(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China

"(I'd Love to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China"
Song
Published 1948
Writer Frank Loesser
Recorded by Kay Kyser; Freddy Martin; Benny Goodman, Art Lund; Larry Clinton; Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby; Ella Fitzgerald; Joni James; Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band; Ronnie Dove; Fats Domino; Liza Minnelli; Kay Starr; Emile Ford and the Checkmates; Bette Midler and Barry Manilow
Performed by Miss Piggy, Paul McCartney

"(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China" is a popular song by Frank Loesser, published in 1948.

The song is a well-known pop standard, recorded by many artists, including a duet between Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Joni James, Jimmy Buffett, Fats Domino and Liza Minnelli.

In the UK, the biggest hit version was recorded by Emile Ford and the Checkmates peaking at #3 in the official singles chart.

Bette Midler and Barry Manilow recorded the song for Midler's album Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook (2003).

Miss Piggy performed the song with actor Roger Moore an episode of The Muppet Show.

Paul McCartney sang this song to honor Frank Loesser.

Memorable first verse

The song opens with the memorable first verse:-

I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China
All to myself, alone.
Get you and keep you in my arms evermore,
Leave all your lovers weeping on the far away shore.

Hit recordings

Recorded byReleased bycatalog numberDate first reached the
Billboard magazine
Best Seller chart
weeks on chartpeaknotes
Kay Kyser Vocal: Harry Babbitt & Gloria WoodColumbia Records38301October 15, 194819#2[1] This version was a #1 hit in Australia in 1949 as well.
Freddy Martin and His Orchestra Vocal: Glenn Hughes and The Martin MenRCA Victor Records20-3123October 29, 194817#5[1]
Benny GoodmanCapitol Records15208November 12, 194812#10[1]
Art LundMGM Records10269November 5, 19489#13[1]
Larry ClintonDecca Records24482November 26, 19481#27[1]

Idiom

Frank Loesser's daughter, Susan Loesser, authored a biography of her father, A Most Remarkable Fella (1993), in which she writes:

"I'd like to get you on a slow boat to China" was a well-known phrase among poker players, referring to a person who lost steadily and handsomely. My father turned it into a romantic song, placing the title in the mainstream of catch-phrases in 1947.

The idea being that a "slow boat to China" was the longest trip one could imagine. Loesser moved the phrase to a more romantic setting, yet it eventually entered general parlance to mean anything that takes an extremely long time.[2]

Media

This song is;

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940–1955. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
  2. Loesser, Susan. A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life, A Portrait by His Daughter. Donald I. Fine. 1993.
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