First recorded by the Original Cast of Kismet (1953).
Based in part on “Quartet No. 2 in D Major (II)” by Alexander Borodin.
Hit versions by Peggy Lee (US #30/AUS #9 1953), Georgia Gibbs (B-side US #18 1954), The Kirby Stone Four (US #25 1958), Frank Sinatra (1959), Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967), Deodato (1973).
Also recorded by The Buenos Aires Classical Ensemble (1987).
From the wiki: “‘Baubles, Bangles & Beads’ is from the 1953 musical Kismet, credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest. Like all the music in that show, the melody was based on a work by classical composer Alexander Borodin – in this case the second theme of the second movement of his String Quartet in D Major.
“The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee in 1953, charting in 1954. Another popular cover from 1954 was recorded by Georgia Gibbs, released as the B-side to ‘Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell’. A Kirby Stone Four re-make hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958, peaking at #25, and remains the favorite cover heard on many Adult Standard (MOR) radio stations.
“Frank Sinatra recorded the song twice: in 1959 with the Billy May Orchestra, for the album Come Dance with Me! (which won Grammy awards in 1960 for Album of the Year as well as Best Vocal Performance, Male, while arranger Billy May won the Grammy for Best Arrangement); and again in 1967 with a bossa nova arrangement recorded with guitarist Antonion Carlos Jobim. (Eumir) Deodato recorded an instrumental version for his hit LP, Deodato, in 1973.
“The most curious version mixed the scherzo of Borodin’s ‘String Quartet No. 2’ with a pop arrangement of ‘Baubles, Bangles & Beads’, under the name ‘Borodin, Bangles & Beads’, and arranged by the Argentine Ernesto Acher in 1987 on his album Juegos.”