Dear Hearts and Gentle People

"Dear Hearts and Gentle People" is a popular song published in 1949 with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Bob Hilliard. The song refers to the singer's hometown, and different versions allude to a range of U.S. states.

"Dear Hearts and Gentle People"
Song
Published1949
Composer(s)Sammy Fain
Lyricist(s)Bob Hilliard

Background

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The songwriters were inspired to write the song based on a scrap of paper with the words "Dear friends and gentle hearts" written on it that was found on the body of Stephen Foster when he was discovered dying in a New York hotel room in January 1864.[citation needed]

1949 recordings

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Popular versions were recorded in 1949 by:

  • The Dinah Shore recording was recorded on September 9, 1949, and released by Columbia Records (as catalog number 38605). This version alludes to Tennessee, Shore's home state. The recording first appeared on the Billboard charts on November 19, 1949, lasting 17 weeks and peaking at position number two.[1]
  • The Gordon MacRae recording was recorded on October 21, 1949, and released by Capitol Records (as catalog number 777). It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard charts.[2] The flip side was "Mule Train," which MacRae recorded October 1, 1949.
  • The Bing Crosby recording was recorded on October 26, 1949,[3] and released by Decca Records (as catalog number 24798). This version mentions the state of Idaho, close to Crosby's hometown of Spokane, Washington. The flip side was "Mule Train". The recording first appeared on the Billboard charts on December 3, 1949, lasting 17 weeks and peaking at number two.[4]
  • The Dennis Day recording was released by RCA Victor Records as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3596), and as a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-3102). The recording first appeared on the Billboard charts on January 14, 1950, lasting four weeks and peaking at number 14.[5]

Other recordings

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 389. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 291. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  3. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 111. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 121. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  6. ^ Chris Gamble (2008-08-09), Bob Crosby - Dear hearts and gentle people - Fallout 3, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-05-25