Irving Kaufman - Blue Skies (1927)

BLUE SKIES
Words and music by Irving Berlin
Performed by Irving Kaufman
with unidentified piano and guitar accompaniment
Recorded January 6, 1927
Banner 1932
"Blue Skies" was introduced by vaudeville star, Belle Baker, in the Broadway show "Betsy," a Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical. In December of 1926, just before the show opened on Broadway, Baker was unhappy with the musical score because it didn't have any songs that she felt were suitable for her dynamic voice. She called her friend, Irving Berlin, who offered her a new tune he had not quite finished and together they completed the song the night before the show opened. "Betsy" opened at the New Amsterdam Theater on Broadway December 28, 1926. It ran for 39 performances. Florenz Ziegfeld, the producer, allowed "Blue Skies" it to be sung in the second act, but Rodgers and Hart were not aware that it had been included and they were understandably upset. The song was a big success and she had to sing 24 encores. "Betsy" was a flop and closed after 39 performances, but "Blue Skies" became an immediate hit.
Irving Kaufman's recording was made just nine days later (January 6, 1927) and it is one of the first recordings made of this song. By the end of February 1927, the song had also been recorded by Ben Selvin's Knickerbockers, Vincent Lopez, Adrian Schubert, George Olsen, Sam Lanin, Arthur Fields, Bob Haring, and Jesse Crawford. Al Jolson sang it in "The Jazz Singer" (1927) and again in "The Jolson Story" (1946) where he dubbed it for Larry Parks. It was sung by Eddie Cantor in "Glorifying the American Girl" (1929). by Ethel Merman and Alice Faye in "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (1938) and by Bing Crosby in "Blue Skies" (1946) and "White Christmas" (1954).
Blue Skies, by Irving Berlin
(verse)
I was blue, just as blue as I could be
Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore
(chorus)
Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see
Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly
Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on

[@doubletappinhillbilly]

Thank you for your efforts here to keep the Greats alive. God bless you, your family & friends 👍!

[@peachmelba16]

Happy 127th Birthday Irving Berlin...thank God for you and your music..

[@graceyjewels7148]

Amen!

[@stankuiperi]

It's 2021..and this song still lives on, as relevant as the first day. Thank you to those who have walked before!

[@bobpourri9647]

Ha! I was looking for a version of "Blue Skies" with a verse...I knew there had to be one. So many verses from old tunes have been lost to time. Great!

[@RedHotSerenaders]

This is Roy Smeck on hawaiian guitar! Beautiful version!

[@bsgs98]

Thanks for the identification of the guitarist.

[@RedHotSerenaders]

And the other guitarist sounds like Eddie Lang to me.

[@greengretsch]

​@@RedHotSerenaders - It sure does sound A LOT like Lang! His chording, along with his bass and lead runs are very distinct. I think it's him.

[@MultiMartiniman]

Mr. Kaufman does so well with this great version!! Wonderful!

[@ThomasGriffin-ps8mh]

The Greatest vocalist (or American singer of song) EVER!!! PERIOD!!! I collect his records. If you don't like one, he will do one that makes your jaw drop !!! It is said he could have sung opera if he wanted to and many of his records he proves that ability on ballad numbers!!! Nothing like him, PERIOD!!!

[@peterpowis4145]

such fond memories of this song - reminds me of my gran - she was always singing songs like this!!

[@janettewalker3991]

Great version ,love the blue birds enjoying blue skies.

[@cress5508]

The Song of America and the 20th Century. Amen, Mr. Berlin!

[@luismantaras6460]

Nice! That hawaian style guitar was delightful for a vocal selection! Berlin was a master for combining minor chorss with happy songs. And besides he wrote the lyrics of his own songs. Only he and Cole Porter coul do that.

[@mini1gerbel]

was it in the PBS class about the crash of 1929. Yeah, I heard it in song too. Im pretty happy all the time in life, I think thats why I like this song

[@theearthenstar1355]

Me tooo!

[@mini1gerbel]

@@theearthenstar1355 it be like that bruh 💘😇❤️💞🥰🫣

[@mini1gerbel]

finally, I found the good version of this song

[@mcsnuggie]

I agree with the past Blue steel

[@MrCodlin]

I like this one too, but my favorite is the King Singers version - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHOnfYWAnJyUhqc

[@rydercorey3629]

If you have listened to Ella Fitzgeralds' version then the statement "this is the good version" is crazy.

[@rydercorey3629]

@@Billy219 ooh gonna check that out

[@lynettekomidar2819]

For sure!!

[@mainaccount131]

Super excellent with very good interesting photos

[@peachmelba16]

an everlasting tune...never leaves..

[@pjstrainis]

Im singing this in choir. Its such a lovely song

[@jeffconn722]

I just found some old albums here at my family farm home. Most are from 1905 but there is one from 1921 of this man. So i am here listening to his music to find out what it sounds like. Yes we have a record player but i dont want to mess them up somhow.

[@RatedR4Raider]

I love this

[@thenamelesschibi3509]

Ironic how the Great Depression came not to many years after this song.

[@theearthenstar1355]

The definitive version for me personally

[@jameszangrilli4125]

What a little Joy this is!

[@pauldejong9371]

Every cover of this version should be outlawed. This is the best one.

[@gertsy2000]

Never saw the sun, shining so bright.

[@advisorsandy2068]

Wow

[@user-fk6vj9fm8d]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[@zapdunga12]

The only version that includes the intro

[@Chubearishere]

I'll be playing this all day long when the next great depression (The Mammoth Depression) hits our shores while people are running around like chickens with their heads chopped off. ... great tune though

[@KmanAuto]

So have you been playing it throughout 2020?

[@dicksilk]

This was the last song sung by Data in the Star Trek TNG series, when he destroyed the enemy ship in "NEMESIS."

[@HarborGuy]

Sure to cheer you up on a "Blue" day.

[@bsgs98]

Nice guitar in introduction and chorus at 1:08! I was thinking it could be Eddie Lang, or Nick Lucas. Any other ideas?

[@UkesterBrown]

'nuther nice one Bill-

[@lillymccaulldancer8653]

this is ma jam

[@larslarsen2850]

R.I.P Mr. Data....

[@jmm1233]

that guitar riff at 1:44 to 1:48 heard that some where else before but can't quite remember

[@ayanoaishi1532]

jmm1233 it's honestly sounds like a spongbob riff

[@Steinhueterin]

Why R.I.P.? He is still alive!

[@DavidBadilloMusic]

I hear "Stairway to Heaven" in that chorus... haha

[@papaaaron7058]

David Badillo it's beauty of blues but some so called morons say zeppelin stole it from spirit

[@bsgs98]

David, check this out: www.premierguitar.com/articles/29116-the-stairway-progression

[@yorkshirepianist8407]

There's nothing quite like a descending chromatic progression from the 1920's to evoke the spirit of Led Zeppelin.

[@benjamindavid5681]

Is this the first pubic recording of this great Irving Berlin tune?

[@bsgs98]

This is one of first recordings of "Blue Skies", although within days it was recorded by other artists. The very first recording was about two weeks earlier.

[@l8tbloomer]

can't find this on itunes. The new search is designed to restrict you to current pop drivel.

[@licxusxu9016]

Star trek

[@StephenAKatz]

Wny do you move the camera closer to the still photos? It's such a stupid and annoying thing to do. Why don't you just show the still photograph?

[@lavinia9784]

Bulantı da bir blue sky vardı ama bu mu emin olamadım

[@caroltenge5147]

sure sounds like Harri Richman

[@thatguyxy]

where can I find the slower version?

[@bsgs98]

TheGuy Try this one... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5bUfWdmmK6Ef5o

[@thatguyxy]

***** thanks, but I m searching for one with the male singer

[@bsgs98]

Try: (1) Al Bowlly, (2) Whispering Jack Smith, or (3) Harry Richman. They are all on youtube.

[@codex3048]

Original version?

[@elkieeann]

The melody is adapted from an old Jewish lullaby.

[@adamfalk92]

definitely nick lucas on the guitar

[@bsgs98]

Adam Falk Thanks for that suggestion. With the Hawaiian steel guitar I thought it might be Andy Sannella.

[@adamfalk92]

No prob, Not sure about the hawaiin though

[@zapdunga12]

Yep, two Jewish Irvings... Berlin and Kaufman

[@adriannaslone8902]

ew

[@tabutu1]

This Vogue Italia video uses this song to great effect. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIXaaqqeo5WsppY