"A Garden in the Rain" is a popular song. The music was composed by Carroll Gibbons, the lyrics by James Dyrenforth. The song was published in 1928. The song was first recorded by Gibbons with the Savoy Hotel Orpheans and vocals by George Metaxa (later spelled: Georges Metaxa), in July 1928. Gibbons took over as bandleader of the Savoy Hotel Orpheans in 1931, and the tune became his Savoy signature.Face the Music and Dance, Savoy Hotel history
In 1942 Garden In The Rain was used as part of the score for the Marlene Dietrich movie Pittsburgh, also played throughout the film's trailer.
Popular recordings The song had two periods of great popularity: in 1929 and in 1952.
In 1929, the biggest hit versions were by Gene Austin, by John McCormack, and by George Olsen's orchestra with a vocal by Fran Frey. All three versions were released by Victor Records.Victor Records in the 21500 to 21999 series In 1952 the most popular version was recorded by The Four Aces. Their recording was released by Decca Records.Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on December 28, 1951, and lasted 7 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 14. The flip side, "Tell Me Why", was an even bigger hit for the Aces, reaching number 2 on the chart. The same recording of "A Garden in the Rain"/"Tell Me Why" was also released in the United Kingdom by Brunswick Records in 1952.Brunswick Records in the 03384 to 04999 series
Other recordings Gene Austin (recorded March 13, 1929, released by Victor Records, with the flip side "Dream Mother", also released by Bluebird Records, with the flip side "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"Bluebird Records in the 7500 to 7999 series) Smith Ballew and his orchestra (recorded April 11, 1929, released by OKeh Records, with the flip side "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling"OKeh 40000 series) Blue Barron and his orchestra (recorded July 15, 1938, released by Bluebird Records, with the flip side "While Others Are Building Castles") Earl Burtnett's Biltmore Trio (recorded April 1, 1929, released by Brunswick Records, with the flip side "Love Me or Leave Me"Brunswick Records in the 4000 to 4499 series) Milton Charles (Organ instrumental, recorded June 11, 1929, released by Columbia Records, with the flip side "Pagan Love Song"Columbia (USA) 1500D to 1999D) Perry Como (with Russ Case's Orchestra) (recorded March 14, 1946,Perry Como discography listing for "A Garden in the Rain" released by RCA Victor Records, with the flip side "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby",RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series re-released with the flip side "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight"RCA Victor Records in the 20-4000 to 20-4999 series) Vic Dana Reached Billboard number 97 on October 25, 1964 (Dolton label) Four Young Men (released 1962 by Dore Records, with the flip side "That Man Paul"45 Discography for Dore Records) Connie Francis (on MGM album, My Thanks to You, released 1959) Jane Froman (recorded September 1946, released by Majestic Records, with the flip side "For You, for Me, for Evermore"Majestic Records in the listed series) Jerry Gray and his orchestra (recorded January 14, 1952, released by Decca Records, with the flip side "Unforgettable" The Harmonians (recorded April 4, 1929, released by Supertone Records, with the flip side "If You Believed in Me"Supertone Records in the listed series) Skitch Henderson (recorded 1946, released by Capitol Records, with the flip side "And So to Bed"Capitol Records in the 100 ro 499 series) Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, on their 1978 Warner Bros. Records album It Happened One Bite Diana Krall (recorded August 26, 1997, released by Impulse! Records on the album Love Scenes) Ray Martin and his orchestra Billy Holt, New York, George Olsen and his orchestra (recorded April 10, 1929, released by Victor Records, with the flip side "Dream Mother") Vincent Richards and his orchestra (recorded May 13, 1929, released by Romeo RecordsRomeo numerical Listing 500 - 1000 and Lincoln Records, both releases with the flip side "In A Great Big Way"Lincoln 3000 - end) Willard Robison (recorded March 15, 1929, released by Columbia Records, with the flip side "Blue Hawaii") Dave Rubinoff and his orchestra (recorded April 10, 1929, released by Brunswick Records, with the flip side "Blue Hawaii") Frank Sinatra (recorded June 12, 1962, released by Reprise Records on the album Frank Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain) The Virginia Creepers (vocal: C. Hale) (recorded May 13, 1929, released by Pathé Records, with the flip side "Old-Fashioned Lady"Pathé Records in the 3655 to 36999 series) Henry Wells and his orchestra (recorded February 27, 1940, released by Decca Records, with the flip side "Home"Decca Records in the 3000 to 3499 series)
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