Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Baby It’s Cold Outside

First performed by Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban and Red Skelton & Betty Garrett (Neptune’s Daughter, 1949).
Hit versions by Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark (US #4 1949), Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer (US #4 1949), Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan (US #9 1949), Dean Martin (1959) and Blossom Dearie & Bob Dorough (1979), Dean Martin & Martina McBride (MOR #7/C&W 36 2006).

From the wiki: “Frank Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party, and performed it toward the end of the evening, signifying to guests that it was nearly time to end the party. Lynn considered it ‘their song’ and was furious when Loesser sold the song to MGM. The movie it appeared in, Neptune’s Daughter, featured two performances of the song: one by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams, and the other by Red Skelton and Betty Garrett, the second of which has the roles of ‘wolf and mouse’ reversed. These performances earned Loesser an Academy Award for Best Original Song.”

Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1949):

http://youtu.be/4XTDzgKdHAY

Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1949):

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1949):

Dean Martin, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1959):

Blossom Dearie & Bob Dorough, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1979):

http://youtu.be/dpfe6OtOTF4

Dean Martin & Martina McBridge, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (2006):