Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)

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In other words, hold my hand
In other words, darling, kiss me

Fly Me to the Moon (Bart Howard) – The song was introduced by Felicia Sanders on the cabaret circuit under the original title “In Other Words.” It was recorded as “Fly Me to Moon” as early as 1956 (Johnny Mathis), though covers under the original title were evidently more frequent than the latter until about 1964. The title was eventually changed officially, though the original is still preferred by some recording artists.

From the WICN.org Song of the Week feature:

When Howard wrote “Fly Me to the Moon” in 1954, he called it “In Other Words,” and that’s how it appeared on early record labels. It wasn’t until Johnny Mathis recorded it in 1956 that “Fly Me to the Moon” appeared on a record label, but the song continued to be known under its original title for a few more years. “In Other Words” quickly achieved popularity with singers. Nancy Wilson recorded it on her 1959 debut for Capitol records and Peggy Lee brought the song to millions of viewers when she performed it on the Ed Sullivan show in 1960. Lee convinced Howard to officially change the song’s name to “Fly Me to the Moon,” and for a while the song was billed as “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” until the original title was all but forgotten. In 1962 Joe Harnell, Peggy Lee’s conductor, recorded an instrumental version, “Fly Me to the Moon – Bossa Nova” that peaked at #14 on the pop singles charts, the highest position the song reached, and won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Kaye Ballard – recorded and released in April 1954 under the title “In Other Words”

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Nancy Wilson –  released, as “In Other Words,” on her 1960 debut album Like in Love, Capitol Records T-1319 (Mono), ST-1319 (Stereo)

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Nat King Cole – from the 1961 album Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays

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Joe Harnell and his Orchestra — originally issued in November 1962 on the single Kapp K-497X, b/w “Harlem Nocturne” — The recording also features as the first track on the 1963 LP Fly Me To The Moon and the Bossa Nova Pops, Kapp KS-3318.

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Roy Haynes Quartet — recorded 16 May 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ —  Roland Kirk (ts, mzo, str, fl) Tommy Flanagan (p) Henry Grimes (b) Roy Haynes (d; released on the album Out of the Afternoon

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Jane Morgan – from her 1962 album on the Kapp label, Love Makes the World Go ‘Round

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Connie Francis — “Portami con te,” featuring an alternating Italian and English lyric — issued in April 1963 on the single (Italy) MGM K 2078, as the B-side of “Malafemmena, and also on the special juke box edition MGM JBK 2078, with the same B-side

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Julie London – featuring a distinctive arrangement by Ernie Freeman; from London’s 1963 album The End of the World

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Patti Page – from her debut LP for Columbia, Say Wonderful Things, released in 1963

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• Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra/Quincy Jones 1964 version

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Doris Day – from the 1965 album Latin for Lovers, recorded 2-9 November 1964

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The Howard Roberts Quartet –  from the 1965 album Goodies

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Astrud Gilberto

from her 1965 LP The Shadow of Your Smile

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“Portami con te,” from the album Astrud Gilberto Canta in Italiano, released in 1968

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Dudley Moore Trio – from the 1966 album The World of Dudley Moore, Vol. 2

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Willie Nelson – from the 2009 LP American Classic 

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Angelina Jordan – on the popular Norwegian television show Senkveld, 21 March 2014