: Biography of Jeanette MacDonald|url=https://archive.org/details/hollywooddivabio0000turk|url-access=registration|date=1998|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles|isbn=978-0-520-22253-3|ref={{sfnRef|Hollywood Diva|1998}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Jeanette MacDonald}}
{{Johnny Mathis}}
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Category:Brunswick Records singles
Category:Songs with music by Richard A. Whiting
Category:Songs with music by W. Franke Harling