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"Sentimental Journey"
Single by Les Brown and His Band of Renown, featuring Doris Day
B-side"Twilight Time"
Released1945
RecordedNovember 20, 1944
GenreBig Band, Pop
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Les Brown, Ben Homer and Bud Green

"Sentimental Journey" is a popular song published in 1944. The music was written by Les Brown and Ben Homer, and the lyrics were written by Bud Green.

History

Les Brown and His Band of Renown had been performing the song, but were unable to record it because of the 1942–44 musicians' strike. When the strike ended, the band, with Doris Day as vocalist, recorded the song for Columbia Records on November 20, 1944, and they had a hit record with the song, Doris Day's first number one hit, in 1945.[1] The song's release coincided with the end of the Second World War in Europe and became the unofficial homecoming theme for many veterans.[1] The recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36769, with the flip side "Twilight Time".[2] The record first reached the Billboard chart on March 29, 1945, and lasted 23 weeks on the chart, peaking at number one.[3] The song reached the chart after the later-recorded "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time".

Lyrics

The song describes someone about to take a train to a place to which they have a great emotional attachment, and their mounting anticipation while wondering why they ever roamed away. The opening verse is:

Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ ”Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series”. 78discography.com
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940–1955. Record Research.
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