Whispering Grass
"Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees)" is a popular song written by Fred Fisher and his daughter Doris Fisher.[1] The song was first recorded by Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra in 1940.[2] The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny also recorded it the same year.[3] A live instrumental version was played and recorded by Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington and his orchestra in the Cristal Ballroom, Fargo, North Dakota, also in 1940.
| "Whispering Grass" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Songwriter(s) | Fred Fisher, Doris Fisher |
"Whispering Grass" was a 1975 UK number-one single by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle.[4] Davies and Estelle were actors in the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum. It was number one in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks from 7 June 1975.[4] The record is a comic version of The Ink Spots' 1940 recording, and was sung in character. This version of the song also peaked at number 59 in Australia.[5]
The notion of Whispering Grass extends back to Greek mythology, notably the myth of Midas.
Other versions
The song was also recorded by:
- Kay Starr on her 1962 album I Cry By Night.[6]
- Ringo Starr on his 1970 album Sentimental Journey.[7]
- Sandy Denny on her 1974 album Like an Old Fashioned Waltz.[8]
- The Skatalites, as 'Whispering Dub' on their Herb Dub Collie Dub album first issued in 1976, re-issued in 2001.[9]
- Clifford Jordan on his 1985 album The Rotterdam Session[10]
- Heidi Talbot on her 2008 album In Love + Light.[11]
- Kat Edmonson on her 2012 album Way Down Low.[12]
References
- "Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees) - The Ink Spots | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- "Coleman Hawkins with Erskine Hawkins and Their Orchestras - Coleman Hawkins | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- "Ink Spots* - Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees) / Maybe (Shellac)". Discogs.com. 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 187. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 83. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "I Cry By Night - Kay Starr | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- Miles, Barry (1998). The Beatles a Diary: An Intimate Day by Day History. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780711963153.
- Brett Hartenbach. "Like an Old Fashioned Waltz - Sandy Denny | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- "The Skatalites - Herb Dub - Collie Dub (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- "Clifford Jordan Catalog". jazzdisco.org. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- "IN LOVE AND LIGHT". Navigator Records. Archived from the original on 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Way Down Low - Kat Edmonson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.