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Nancy (with the Laughing Face)

December 01, 2023

"Nancy (with the Laughing Face)" is a song composed in 1942 by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Phil Silvers, called, originally, "Bessie (With The Laughing Face)".[1] It was originally recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1944. Many, perhaps most, people—including, for a time, Sinatra himself—wrongly assume or assumed the song was composed specifically for Sinatra's wife or daughter, each named Nancy; the adjustment in name indeed was inspired by Sinatra's daughter.

Origin edit

Former broadcast executive and music historian Rick Busciglio tells the story of the song's inception as related to him by Van Heusen:

In 1979, I was working with songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen on a TV special with Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope that was never produced. Jimmy told me that one day (circa 1942), he and his lyricist Johnny Burke were working at 20th Century-Fox composing for a film. While Burke was out of their writer's bungalow, Phil Silvers, the comedian, a friend to both, entered and suggested to Jimmy that they write a song for Johnny's wife, Bessie, who was soon to celebrate a birthday. Silvers provided the lyrics, later revised by Van Heusen and Burke. At the party they sang "Bessie ... with the laughing face." It was such a hit that they used it at other female birthday events. When they sang it as "Nancy ... with the laughing face" at little Nancy Sinatra's birthday party, Frank broke down and cried, thinking it had been written especially for his daughter; the trio wisely didn't correct him. Jimmy assigned his royalties to Nancy after Frank recorded it for Columbia in 1944.[2]

Notable recordings edit

In popular culture edit

  • In the Sopranos episode, "Watching Too Much Television," Paulie Gualtieri returns from jail to a big welcome back party at the Bada Bing! club. Following a group toast, Silvio Dante cues up some music and "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)" begins to play. Paulie, lost in emotion for a few moments, finally smiles and says "my song." Bobby Bacala is seen asking Silvio "What the fuck? Why is this his song?"
  • An episode of The Commish entitled "Nancy with the Laughing Face" features a guest character named Nancy who is played by Wendie Malick. It aired in October 1994 as part of the fourth season.
  • In a 1973 episode of Doctor Who, The Green Death, a member of the environmental activists group the Wholeweal community is referred to by its leader Clifford Jones as "Nancy with the Laughing Face" to Jo Grant during her visit to the community's hub, the "Nuthutch".
  • The song was a favorite of President Ronald Reagan (whose wife was named Nancy), with Frank Sinatra singing a rendition entitled "Nancy (with the Reagan Face)" at his first inaugural ball in 1981.[4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ Gilliland, John. (197X). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #14 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  2. ^ Google Books: Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art
  3. ^ "Kurt Elling - Nancy With The Laughing Face". YouTube. 2010-11-22. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  4. ^ "Facts about Ronald Reagan". Ronald Reagan. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  5. ^ Rosenfeld, Megan; McLellan, Joseph (1981-01-20). "Inaugural Gala". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-05.

External links edit

  • Excerpt on YouTube from lecture "Confessions of An Ad Man," by Rick Busciglio telling the story of the creation of the song.

December 01, 2023
nancy, with, laughing, face, song, composed, 1942, jimmy, heusen, with, lyrics, phil, silvers, called, originally, bessie, with, laughing, face, originally, recorded, frank, sinatra, 1944, many, perhaps, most, people, including, time, sinatra, himself, wrongly. Nancy with the Laughing Face is a song composed in 1942 by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Phil Silvers called originally Bessie With The Laughing Face 1 It was originally recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1944 Many perhaps most people including for a time Sinatra himself wrongly assume or assumed the song was composed specifically for Sinatra s wife or daughter each named Nancy the adjustment in name indeed was inspired by Sinatra s daughter Contents 1 Origin 2 Notable recordings 3 In popular culture 4 References 5 External linksOrigin editFormer broadcast executive and music historian Rick Busciglio tells the story of the song s inception as related to him by Van Heusen In 1979 I was working with songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen on a TV special with Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope that was never produced Jimmy told me that one day circa 1942 he and his lyricist Johnny Burke were working at 20th Century Fox composing for a film While Burke was out of their writer s bungalow Phil Silvers the comedian a friend to both entered and suggested to Jimmy that they write a song for Johnny s wife Bessie who was soon to celebrate a birthday Silvers provided the lyrics later revised by Van Heusen and Burke At the party they sang Bessie with the laughing face It was such a hit that they used it at other female birthday events When they sang it as Nancy with the laughing face at little Nancy Sinatra s birthday party Frank broke down and cried thinking it had been written especially for his daughter the trio wisely didn t correct him Jimmy assigned his royalties to Nancy after Frank recorded it for Columbia in 1944 2 Notable recordings editPharoah Sanders William Henderson Stafford James Eccleston W Wainwright Welcome to Love 1991 Cannonball Adderley Bill Evans Percy Heath Connie Kay Know What I Mean 1961 Karrin Allyson Ballads Remembering John Coltrane 2001 Tony Bennett Perfectly Frank 1992 Corry Brokken Voor Nancy 1971 Ray Charles Dedicated To You 1961 John Coltrane Ballads 1962 Kurt Elling Dedicated to You Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman 2009 3 The Fleetwoods Softly 1961 The Four Freshmen Voices in Standards 1996 Four Freshmen And Five Saxes The Four Freshmen and Five Guitars 1998 Grant Green The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark 1962 The Johnny Mann Singers The Songs of Sinatra 1962 Flip Phillips Phillips Head 1975 Frank Sinatra Sinatra s Sinatra 1963 Ben Webster The Warm Moods 1961 Paul Desmond The Paul Desmond Quartet Live 1975 Oscar Peterson Nigerian Marketplace 1981 Mark Tremonti Mark Tremonti sings Sinatra 2022 In popular culture editIn the Sopranos episode Watching Too Much Television Paulie Gualtieri returns from jail to a big welcome back party at the Bada Bing club Following a group toast Silvio Dante cues up some music and Nancy with the Laughing Face begins to play Paulie lost in emotion for a few moments finally smiles and says my song Bobby Bacala is seen asking Silvio What the fuck Why is this his song An episode of The Commish entitled Nancy with the Laughing Face features a guest character named Nancy who is played by Wendie Malick It aired in October 1994 as part of the fourth season In a 1973 episode of Doctor Who The Green Death a member of the environmental activists group the Wholeweal community is referred to by its leader Clifford Jones as Nancy with the Laughing Face to Jo Grant during her visit to the community s hub the Nuthutch The song was a favorite of President Ronald Reagan whose wife was named Nancy with Frank Sinatra singing a rendition entitled Nancy with the Reagan Face at his first inaugural ball in 1981 4 5 References edit Gilliland John 197X Pop Chronicles 1940s Program 14 All Tracks UNT Digital Library Digital library unt edu Retrieved 2021 01 26 Google Books Sinatra The Song Is You A Singer s Art Kurt Elling Nancy With The Laughing Face YouTube 2010 11 22 Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 Retrieved 2021 01 26 Facts about Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Retrieved 2022 07 05 Rosenfeld Megan McLellan Joseph 1981 01 20 Inaugural Gala Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2022 07 05 External links editExcerpt on YouTube from lecture Confessions of An Ad Man by Rick Busciglio telling the story of the creation of the song Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nancy with the Laughing Face amp oldid 1179396739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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