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"Red Sails in the Sunset" is a popular song.

Published in 1935, its music was written by Hugh Williams (pseudonym for Will Grosz) with lyrics by prolific songwriter Jimmy Kennedy. The song was inspired by the "red sails" of Kitty of Coleraine, a yacht Kennedy often saw off the northern coast of Ireland and by his adopted town Portstewart, a seaside resort in County Londonderry.^[1]

One of the earliest versions recorded was by Guy Lombardo, done on October 11, 1935. This recording was issued by Decca Records as catalog number 585.

The song was revived by Nat King Cole in 1951. This recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1468. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 13, 1951 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #24. ^[2]

Recorded versions

• Louis Armstrong (1936)
• Nat King Cole (1951)
• Bing Crosby (1935)
• Fats Domino (1963)
• Tab Hunter (1957)
• Paul Anka (1958)
• Earl Grant (1962)
• (EP ABC-Paramount 90842 / 25cm 10" ABC-Paramount 1501)
• Jack Jackson (1935)
• Johnny Lee (No. 22 country hit in 1976)
• Guy Lombardo (1935)
• Vera Lynn (1935)^[3]
• Mantovani (1935)
• Tony Martin
• Jimmy Velvit (2001)
• The Platters (1960)
• The Beatles (circa 1962)
• The Three Sounds (1962)
• Al Bowlly acc. by orchestra directed by Ray Noble 1935
• Henry "Red" Allen 11/8/1935 Vocalion 3097
• Dinah Washington (1962)
• Vaughn Monroe (1952)
• Dave Brubeck (1999)
• Leslie (Hutch) Hutchinson (Parlophone R 233 September 1935)
• Anona Winn (Featured with enormous success per sheet music 1935)

The title of the song provides the inspiration for the Red Sails Festival held annually in Portstewart, Northern Ireland. Kennedy wrote the song while staying in Portstewart.

References