The Nearness of You

The biggest selling 1938 version was recorded by the Glenn Miller orchestra, with a vocal by Ray Eberle (Bluebird catalog number 10745). This recording first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 20, 1940 (though this is misleading, as this was Billboard's first chart) and lasted 8 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5. Other popular contemporary versions were recorded by Kay Kyser's orchestra (vocal: Harry Babbitt, Columbia catalog number 35488), by Dinah Shore with Paul Weston's orchestra (Bluebird catalog number 10793), and by Eddy Howard with Lou Adrian's orchestra (Columbia catalog number 35511).

The song was performed by Norah Jones on her album Come Away With Me. It was also performed by Diana Krall on a Geoff Keezer album, Turn Up the Quiet. Sheena Easton released her version from her standards album in 1993 "No Strings" and for the soundtrack of "Indecent Proposal"

A well-known bootleg recording exists featuring the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards performing a solo version, accompanying himself on piano. Richards performed the song live during the Stones' 2002-2003 Licks Tour. A performance was captured and released on the 2004 live album Live Licks.

Recorded versions

• Andrea Tessa
• Paul Anka
• Ray Anthony
• Eddie Arnold
• Shirley Bassey
• Brook Benton
• Pat Boone
• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Connee Boswell (released by Decca Records as catalog number 3366B, with the flip side "Blueberry Hill")
• Michael Brecker and James Taylor
• Les Brown
• Ray Brown Trio
• Chick Bullock and his orchestra (recorded April 26, 1940, released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 5558, with the flip side "Fools Rush In")
• Hoagy Carmichael
• Larry Clinton and his orchestra (recorded May 22, 1940, released by Victor Records as catalog number 26634, with the flip side "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano)
• Rosemary Clooney
• Nat King Cole
• Cy Coleman (released by MGM Records as catalog number 30740, with the flip side "You Call It Madness")
• Vic Damone
• Dorothy Dandridge
• Sammy Davis Jr. (released 1957 in the United Kingdom by Brunswick Records as catalog number 05717, with the flip side "Mad Ball)
• Bill Doggett (released 1970 by King Records as catalog number 6312, with the flip side "Moon Dust)
• Bill Doggett Quartet (released by King Records as catalog number 4738, with the flip side "Honey)
• Lou Donaldson (released by Blue Note Records as catalog number 1752, with the flip side "Mack The Knife")
• The Dorsey Brothers
• Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra
• Sheena Easton
• Ray Eberle
• Percy Faith and his orchestra
• Robert Farnon and his orchestra
• Ella Fitzgerald
• The Flamingos (released 1965 by Philips Records as catalog number 40347, with the flip side "Don't Cheat On Me")
• The Four Freshmen
• Judy Garland
• Crystal Gayle
• Stan Getz
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Robert Goulet
• Stephane Grappelli
• Lionel Hampton
• Roy Hargrove
• Johnny Hartman
• Hash Brown (released 1963 by Philips Records as catalog number 40093, with the flip side "I Get My Job Through The New York Times")
• Brett Hawkins (released 2008 on the album Deep Sea Skiving Again on Sneaky Alligator Records)
• Ray Herbeck and his orchestra (released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 5568, with the flip side "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano")
• Woody Herman and his orchestra (recorded June 25, 1950, released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1272, with the flip side "Johannesburg)
• Billie Holiday
• Eddy Howard (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35511, with the flip side "Fools Fall in Love")
• Leslie Hutchinson (Released 194?)
• Harry James and his orchestra (vocal: Dick Haymes; recorded May 1940, released by Varsity Records as catalog number 8293, with the flip side "Mister Meadowlark)
• Joni James (1956, released by MGM Records as catalog number 30826, with the flip side "Let There Be Love", also included in her album Let There Be Love)
• Norah Jones
• Marie Knight (released 1963 by Diamond Records as catalog number 149, and in Canada by Apex Records as catalog number 76887, both with the flip side "Walk Away")
• Kay Kyser's orchestra (vocal: Harry Babbitt; recorded April 30, 1940, released by Columbia catalog number 35488, with the flip side "Blue Lovebird")
• Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (released by Decca Records as catalog number 3214B, with the flip side "Blue Lovebird")
• Julie London
• Barbara Mandrell
• Bob Manning (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2383 and by Australian Capitol as catalog number CP-230, both with the flip side "Gypsy Girl"; also by United Kingdom Capitol in 1953 as catalog number CL-13958 with the flip side "All I Desire)
• Mat Mathews Quintet (released 1952 by Brunswick Records as catalog number 80234, with the flip side "Bag's Groove)
• Brad Mehldau
• Helen Merrill
• Glenn Miller and his orchestra (vocal: Ray Eberle; recorded April 28, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10745A, with the flip side "Mister Meadowlark"
• Glenn Miller Revivals
• Matt Monro
• Little Joey Morant Quintet (released 1960 by Mala Records as catalog number 419, with the flip side "The Great Pretender)
• Gerry Mulligan
• Rick Nelson
• Charlie Parker
• A. Pouw and T. Kok
• Marty Robbins
• Rolling Stones (Vocal: Keith Richards)
• Al Romero (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5482, with the flip side "Keep It Gay)
• The Roommates (released 1963 by Philips Records as catalog number 40153, with the flip side "Don't Cheat On Me")
• George Shearing
• Dinah Shore (recorded June 25, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10793, with the flip side "Maybe")
• Frank Sinatra
• Keely Smith
• Tab Smith (released by Checker Records as catalog number 933, and by Quality Records in Canada as catalog number K1951, both with the flip side "Because of You")
• The Stepping Stones (released 1963 by Philips Records as catalog number 40108, with the flip side "I Get My Job Through The New York Times")
• Rod Stewart
• Ted Straeter and his orchestra (released by MGM Records as catalog number 30832, with the flip side "Everything I Love")
• Jo Stafford
• Barbra Streisand
• Reinhold Svensson's Orchestra (vocal: Rolf Erickson) (recorded September 19, 1950, released by Discovery Records as catalog number 1731, with the flip side "Strike Up the Band)
• Steve Tyrell
• Three Sounds (released by Blue Note Records as catalog number 1898, with the flip side "One For Renee")
• Sarah Vaughan
• Elisabeth Welch
• Vic West (released 1957 by Planet Records (Australia) as catalog number PX-005, with the flip side "This Love Of Mine)
• Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio
• Cake
• James Brown

References