I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)

"I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" is a popular song with music by Fred E. Ahlert and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was published in 1928 and originally sung by Aileen Stanley. The song was sung and recorded by Billie Holiday many times, from the mid-1930s onwards. It was sung by Irene Dunne in the movie A Guy Named Joe with Spencer Tracy (MGM, 1943). The song was revived to even greater success in 1944, when the 1940 recording by Harry James (Dick Haymes vocal) was re-released (during the 1942–44 musicians' strike, which prevented recording of new material)^[1] (Billboard #1). The Ink Spots' version featuring lead Tenor Bill Kenny was also popular in 1944, reaching the retail top ten. The song was included in Variety's "10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines" for the week of June 21, 1944.^[2] The song was also included on The Lucky Strike Parade's Top Ten for 1944.^[3] A 1944 Billboard poll found that "I'll Get By" was the third most sold sheet music among GIs stationed in training camps and in Europe.^[4]

Later covers include: The Platters, whose beautiful rendition was never released as a single, but only as part of the 1956 LP The Platters - Volume Two,^[5] as well as within EP releases, as in France.^[6] Connie Francis, whose 1958 recording made #19 on the UK charts, and was covered by Embassy Records singer Maureen Evans; Shirley Bassey's 1961 recording hit #10 on the UK charts. Jack Jones for his 1965 album Dear Heart, Al Hirt on his 1965 album They're Playing Our Song,^[7] and Sun Ra in 1973 and 1977 in his posthumous album Some Blues But Not The Kind That's Blue.

A version was also recorded by Ben Bernie And His Orchestra, which was featured at the end of the Woody Allen film Zelig.

This song was interpreted by Marilyn Monroe during one of her lessons in the Actors Studio. According to some, Monroe's performance caused a member of the audience to cry, which convinced some observers of her acting ability.

The 1973 TV movie "Birds of Prey", starring David Janssen as an aging helicopter pilot chasing airborne criminals, uses Holiday's version of "I'll Get By" to frame the character's reminiscences of his glory days as a World War II aviator.

This song is not to be confused with "I'll Get By," the 1991 hit ballad by Eddie Money.

References

1. Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side B.
2. Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 138. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
3. Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 140. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
4. Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 167. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
5. "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - PLATTERS". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
6. "The Platters - I'll Get By (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
7. "Al (He's The King) Hirt* - They're Playing Our Song (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.