South of the Border (1939 song)

Last updated
"South of the Border Down Mexico Way"
Single by Gene Autry
B-side "Gold Mine in Your Heart"
PublishedMarch 30, 1939 (1939-03-30) by Peter Maurice Music Co., Ltd., London [1]
ReleasedOctober 13, 1939 (1939-10-13) [2]
RecordedSeptember 11, 1939 (1939-09-11) [3]
Studio Stevens Hotel, Chicago
Genre Hillbilly, Country & Western
Length2:48
Label Vocalion 5122 [4]
Composer(s) Michael Carr
Lyricist(s) Jimmy Kennedy
Gene Autry singles chronology
"Back in the Saddle Again"
(1939)		"South of the Border Down Mexico Way"
(1939)		"The Merry-Go-Roundup / I'm Beginning To Care"
(1940)
"South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"
Song by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm
B-side "It's All Over Town (We're Thru)"
ReleasedAugust 14, 1939 [5]
RecordedAugust 1, 1939 [6]
Studio New York City, New York
Genre Big Band
Label Bluebird B-10376

"South of the Border Down Mexico Way" is a popular song describing a trip to Mexico, written by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr. It was originally released in 1939, with many versions following, including one for the film of the same name sung by star Gene Autry. [7]

Contents

Background

In the lyrics, a man looks back with regret for having left a woman he can't forget. When he returns much later, she is preparing to wed, presumably to either the church or another man. In the movie, however, she has become a nun to atone for her brother's crimes. [8] Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. [9]

Recordings

The song was a hit in 1939 for Shep Fields, vocal by Hal Derwin, reaching the No.1 spot for five weeks. [10] Other successful recordings in 1939 were by Guy Lombardo, Gene Autry, Ambrose (vocal by Denny Dennis) and Tony Martin. [11]

Other notable recordings

Related Research Articles

"If I Give My Heart to You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Brewster, Jimmie Crane, and Al Jacobs. The most popular versions of the song were recorded by Doris Day and by Denise Lor; both charted in 1954.

"All Alone" is a popular waltz ballad composed by Irving Berlin in 1924. It was interpolated into the Broadway show The Music Box Revue of 1924 where it was sung by Grace Moore and Oscar Shaw. Moore sat at one end of the stage under a tightly focused spotlight, singing it into a telephone, while Oscar Shaw sat at the other, doing the same.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Fine Romance (song)</span> 1936 song composed by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Dorothy Fields; from the 1936 film "Swing Time"

"A Fine Romance" is a popular song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, published in 1936.

"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song published in 1930. It was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. The original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Buddy (song)</span>

"My Buddy" is a popular song with music written by Walter Donaldson, and lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was published in 1922 and early popular versions were by Henry Burr (1922), Ernest Hare (1923) and Ben Bernie.

"The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)" is a popular song composed by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was recorded by Isham Jones' Orchestra on December 21, 1923, at Brunswick Studios in New York City, and published on January 7, 1924. On January 17 in Chicago, Jones recorded another version, with Al Jolson on lead vocals. Both versions made the charts that Spring, with Jolson's peaking at number 2, and Jones' at number 5. Sophie Tucker recorded her version February 1924, released on Okeh 40054.

"Don't Take Your Love from Me" is a popular song written by Henry Nemo and published in 1941. Mildred Bailey first recorded this song in 1940 before publication. It was introduced that year by singer Joan Brooks.

"This Can't Be Love" is a show tune and a popular song from the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse when it was sung by Eddie Albert and Marcy Westcott. The lyrics poke fun at the common depiction of love in popular songs as a host of malignant symptoms, saying, "This can't be love because I feel so well."

"I Had the Craziest Dream" is a popular song which was published in 1942. The music was written by Harry Warren, the lyrics by Mack Gordon.

"It's Easy to Remember " is a popular song written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart.

"Moonlight Becomes You" is a popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was written for the Paramount Pictures release Road to Morocco (1942) and published in 1942 in connection with the film. Vic Schoen wrote the arrangement.

"Street of Dreams" is a song and foxtrot composed in 1932 by Victor Young, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. There were three successful recordings of the song in 1933 by Guy Lombardo, Ben Selvin and Bing Crosby.

"I've Got a Crush on You" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It is unique among Gershwin compositions in that it was used for two different Broadway productions: Treasure Girl (1928), when it was introduced by Clifton Webb and Mary Hay, and Strike Up the Band (1930), when it was sung by Doris Carson and Gordon Smith. It was later included in the tribute musical Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), in which it was sung by Jennifer Laura Thompson. When covered by Frank Sinatra he was a part of Columbia Records.

"Isn't This a Lovely Day?" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire in the scene where his and Ginger Rogers' characters are caught in a gazebo during a rainstorm. The lyric is an example of a song which turns a bad situation into a love song, a common style for Irving Berlin, as in "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee".

"Now It Can Be Told" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1938 film Alexander's Ragtime Band, where it was introduced by Alice Faye and Don Ameche. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1938 but lost out to "Thanks for the Memory".

"Oh, How I Miss You Tonight" is a popular song, published in 1925, written by Benny Davis, Joe Burke, and Mark Fisher. Popular recordings of the song in 1925 were by Ben Selvin, Benson Orchestra of Chicago, Lewis James and Irving Kaufman.

"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is a 1938 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics added by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo and John Redmond. The song became a number one hit for Ellington in 1938. Other hit versions the same year were by Benny Goodman, Connee Boswell, Hot Lips Page, and Mildred Bailey. It was performed as part of The Cotton Club Parade of 1938.

"June in January" is a popular song with music by Ralph Rainger and lyrics by Leo Robin, published in 1934.

"Please Be Kind" is a 1938 American song composed by Saul Chaplin with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. Popular recordings that year were by Mildred Bailey and the Red Norvo Orchestra; Bob Crosby & His Orchestra ; and by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra.

"Paradise" is a 1931 song with music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Gordon Clifford. It was first sung by Pola Negri in RKO Pictures' 1932 film A Woman Commands, and has since been heard in many other films, including a memorable performance by Gloria Grahame, in the 1949 Nicholas Ray film A Woman's Secret.

References

  1. ↑ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1939). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1939 Musical Compositions New Series Vol 34 Pt 3 For the Year 1939. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ↑ 78 Record: Gene Autry - South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) , retrieved 2021-07-31
  3. ↑ Russell, Tony (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 84. ISBN   0195139895.
  4. ↑ "Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography - 5000 series (main sequence)". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. ↑ 78 Record: Shep Fields And His Rippling Rhythm - South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) , retrieved 2021-07-31
  6. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-041153. South of the border (Down Mexico way) / Hal Derwin ; Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  7. ↑ Soundtrack: South of the Border (1939). - IMDb.
  8. ↑ Frederick B. Pike, "FDR's Good Neighbor Policy: Sixty Years of Generally Gentle Chaos" (1995), University of Texas Press. P. 198.
  9. ↑ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  157. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  11. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  583. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  12. ↑ "Frank Sinatra Discography". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  13. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  394. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  14. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  15. ↑ South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (feat. George Strait) on YouTube
  16. ↑ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  21. ↑ "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  22. ↑ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  24. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  25. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  26. ↑ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  27. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  30. ↑ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  31. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  33. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.