South of the Border (1939 song)
"South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)" is a popular song describing a trip to Mexico, written by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr and published in 1939 for the film of the same name starring country star Gene Autry.[1]
| "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Gene Autry, Shep Fields | |
| Released | 1939 |
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Kennedy |
| Composer(s) | Michael Carr |
Background
In the lyrics, a man looks back with regret for having left a woman he can't forget. When he returns much later, she is preparing to wed, presumably to either the church or another man. In the movie, however, she has become a nun to atone for her brother's crimes.[2] Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[3]
Recordings
The song was a hit in 1939 for Shep Fields, vocal by Hal Derwin.[4] Other successful recordings in 1939 were by Guy Lombardo, Gene Autry, Ambrose (vocal by Denny Dennis) and Tony Martin.[5]
Other notable recordings
- Frank Sinatra recorded the song on April 30, 1953[6] for Capitol Records and it reached the Billboard charts with a top position of #18 in a 4-week stay.[7]
- Al Bowlly recorded May 11, 1939 (see Al Bowlly discography)
- Acker Bilk – included in the album Clarinet Moods (2002)[8]
- Asleep at the Wheel, with vocals by George Strait, for their 2015 album Still the King - Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys[9]
- Bing Crosby included in his album Bing Crosby's Treasury – The Songs I Love (1965)
- Chris Isaak for his album Baja Sessions (1996)
- Chuck Berry – for the album Chuck Berry (1975) (a few liberties taken with the lyrics)
- Dean Martin for his album Dino Latino (1962)
- Engelbert Humperdinck – for the album The Winding Road (2007)[10]
- Fats Domino included in his album Here He Comes Again! (1963)[11]
- Frankie Laine (1953)[12]
- Gale Storm – issued as a single[13] and also included in the album Gale Storm Sings (1957)[14]
- Gene Merlino – for The Simpsons episode "Kamp Krusty"
- Herb Alpert for his album South of the Border (1964)
- Keely Smith for the album Keely Sings Sinatra (2001)[15]
- Malcolm Vaughan – included in the EP Requests for Malcolm Vaughan (1960)[16]
- Marty Robbins – released in his posthumous collection Under Western Skies, released in 1995.
- Mel Tormé – included in the album ¡Olé Tormé!: Mel Tormé Goes South of the Border with Billy May (1959)
- Patsy Cline – included in her album Showcase (1961)
- Don Mclean – included in his album Prime Time (1977)
- Patti Page – recorded for her album Let's Get Away from It All (1957)[17]
- Perry Como recorded for his album We Get Letters (1957)
- Russ Conway – for his album Piano Requests (1958)[18]
- Sam Cooke – included in his Cooke's Tour album (1960)
- The Shadows – for their album Out of the Shadows (1962)
- Slim Whitman – included in the album In Love the Whitman Way (1968)[19]
- Willie Nelson – for his album What a Wonderful World (1988) and for his album Let's Face the Music and Dance (2013)
References
- Soundtrack: South of the Border (1939). - IMDb.
- Frederick B. Pike, "FDR's Good Neighbor Policy: Sixty Years of Generally Gentle Chaos" (1995), University of Texas Press. P. 198.
- Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 157. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 583. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- "Frank Sinatra Discography". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 394. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (feat. George Strait) on YouTube
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
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