“That Old Black Magic” is a 1942 popular song written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, specifically for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was first sung by Johnny Johnston and danced by Vera Zorina. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1943. The song was originally recorded by Glenn Miller, who had a hit with it in 1943. Singer Billy Daniels performed it the same year in a club.
The song has since been performed by Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, and even expatriate harmonica player Frank Sinatra. The Columbia Years (1943-1952): The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 also features Frank Sinatra.
The song was first recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1943. It was covered by Julian Yeo. Other notable jazz instrumentalists who have recorded “That Old Black Magic” include Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, and even expatriate harmonica player Frank Sinatra.
The song has been covered by various artists, including Keely Smith’s 1965 album “Fallen Angels”, Charmed’s episode “Charmed”, and Sarah Vaughan’s “That Old Black Magic”. The song was released in 1961 and is published by Famous Music LLC.
📹 That Old Black Magic – Louis Prima & Keely Smith
📹 Louis Prima and Keely Smith “That Old Black Magic,”
Amazing color footage of this performance. I could not find this on Youtube, so here I am. I do not claim to own this material.
I was named after keely in 1958 when after a performance my parents saw in Las Vegas. It was back when Vegas had “midnight shows”. In the early hours of the morning about 3-4 am as my parents walked through the casino heading to their room they heard a woman bust out in this gregarious laughter, followed by a crash when that woman laughed herself right off her barstool. That woman was obviously drunk and having a ball. That woman was Keely Smith. That experience introduced my parents to a woman so talented & glamorous and yet seemed so ordinary and down to earth. My moms short version of the story goes something like this “A woman who can captivate a crowd with THAT voice and a few hours later fall off her barstool bombed having an ball… keely will be the name of our next daughter . And that was me Keely Diann born in July 1958. I’ve always been proud to know she’s my namesake. Last performance I saw her perform was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno In the late 1980s, her voice was as smooth and sultry as ever. Godspeed Keely …Until we meet again.
– Original Lyrics by Harold Arlen – That old black magic has me in its spell That old black magic that you weave so well Those icy fingers up and down my spine The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine The same old tingle that I feel inside And then that elevator starts its ride And down and down I go, round and round I go Like a leaf that’s caught in the tide I should stay away but what can I do? I hear your name and I’m aflame Aflame with such a burning desire That only your kiss can put out fire ‘Cause you are the lover I have waited for The mate that fate had me created for And every time your lips meet mine Darling, down and down I go, round and round Igo In a spin, loving the spin that I’m in Under that old black magic called love
Louis was a wonderful entertainer. He is one of the unfounded fathers of Rock and Roll. He got a lot of power out of his band, worked them hard.. but made sure they had fun, and you can hear it on the records. His classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” will live forever as the anthem of Big Bad songs. God bless, Louis.. and thanks to Johnny Wheeler music for posting
Lord! This was one of my die-hard favs when I was about five years old. I lived for this song (and a few others) to come on the radio. It always made me feel so happy. I just loved every inch of it — especially the piano. STILL DO – just as excited hearing it now as I was hearing it back then. I’m always amazed when I hear songs I loved when I was a little kid and hone in on the same reasons I loved the song as a child – knocks me out! This version is the only version I ever care to hear.
OK. 1942. Harold Arlen wrote the tune; Johnny Mercer the lyrics. American songbook royalty. Glenn Miller recorded it first. Many since. Along its way, it won an Academy Award for Best Song (in a movie I know Ive never seen). It’s been covered by Everybody. (This version is my personal favorite), but I suggest to you that this particular song might (possibly) be the Greatest American Song of All Time. … Or if little else certainly in the Top Five. Thoughts?
At the big International convention of Musicians from all over America back in 1988, Sam and his band played nightly for everyone. ..Sam had paid a special tribute to Mr Don Jacoby, a great trumpet player with the CBS Orchestra. I walked up to Sam and thanked him for that tribute..he said Don is the Best! I told him I agreed. In parting I told Sam “I hope you live to be 100 years old” he beamed this great smile down at me I will never forget. He never saw 100 but, what a life he lived..
I loved them both when i was a kid… On the edd sullivan show…. keely was something else.. She did what Cher did to Sonny. Same thing…I never got to meet them… I wouid have loved it…. I think keely is still alive… I live in vegas and i heard their son is doing a little something… Any body know?? Keely u rock………
I am of course speaking of Sam Butera, that great sax man that contributed so much to Prima’s great music success. .All these players including one of the groovinest, swingin drummers ever, teamed up to make such a successful musical interprise..and Keely was icing on the cake! As a kid these guys were such a standout on the radio! and you know the rest of the story.. Sam told us Louis would never fly… always drove to the gigs..
“That Old Black Magic”, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer. While this is Louis Prima’s, unique up-tempo jazz arrangement of the song, the original version was written by Arlen and Mercer, originally recorded by Glenn Miller and his orchestra in 1942 (sung by Skip Nelson and the Modernaires). Keely Smith is great. I like Judy Garland’s version of it, too.
Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic that you weave so well Those icy fingers up and down my spine The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine Same old tingle that I feel inside And then that elevator starts its ride Down and down I go, round and round I go Like a leaf caught in the tide I should stay away but what can I do I hear your name, and I’m a flame Flame, burning desire That only your kiss Put out the fire For your the lover that I’ve waited for Your the mate that fate had me created for And every time your lips meet mine Baby down and down I go, round and round I go In a spin, loving the spin that I’m in Under that old black magic called love Ooh in a spin, lovin the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love In a spin, lovin the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love I should stay away but what can I do I hear your name and I’m a flame Flame, burning desire That only your kiss Put out the fire For your the lover I have waited for Your the mate that fate had me created for And everytime your lips meet mine Baby down and down I go, round and round I go In a spin, loving the spin that I’m in Under that old black magic called love Ah, in a spin, lovin the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love In a spin, lovin the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love (2x)
Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic that you weave so well Those icy fingers up and down my spine The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine Same old tingle that I feel inside And then the elevator starts it ride Down and down I go Round and round I go Like a leaf caught in a tide I should stay away but what can I do I hear your name and I’m a flame Flame, flame of desire That only your kiss (put out the fire) For you’re the lover I have waiting for Your the mate that fate had me created for And every time your lips meet mine Down and down I go Round and round I go In a spin, lovin’ the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love In a spin lovin’ the spin I’m in Under the old black magic called love In a spin lovin’ the spin I’m in…
🏆 El 4 de mayo de 1959, en la primera ceremonia de los GRAMMYs, el matrimonio y dúo musical formado por Louis Prima y Keely Smith, conseguían el premio a ‘Mejor Interpretación Vocal por un Grupo’ por este “That Old Black Magic”. 🎯 La canción fue lanzada como sencillo, siendo la cara B de “I Wish You Love”, y se mantuvo dos meses en el ‘Top 40’ del Billboard. El matrimonio compartió muchos otros éxitos hasta su divorcio en 1961. #classicmonday #bigband
It is very interesting contrast in morals and in beliefs. 1 hour for a Presidental debate, 4 hours of Family Guy. 1 hour of To Catch a Predator, 4 hours of Girls Gone Wild. 1 hour of Senate hearings, 4 hours of Football. We have the televi sion Programming, that the Programmers want us to have. I was just thinking about the movie Idiocracy today, great minds think alike.
We’re sitting in the front row on our honeymoon and there she is, as stiff as can be and the music starts and she ignites and the place is spinning under the spell of Louis and Keely as she soars, ‘KISSS” – cymbols, more Louis and then, out of no where comes Sam Butera and they are doing a conga line down from the stage and into the audience and up we go, YES, THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC” –
i am very sorry for the thumbs down i do like this song but youtube will only let me store 1oo on my liked list and when i put said i liked it a song i liked even better got pushed off my list any advice how to control my list without having to say i dont like a song that i do like would be appreciated