(Up A) Lazy River

"(Up A) Lazy River" is a popular tune and song by Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin, published in 1930. The melody is by Arodin, arranged and with words modified by Carmichael. It is considered a jazz standard and pop standard, and has been recorded by many artists as listed below.

Recorded versions

 * Acker Bilk
 * Adam Faith (1963)
 * Art Mooney and his orchestra (vocal: Cathy Ryan and The Clover Leafs) (1952)
 * Benny Goodman and his orchestra (vocal: Helen Forrest) (1941)
 * Betty Johnson (1950)
 * Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong for their 1960 album Bing & Satchmo.
 * Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys (1947)
 * Bobby Darin (1961) #14 hit on the Hot 100, #16 Canada
 * Brenda Lee (1962)
 * Casa Loma Orchestra (1938)
 * Chet Atkins
 * Cliff Richard on his album Bold As Brass
 * Chris Barber
 * Sidney Bechet
 * Mina
 * Crystal Gayle (1999)
 * Dick Todd
 * Eddy Howard
 * Gene Vincent (1956)
 * Georgie Fame and Annie Ross (1981)
 * Glenn Miller and his orchestra
 * Hank Thompson (1972)


 * Harry Connick Jr. (1988)
 * Harry James and his orchestra
 * Hoagy Carmichael (1930)
 * Hugh and Karl Farr
 * Julia Lee
 * Kay Starr
 * Kenny Ball
 * Leon Redbone
 * Les Brown and his Band of Renown
 * Les Paul Trio
 * Louis Armstrong and his orchestra (1931)
 * Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang (1936)
 * Manhattan Transfer
 * Megan Mullally
 * Merle Travis
 * Michael Bublé
 * Nat King Cole Trio with vocals by Anita Boyer
 * Pat Boone (1958)
 * Paul Whiteman and his orchestra (1956)
 * Peggy Lee
 * Pete Fountain


 * Phil Harris and his orchestra (1932)
 * Ray Anthony
 * Rex Allen (1961)
 * Rickie Lee Jones
 * Roberta Sherwood (Sepia CD Sepia 1099 - orig rec: 1956)
 * Rockapella
 * Rosemary Clooney (1956)
 * Rusty Draper (1957)
 * Sam Butera and The Witnesses
 * Sammy Davis Jr. (1963)
 * Si Zentner and his orchestra (1961)
 * Svend Asmussen
 * Tennessee Ernie Ford
 * Tex Beneke and his orchestra
 * The Ames Brothers
 * The Blind Rats (2020)
 * The Four Lads
 * The Gatlin Brothers (1994)
 * The Mills Brothers (1952)
 * The Platters
 * The Three Suns
 * Woody Herman and his orchestra (1941)
 * January Jones – Scopitone video

Popular culture

 * The song was stored in music box format in a permanent outdoor display in Cathedral Park under the St. John's Bridge in Portland, Oregon. 20170220kwtcathprkstatue.jpg20170220HoagyMusicBoxCathPrk.jpg
 * A bit of the song is played by Carmichael in the 1946 Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives.
 * "(Up A) Lazy River" can also be heard in the 1959 film Hey Boy! Hey Girl!.
 * A cover of the song is featured in Shredder Orpheus, sung by Hades.
 * Bullets Over Broadway features the song heavily as the mobster Cheech's calling card.