Ben Oakland

Ben Oakland (September 24, 1907 – August 26, 1979) was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist, most active from the 1920s through the 1940s. He composed mainly for Broadway and vaudeville, though he also worked on several Hollywood scores including for the film My Little Chickadee.

Oakland often composed music only, collaborating with lyricists including Oscar Hammerstein II, Bob Russell, Milton Drake, L. Wolfe Gilbert, and Artie Shaw. Notable compositions include "Java Jive", "I'll Take Romance", and "I'm A Hundred Percent For You".

The two songs that Oakland wrote with Oscar Hammerstein II are "I'll Take Romance" and "A Mist Over the Moon." The latter, which was written for a 1938 picture called The Lady Objects won Hammerstein and Oakland an Oscar nomination. The former, which was written for a 1937 film starring Grace Moore, won no awards but is frequently performed. June Christy sang it, to an arrangement by Pete Rugolo, on the 1954 album Something Cool. Another popular version at that time was sung by Eydie Gorme on her LP Sincerely Yours, to an arrangement by Sid Feller.

He collaborated with Artie Shaw and Milton Drake on the love song "If It's You" introduced by Tony Martin in the 1941 Marx Brothers' picture The Big Store.

"If I Love Again," which has a lyric by Jack Murray, was performed by Anita O'Day on the 1960 album Incomparable! and by Barbra Streisand in the 1975 film Funny Lady. It was written for the 1933 musical, Hold Your Horses.

The Songwriter's Hall of Fame lists Oakland on their notable (non-inducted) songwriters list, for contributions to the American popular song.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 24, 1907 (Brooklyn), Died August 26, 1979 (Beverly Hills)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor 65429 10-in. 3/23/1932 Eis Nova York Almirantes ; Harry Kosarin ; Alda Verona Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-69692 10-in. 6/5/1931 Do the New York Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-69693 10-in. 6/5/1931 Here we are in love Frank Luther ; Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor 79660 10-in. 8/21/1934 Valsa da champagne Francisco Alves Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-81062 10-in. 1/16/1934 If I love again Bob Lawrence ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-81328 10-in. 1/29/1934 The party's over Neil Buckley ; The Chanters ; Don Bestor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-81877 10-in. 3/12/1934 The champagne waltz George Hall ; Hotel Taft Orchestra ; Barry Wells Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-84013 10-in. 8/18/1934 I'm counting on you Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-84975 10-in. 11/13/1934 Let's be thankful George Hall ; Hotel Taft Orchestra ; Loretta Lee Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-85011 10-in. 11/12/1934 Let's be thankful Lee Bennett ; Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-87082 10-in. 1/5/1935 I'm a hundred percent for you Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2); Jazz/dance band (take 3) songwriter  
Victor BS-02138 10-in. 10/13/1936 Where have you been all my life? Richard Himber ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-02139 10-in. 10/13/1936 Twinkle twinkle, little star Stuart Allen ; Richard Himber ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-02193 10-in. 10/22/1936 Where have you been all my life Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-02196 10-in. 10/22/1936 Twinkle, twinkle little star Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-010592 10-in. 6/17/1937 Roses in December Harriet Hilliard ; Ozzie Nelson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-011119 10-in. 6/25/1937 Roses in December Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-017480 10-in. 12/8/1937 I'll take romance Connecticut Yankees ; Gentlemen Songsters ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble composer  
Victor BS-024457 10-in. 8/5/1938 That week in Paris Jeanne D'Arcy ; Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-026253 10-in. 11/14/1938 Everybody's laughing Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-030109 10-in. 11/11/1938 Everybody's laughing Tommy Ryan ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-031896 10-in. 2/8/1939 I promise you Three Reasons ; Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-033764 10-in. 2/25/1939 I promise you Stuart Allen ; Richard Himber Rhythmic Pyramids Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-035033 10-in. 3/15/1939 Y' had it comin' to you Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-035310 10-in. 3/18/1939 Y' had it comin' to you Butch Stone ; Van Alexander Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
(Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oakland, Ben," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105679.

Oakland, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105679.

"Oakland, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105679

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