Betty Hutton "Orange Colored Sky" (1950) Written by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein Orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo Released on RCA Victor 20-3908 For lyrics and more Betty Hutton, visit www.satinsandsp...
At the time, DeLugg was also the musical director on NBC's first late-night variety/talk show (more variety than talk}, "BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE". Because of its constant exposure by DeLugg and his group on the program, this became one of the first hit records influenced by television.
The first time I heard this song, it was Betty Hutton singing it in a movie. Don't remember the movie, don't remember details but it was probably the early fifties.
Gaga's version was amazing. It probably sounded badly recorded to you because it wasn't recorded in a studio and didn't have takes or editing processes because she sang it for her THANKSGIVING special.
The "awesome black guys" were the Stan Kenton orchestra -- awesome but not black ......... Nat didn't need them to be a better singer and musician than Betty.
Nat King Cole recorded "Orange Colored Sky" on Capitol Records two days before Betty recorded hers for RCA Victor. However, the song was first given to Betty by songwriter Milton DeLugg, who appears briefly in her film "Let's Dance". Both Betty and Mr. Cole had Top 40 hits with this song.
Hey; whatever it takes to introduce classics to a new generation. Wayne's World made Bohemian Rhapsody a number 1 single AGAIN, and how many 20-somethings had ever heard "Hooked on a Feeling" or "Come and Get Your Love" before they saw Guardians of the Galaxy? There is a lot of music in Fallout that I am familiar with having grown up with my grandma's record collection, but there is also a LOT of stuff in there that I had never heard before playing those games. Anything that broadens one's horizons is a good thing.
I get lots of great song introductions from TV shows and teh google makes figuring out what the song was a snap with Morcheeba's Blood Like Lemonade my most recent 'discovery' thanks to Umbrella Academy.
Willie Stein was a friend. I was to young to know much about who he was. Later in his life he was down on his luck due to producing the first David Letterman daytime show. A few years later he called me up and said Jack I'm back. Natalie Cole used his song Orange Colored Sky on her album Unforgetable. Willie was a real gentleman I was so happy for him. God bless you old friend...
I think the version of DeLugg's orchestra featuring Janet Brace was the first release of this song. But man, Betty sells it BETTER THAN ANYONE... even more than Nat King Cole. What a riot, as it should be...
The Cole version will always be my favorite but there's something about Hutton's vocals here that tickle the ear and make one smile. Thanks for sharing. :)
i just realize this is a song about someone got hit by timber, falling cieling, and then she fell into a hole because the floor colapseXD that's darkXD at least kermit make it funnyXD
I may of heard this song just once before, and I don't know where, when or by who. Anyway I like it, when I think of it, it's called,'LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"! & has it happened to me? not quite. Love didn't hit me in the eye but I now what it feels like to be in love...all the other times I may of tpuched on love, would be just a case of puppy love. I like the song & the orange coloured sky must of been taken @ sunset, perhaps over English Bay in Vancouver....but it didn't or I'm the big O.
Actually, Betty COULD be subtle sometimes. She had too much mental turmoil to be able to do it all the time, though. That got channeled into her comedy.
She certainly set the precedent for the element of surprise with this one. Teresa Brewer followed suit in 1956 with A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl, but even the infallible Tess had her work cut out for her in trying to top the great Professor Hutton with this one. Love it!
I'm not partial to this version, but beyond that I find the instrumental midsection completely out of character with the voice. (It's very competent writing, but very modest in character, as opposed to the voice). I'm wondering if the arranger--at that point-- had any notion of how rough Hutton's version of this tune was going to be . . .
@MisterGagaEmilio Lady Gaga's version is crap and a big letdown after the Tony Bennett duet (not that I care for this one, either; this is very "over the top"). Gaga's version is especially badly recorded; no soundstage and over use of limiter-compressors.
