Day's film career began during the latter part of the Classical Hollywood Film era with the 1948 film Romance on the High Seas, and its success sparked her twenty-year career as a motion picture actress. She starred in a series of successful films, including musicals, comedies, and dramas. She played the title role in Calamity Jane (1953), and starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) with James Stewart. Her most successful films were the bedroom comedies she made co-starring Rock Hudson and James Garner, such as Pillow Talk (1959) and Move Over, Darling (1963), respectively. She also co-starred in films with such leading men as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, David Niven, and Rod Taylor. After her final film in 1968, she went on to star in the CBS sitcom The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
Day was usually one of the top ten singers between 1951 and 1966. As an actress, she became the biggest female film star in the early 1960s, and ranked sixth among the box office performers by 2012. In 2011, she released her 29th studio album, My Heart, which became a UK Top 10 album featuring new material. Among her awards, Day has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 1960, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and in 1989 was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush followed in 2011 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award. She was one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Her death was announced by her charity, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, on Monday 13th May 2019.
Discography
chart hits
Year Title Chart Positions
US CB UK
1945 "Sentimental Journey" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"'Tain't Me" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"Till the End of Time" (w/ Les Brown) 3 — —
"Aren't You Glad You're You?" (w/ Les Brown) 11 — —
"Come to Baby Do" (w/ Les Brown) / 13 — —
1946 "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)" (w/ Les Brown) 4 — —
"Day by Day" (w/ Les Brown) 15 — —
"I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night)" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"The Whole World Is Singing My Song" (w/ Les Brown) 6 — —
1947 "The Christmas Song" (w/ Les Brown) 12 — —
"Sooner or Later" (w/ Les Brown) 13 — —
"Papa, Won't You Dance With Me" 21 — —
1948 "Thoughtless" (w/ Modernaires) 24 — —
"Love Somebody" (w/ Buddy Clark) / 1 — —
"Confess" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" / 27 — —
"It's Magic" 2 — —
"My Darling, My Darling" (w/ Buddy Clark) 7 — —
1949 "Powder Your Face with Sunshine" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Again" 2 — —
"Everywhere You Go" 22 — —
"Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" (w/ Frank Sinatra) 17 — —
"Now That I Need You" 20 — —
"Canadian Capers" 15 — —
"Bluebird on Your Windowsill" 19 — —
1950 "Quicksilver" 20 — —
"I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Prayers)" 21 — —
"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)" 24 — —
"Hoop-Dee-Doo" 17 — —
"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" 9 — —
"I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell" 19 — —
"A Bushel and a Peck" 16 — —
1951 "It's a Lovely Day Today" 30 — —
"Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)" 10 — —
"Shanghai" 7 — —
"Domino" 21 — —
1952 "A Guy Is a Guy" 1 — —
"Sugarbush" (w/ Frankie Laine) 7 12 8
"When I Fall in Love" 20 — —
"No Two People" (w/ Donald O'Connor) 25 — —
"My Love and Devotion" — 31 10
"The Cherries" — 39 —
"A Full Time Job" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 20 21 11
"Ma Says, Pa Says" (w/ Johnnie Ray) 23 28 12
1953 "Mister Tap Toe" 10 11 —
"When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" 29 — —
"Candy Lips" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 17 18 —
"Let's Walk That-a-Way" (w/ Johnnie Ray) — 31 4
"Kiss Me Again, Stranger" / 30 — —
"A Purple Cow" 25 — —
"Choo Choo Train (Ch-Ch-Foo) 20 — —
1954 "Secret Love" 1 1 1
"The Black Hills of Dakota" — — 7
"Lost in Loveliness" — 25 —
"I Speak to the Stars" 16 17 —
"Someone Else's Roses" — 32 —
"If I Give My Heart to You" / 3 2 4
"Anyone Can Fall in Love" 27 41 —
"Ready, Willing, and Able" / — 31 7
"Hold Me in Your Arms" — 39 —
1955 "Foolishly Yours" — 25 —
"Love Me Or Leave Me" — — 20
"I'll Never Stop Loving You" 13 14 17
"Ooh Bang Jiggily Jang" 83 — —
1956 "Let It Ring" 51 — —
"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" 2 3 1
"Julie" / 64 40 —
"Love in a Home" 79 — —
"The Party's Over" 63 47 —
1957 "Twelve O'Clock Tonight" 68 — —
1958 "Teacher's Pet" 56 36 —
"A Very Precious Love" — — 16
"Everybody Loves a Lover" 6 6 25
"Tunnel of Love" 43 53 —
1959 "Love Me in the Daytime" 100 51 —
1960 "Any Way the Wind Blows" 50 109 —
"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" 102 102 —
"A Perfect Understanding" 111 — —
1962 "Lover Come Back" 98 — —
1964 "Move Over Darling" — — 8
"Send Me No Flowers" 135 — —
1967 "Sorry" * — — —
* "Sorry" made the US AC charts at #19.
Albums
10" LP
You're My Thrill (1949)
Young Man with a Horn (1950, soundtrack with Harry James)
Tea for Two (1950, soundtrack)
Lullaby of Broadway (1951, soundtrack)
On Moonlight Bay (1951, soundtrack)
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951, soundtrack)
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953, soundtrack)
Calamity Jane (1953, soundtrack)
Young at Heart (1954, soundtrack with Frank Sinatra)
12" LPs
Love Me or Leave Me (1955, soundtrack)
Day Dreams (1955, expanded re-issue of You're My Thrill)
Day By Day (1956)
The Pajama Game (1957, soundtrack)
Day by Night (1957)
Hooray for Hollywood (2 volumes, 1958)
Cuttin' Capers (1959)
What Every Girl Should Know (1960)
Show Time (1960)
Listen to Day (1960)
Bright and Shiny (1961)
I Have Dreamed (1961)
Duet (with André Previn, 1962)
You'll Never Walk Alone (1962)
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, soundtrack with film cast)
Annie Get Your Gun (1963, with Robert Goulet)
Love Him (1963)
The Doris Day Christmas Album (1964)
With a Smile and a Song (1964)
Latin for Lovers (1965)
Doris Day's Sentimental Journey (1965)
The Love Album (recorded in 1967, released in 1994)
My Heart (2011)
Singles
Hit records:
(with Les Brown's Band of Renown)
"Sentimental Journey"
5,000,000+ sales
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time"
1,000,000+ sales
(As a solo performer)
"It's Magic"
1,000,000+ sales
"Again"
"Love Somebody" (duet with Buddy Clark)
1,000,000+ sales
"Confess" (duet with Buddy Clark) (also done by Patti Page)
"Bewitched"
1,000,000+ sales
"Shanghai"
"Sugarbush" (duet with Frankie Laine)
1,000,000+ sales
"Mister Tap Toe"
"Secret Love"
1,000,000+ sales
"If I Give My Heart to You" (also done by Denise Lor)
"I'll Never Stop Loving You"
1,000,000+ sales
"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" ("Que Sera, Sera")
1,000,000+ sales
"Everybody Loves a Lover"
"Move Over Darling"
Canadian Capers
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's something new for the music stand;
It's on the way, but before we start
A-cuttin' capers around your heart.
You're gonna cheer when you hear this band,
There's never been a better crew;
And when you hear the drummer,
Lawdy, how the joint'll hum,
You'll never kick about or pick a quarr'l
With Mister Krupa or with Frankie Carle;
You'll never dig a list of bigger names,
A-cuttin' capers with Harry James.
With Benny Goodman and his clarinet,
And Tommy Dorseys in it, too.
Alvino Rey will star,
A walkin' talkin' steel guitar,
A-cuttin' capers just for you.
Listen to that tenor saxophone!
Never heard it played with such a tone!
And when you get that lic'rish stick
Out in the woodshed, son.
Why it's Papa Benny Goodman
And he's showin' ya quick,
How the proper lic'rish stickin's done!
Tood-da-root-toot, to-du-du-du.
Listen to that fiddle player slap, slap, slap;
Boy, he plays it, he really lays it, in your lap, lap, lap!
(Say,) I'll bet before they're through
You'll be cut-you-you-you-you-tin' capers, too.
Cuttin' capers 'cause I'm out with you,
Nothin' else that I'm about to do;
My heart begins to flutter like a dove,
I even stutter, (guess it's love!)
I'm cuttin' capers so you'll notice me,
When we're together, can't you see?
I'm only blowin' off, A-talkin' big and showin' off,
A-cuttin capers 'cause it's true,
Ple-ee-oo-du-du-du-du-du;
Baby, I'm in love, (Baby I'm in love)
Baby, I'm in love with, (Baby, I'm in love with,)
Baby, I'm in love with you!
Doris Day's Canadian Capers is a joyful and playful tune that exults in the excitement of an all-star band. The singer describes how this group of exceptional musicians will get the joint jumping and cutting capers around your heart. The lyrics mention some of the most iconic names of the swing and big band era, like Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Gene Krupa. The song revels in the virtuosity of the soloists and the crispness of the whole band, with particular emphasis on the tenor saxophone and the fiddle.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you call for an all-star band,
I heard you request a group of extremely talented musicians
It's something new for the music stand;
This is an innovative idea for the music industry
It's on the way, but before we start
The band is coming, but first we must take care of something else
A-cuttin' capers around your heart.
We will make you fall in love with our music
You're gonna cheer when you hear this band,
You will become elated when you listen to this group
There's never been a better crew;
This is the best band ever assembled
And when you hear the drummer,
When the drummer plays, you will be amazed
Lawdy, how the joint'll hum,
The atmosphere will be electric
A-cuttin' capers just for you.
We play music to captivate your heart
You'll never kick about or pick a quarr'l
You'll never complain or argue
With Mister Krupa or with Frankie Carle;
You will not dispute with these famous musicians
You'll never dig a list of bigger names,
You will not find a more impressive group of musicians
A-cuttin' capers with Harry James.
These musicians will make you lose your composure
With Benny Goodman and his clarinet,
Benny Goodman will play his clarinet
And Tommy Dorseys in it, too.
Tommy Dorsey is part of the band as well
Alvino Rey will star,
Alvino Rey will be a standout musician
A walkin' talkin' steel guitar,
He will play a steel guitar while walking and talking
A-cuttin' capers just for you.
The music is being played specifically for your enjoyment
Listen to that tenor saxophone!
Pay attention to the sound of the tenor saxophone
Never heard it played with such a tone!
I've never heard a tenor saxophone played so well
And when you get that lic'rish stick
When you play the licorice stick
Out in the woodshed, son.
In the shed where you practice
Why it's Papa Benny Goodman
Your teacher is Benny Goodman himself
And he's showin' ya quick,
And he's teaching you effectively
How the proper lic'rish stickin's done!
How to play the licorice stick correctly
Tood-da-root-toot, to-du-du-du.
The sound the licorice stick makes
Listen to that fiddle player slap, slap, slap;
Listen to the sound the fiddle player makes when playing
Boy, he plays it, he really lays it, in your lap, lap, lap!
The fiddle player is very talented and engaging
(Say,) I'll bet before they're through
I bet before the performance is over
You'll be cut-you-you-you-you-tin' capers, too.
You will also be captivated by the music
Cuttin' capers 'cause I'm out with you,
I am showing off because I am with you
Nothin' else that I'm about to do;
I am not interested in doing anything else
My heart begins to flutter like a dove,
My heart starts to beat fast with emotion
I even stutter, (guess it's love!)
I'm even having trouble speaking, so I must be in love
I'm cuttin' capers so you'll notice me,
I am trying to impress you
When we're together, can't you see?
When we're together can't you tell?
I'm only blowin' off, A-talkin' big and showin' off,
I'm only exaggerating and trying to present myself impressively
A-cuttin capers 'cause it's true,
Cuttin' capers because it's representative of how I feel
Ple-ee-oo-du-du-du-du-du;
The sound of my excitement
Baby, I'm in love, (Baby I'm in love)
I am in love
Baby, I'm in love with, (Baby, I'm in love with,)
I am in love with you
Baby, I'm in love with you!
I am in love with you
Contributed by John S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Croonr1
The male quartet is The Sportsmen (Bill Days, Bob Stevens, Marty Sperzel and Gurney Bell)
@the78prof72
Thanks. I've noted your YouTube post and a couple of mentions elsewhere of The Sportsmen appearing on this track. Can you direct me to a source with session data verifying the backup group? The Mellomen were her regular guys in 1949 and 1950, while The Sportsmen were signed to Capitol in the late '40s.
@Croonr1
@@the78prof72 Can’t say that I have session info but I have been researching The Sportsmen for the last 30+ years and I know what they sound like. Plus John Rarig was a former member and their arranger.
@the78prof72
@@Croonr1 Okay! Thanks for the info.
@Croonr1
@@the78prof72 They also backed Doris up on “Last Mile Home”, “Don’t Gamble With Romance”, “Ol’ Saint Nicholas”, “Here Comes Santa Claus”, “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “I’m Beginning To Miss You.” When I was in contact with Bill Days in the mid-90s he didn’t understand why they weren’t given label credit but said how much they enjoyed working with Doris.
@the78prof72
Good question. One might assume some kind of legal or contractual reason as there were plenty of Rarig/Mellomen label credits for Doris despite that group's appearance on other labels.