Star Eyes

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Star Eyes (w.m. Gene De Paul and Don Raye)

According to JazzStandards.com, the song was introduced, by Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly with Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, in the 1943 film I Dood It, also known as By Hook or By Crook. Jazzstandards.com also mentions that O’Connell left the band before a recording could be made and that it was Kitty Kallen who sang with Bob Eberly and the Jimmy Dorsey band on the hit which reached #3 on the Billboard chart that year, but I don’t think this should be taken to suggest that it’s not Helen O’Connell’s voice singing the song on the soundtrack recording.

Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, with vocals by Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell — in the 1943 film I Dood It

Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, vocal by Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen — recorded 7 October 1943

Eberly’s voice, particularly in the beginning and on repetitions of the title phrase, quavers so much that I thought for sure this copy of the recording was defective. However, Kallen’s voice sounds strong and clear throughout, and the same intermittent tremor in Eberly’s voice is present in other Youtube versions of the cut, which leads me to infer that the quaver is an intentional tremolo effect. The effect is not as prominent or prevalent in the soundtrack recording.

David Street and the Sportsmen Quartet — 1944(?); live broadcast transcription from the Sealtest Village Store radio show, according to the provider

Helen O’Connell – The source is not clear, but the use of the front cover of O’Connell’s album Green Eyes (RCA Camden Classics 529, released c.1957) in the video may be indicative.

Carmen McRae — recorded 30 December 1955; released on the 1956 LP Torchy!

Donald Byrd Quintet — recorded in NYC, 29 September 1955 — Donald Byrd (tp), Frank Foster (ts), Hank Jones (p), Paul Chambers (b), Kenny Clarke (ds); issued on the 1956 LP Byrd’s Word

Art Pepper – from Meets The Rhythm Section — recorded in Los Angeles, 19 January 1957

Art Pepper (alto sax)
Red Garland (piano)
Paul Chambers (bass)
Philly Joe Jones (drums)

from the Jazz.com review by Eric Novod:

Art Pepper doesn’t meet “a” rhythm section on this 1957 date – he meets the rhythm section. Best known for their tenure with Miles Davis (with whom they were still working at this time), Garland, Chambers and Jones combined the simple sophistication of Swing Era groups with the prodigious fire of the great bebop bands. [read more]

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Red Rodney – recorded 22 November 1957 — Red Rodney (tp), Ira Sullivan (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Philly Joe Jones (ds)

Anita O’Day – 1958 (?) – A live track, from (I think) the 1958 album Anita O’Day at Mr. Kelly’s, but the album track is shortened here by about 13 seconds. Recorded at Mr. Kelly’s in Chicago.

Anita O’Day – vocals
Joe Masters – piano
John Poole – drums
L.B. Wood – bass

Sonny Stitt – 1959

Richie Kamuca & Bill Holman – 1959 — band includes: Richie Kamuca, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Ed Leddy, Bill Holman, Vince Guaraldi, Monte Budwig, Stan Levey