The Evolution of "That Old Black Magic" Song: From Jazz to Pop

"That Old Black Magic" is a classic song that was written in 1942 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It has since become a popular jazz standard and has been recorded by numerous artists over the years. The song is characterized by its catchy melody and enchanting lyrics that revolve around the theme of being under someone's spell. It evokes imagery of magic and the supernatural, with references to witches, voodoo, and the power of love. The lyrics describe the effects of this "old black magic" on the singer, as they are unable to resist the charms of their love interest. The song has been performed in various styles, including jazz, swing, and pop.

Weezer's "Undone - The Sweater Song" was written as a sad song about depression, but listeners heard it as a funny, ironic song.

The combination of Keely, Louis and Sam Butera and the Witnesses backing them became the hit of late night Las Vegas where their Sahara Hotel shows-- dubbed the wildest -- became the basis of several albums with that name in the title. For further information on Cafe Songbook policies with regard to the above matters, see our About Cafe Songbook page link at top and bottom of every page.

The song has been performed in various styles, including jazz, swing, and pop. It has been covered by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, and Sammy Davis Jr., among others.

That Old Black Magic

"I played the melody for John. He went away." Mercer took seventy-two bars of music with him and when he returned, he had a song entitled "That Old Black Magic." [some accounts suggest Mercer took those seventy-two bars with him in his head only, having a fantastic retentiveness for music.]

I've always loved Porter--those early songs of his were so clever, and later on his melodies became so rich and full. Anyway that thing about voodoo must have stuck with me, because I paraphrased it in "Old Black Magic" (Wilk, p. 151, soft cover revised edition) .

After we got a script and the spots for the songs were blocked out, we'd get together for an hour or so every day. While Johnny made himself comfortable on the couch, I'd play the tunes for him. He has a wonderfully retentive memory. After I would finish playing the songs, he'd just go away without a comment. I wouldn't hear from him for a couple of weeks, then he'd come around with the completed lyrics (Furia, Skylark, p. 129) .

It sounds as if the words are . . . taking their time, and . . . the melodist is just supplying notes to accommodate Mercer's long-winded poem. But if you separate the elements, you'll see that Johnny is the one who's vamping, virtually ad-libbing extra lines, and the tunesmith is the one writing the poem and providing the continuity and momentum (Sheed, pp. 87-88, hard cover ed.) .

For you're the lover I have waited for,
The mate fate had me created for.

The exquisite multisyllabic end rhymes ("waited for / created for") reinforce the internal rhyme of "mate" and "fate" and lead to the kiss that captures the lover's heart. It is that rare song that conveys all the romantic enchantment of falling passionately in love at the same time that it hints at the tyrannical nature of Eros" (Lehman, p. 87) .

So The Kid got the best kind of coaching, and then I was brought into the studio. It took maybe an hour and a half to set up the mechanics. And there were a few decisions to be made: Put The Kid into an isolation booth. Get her away from the band. Get her a little closer. Now let's go for a take. We did it in three . . . I got seventy -five dollars a side, and no royalties. But I did get split billing with the band. Because Capitol was Johnny's company, this record came out immediately before "My Ideal" [which she had already recorded with Billy Butterfield]. I was not prepared for my reaction. The first time I heard the record was on the radio. Al Jarvis was the big disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time. I heard him talking with Artie Shaw, who was a guest on his program, about the new Arlen-Mercer song, which he proceeded to play. And then I heard my own voice, and I thought with horror, What have they done to the record? I don't sound like that. They've speeded it up. No, they've slowed it down. What is that phrasing? I never phrased that way. That's not my voice And then I thought with even more horror, Oh yes it is. That is your voice and it sounds terrible. My response was immediate. I dashed into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. The record was over and Artie Shaw began to speak. He could be ruthless, although accurate, in his criticism. I heard him say words like "an instant standard--a great record . . ." And when I heard that, I lifted my face from the toilet bowl and thought, Well, maybe. Then the phone rang and it was Paul Weston, calling to congratulate me. "Is that how I sound?" I wailed. "I think it's terrible!" "Yes, that's how you sound," Paul said,, "and you're crazy. It's great."

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Credits

• Carmen McRae: vladimirsmartins
• Johnny Johnston: hozkarinn007
• Marilyn Monroe: graziadebora
• Louis Prima and Keely Smith: Michael Koreli
• Frank Sinatra (1943 radio): Jamesmac30
• Frank Sinatra 1961: Sinatra Fan and paraphrased text are cited. Such content is used under the rules of fair use to further the educational objectives of CafeSongbook.com. CafeSongbook.com makes no claims to rights of any kind in this content or the sources from which it comes.

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The Cafe Songbook
Record/Video Cabinet:
Selected Recordings of

"That Old Black Magic"

(All Record/Video Cabinet entries below
include a music-video
of this page's featured song.
The year given is for when the studio
track was originally laid down
or when the live performance was given.)

• Johnny Johnston (1942)*
• Margaret Whiting (1942-43)
• Glenn Miller (1942)*
• Frank Sinatra (1946*, 1961*)
• Billy Daniels (1947, 1951)*
• Marilyn Monroe (1956)
• Sarah Vaughan (1957)
• Louis Prima and Keely Smith (1958)*
• Ella Fitzgerald (1958)*
• Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett (1962)*
• Carmen McRae (1986)*
• Nancy Lamott (1992)
• Roberta Gambarini (2009)

1942
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
(vocal by Skip Nelson and The Modernaires)
album: Greatest Hits

same track as on album referenced above

1942
Margaret Whiting
(with the Freddie Slack Orchestra)
album: Capitol Collectors Series

same track as on album referenced above

Notes: Although the track of "That Old Black Magic" on this album was originally released in February of 1943, the recording was made on July 31, 1942. For Whiting's acount of the making of the recording and the recording itself, see below.

1946/1961
Frank Sinatra

1946
album: The Best of the Columbia Years
1943-1952

1961
album: Come Swing with Me

Notes: Sinatra recorded "That Old Black Magic" twice, the 1946 Columbia version on the first album above arranged by Axel Stordahl; and the 1961 Capitol studio recording arranged by Heinie Beau with orchestra conducted by Billy May for the 1961 album Come Swing With Me . (During this same year, Sinatra, who was enamored of the new President Kennedy, sometimes changed the lyric when singing it live to "That old Jack magic" -- but not on the album. See Will Friedwald, Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art , p. 307, hardcover Ed. ).
Video 1: Sinatra sings "That Old Black Magic" on the radio, New Years Eve 1943, the year after the song was introduced in the wartime movie Star Spangled Rhythm, but three years before he recorded "That Old Black Magic" for Columbia. This is, as he tells us, like his later Columbia recording of the song, an Axel Stordahl arrangement. It's interesting to note that his characteristic habit of crediting the songwriters and arrangers of the songs he sings dates as far back as this. (He closes his show "Songs by Sinatra" with its theme, "Put Your Dreams Away."

1947, 1951
Billy Daniels
album: Around Midnight

same track as on album referenced above

1957
Sarah Vaughan
album: Sarah Vaughan

same track as on album referenced above

1958
Louis Prima and Keely Smith
with Sam Butera (on tenor sax) and The Witnesses
album: Keely Smith
The Essential Capitol Collection

same track as on album referenced above

1958
Ella Fitzgerald
albums: Ella in Rome --
The Birthday Concert

same track as on album referenced above

1962
Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett
album: Bennett and Brubeck The White House Sessions

same track as on album referenced above

1992
Nancy LaMott
Album: Come Rain or Come Shine

same track as on album referenced above

Notes: "As an interpreter, Nancy LaMott shunned extremes . . . . And so her tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer typically avoids emotional extremes, exploring instead subtle in-betweens . . . . She basically engages in duets with carefully selected instruments (an acoustic guitar and a stand-up bass, respectively)" --Elisabeth Vincentelli, Amazon Editorial reviewer.

2009
Roberta Gambarini
album: So In Love

same track as on album referenced above

Notes: It seems incredible that Roberta Gambarini didn't win the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition but she was new to the U. S., having just arrived from her native Italy. But with each new release, she has demonstrated that she is easily the most accomplished vocalist of the competitors for the prize. Pianist Hank Jones, who knows a thing or two about great singers, refers to her as the "greatest vocalist to come along in the past 60 years." On 2009's SO IN LOVE, with a rhythm section rotating among three talented up-and-coming pianists (Tamir Hendeman, Eric Gunnison, and Gerald Clayton), Gambarini works her magic with familiar standards and a few unexpected choices. She has a love of Cole Porter's songs, opening with a touching, richly textured version of the title song. She also restores the oft-omitted verse to "Get Out of Town," then delivers a driving rendition that shows off her gift for interpreting a song that has likely been recorded by all jazz vocal greats before her, accentuated this time by the soft tenor sax of James Moody. Gambarini is also comfortable looking outside of jazz for material, adapting Willie Nelson's "Crazy," with subtle trumpet added by Roy Hargrove. She has equal success with a medley of Beatles songs, including a moving "Golden Slumbers" that segues into a breezy "Here, There and Everywhere." (from CDUniverse.com Product Description)

© 2009-2018 by CafeSongbook.com -- All Rights Reserved

That Old Black Magic is a english song from the album Pure Jazz, Vol. 1.

Each rendition brings a unique interpretation to the song, showcasing the versatility and timelessness of "That Old Black Magic." The success and enduring popularity of "That Old Black Magic" can be attributed to its captivating melody and relatable theme. The song captures the universal experience of falling under someone's spell and being unable to resist their allure. Its timeless appeal has ensured that it remains a beloved song to this day, continuing to be performed and enjoyed by audiences worldwide. Whether it's in a smoky jazz club or playing on the radio, "That Old Black Magic" continues to cast its spell on listeners, just as it did when it was first written over seven decades ago..

Reviews for "Capturing the Essence of "That Old Black Magic" in Film Soundtracks"

1. Samantha - 1/5 stars

I really did not enjoy "That old black magic song." The melody was monotonous and repetitive, and the lyrics were quite cliché. It felt like I was listening to the same line over and over again. Additionally, the vocals lacked emotion and seemed flat throughout the entire song. Overall, I found it to be a derivative and unoriginal piece of music that failed to captivate my interest.

2. Michael - 2/5 stars

I have to admit, I was disappointed with "That old black magic song." The instrumental arrangement seemed overly simplistic, and the production quality fell short. The vocals were decent, but they lacked the power and intensity needed to bring the song to life. The lyrics didn't offer anything new or thought-provoking either. In the end, it felt like a forgettable track that didn't leave any lasting impression.

3. Emily - 2/5 stars

"That old black magic song" just didn't resonate with me. The melody felt uninspired and lacked originality. The lyrics also came across as generic and formulaic, failing to make a lasting impact. Additionally, the overall composition felt disjointed and lacked cohesion. It's unfortunate because I had high hopes for this song, but it ultimately fell flat for me.

4. Jason - 1/5 stars

I found "That old black magic song" to be extremely boring and unremarkable. The repetitive nature of the melody quickly became tiresome, and the lackluster vocals did not help either. The lyrics were uninspiring and failed to convey any depth or emotion. Overall, it was a forgettable song that I wouldn't recommend to others looking for an engaging musical experience.

The Influence of "That Old Black Magic" on Contemporary Music