My Resistance Is Low

"My Resistance Is Low"
Song by Hoagy Carmichael with the Gordon Jenkins Chorus and Orchestra
Songwriter(s)H. Carmichael, Harold Adamson

"My Resistance Is Low" is a 1951 song by American singer, songwriter and band leader Hoagy Carmichael, with later lyrics by Harold Adamson.

Creation

Carmichael had the melody, and then recorded it backed by the Gordon Jenkins Chorus and Orchestra. Released on March 15, 1951, it did not feature in the Billboard chart.[1]

The Las Vegas Story

The song is probably best known to American audiences for being in the closing sequence to the 1952 Jane Russell movie The Las Vegas Story, which was produced and directed by Howard Hughes. Hughes cast Carmichael as Happy the piano player in a bar, and Carmichael agreed that Hughes could commission Harold Adamson to write suitable lyrics.

In its film review, Time Out magazine commented:[2]

A minor RKO gem showing all the preferences of its then owner Howard Hughes (aeroplanes, brunettes, breasts and disenchanted heroes).... It all finishes with a perfunctory nod toward family values (by marrying off an irrelevant young couple), but the film wears its intentions on its sleeve with the final shot: Hoagy looks first at the seductive Russell, then winks at us as he sings, My Resistance Is Low

Re-released as a result, this time with the Adamson lyrics sung by Carmichael, released through Decca Records hit number one in the United Kingdom and a number of other countries.[3]

Later releases

The song became a perennial classic in the UK, with most releases since Carmichael's within that country.[3] The best known is 1976's (Clive) Robin Sarstedt's,[4] who became a one-hit wonder when the track reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.[5]

Artist Date Notes
The Shadows September 1961 Album track on instrumental album "The Shadows"
Buddy Britten & The Regents September 1963 Single A-side, Oriole CB 1859
Robin Sarstedt 1976 Number 3 in the UK[5]
Bing Crosby 1977 for his album Beautiful Memories
Georgie Fame & Annie Ross 1981
Elvis Costello & Paul Riley & Pete Thomas November 14, 1994
John Eaton 1994

References

  1. ^ "Song artist 978 - Hoagy Carmichael". Tsdort.info. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  2. ^ Time Out Film Guide, film review. Timeout.com, accessed: November 27, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "My Resistance Is Low". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  4. ^ Songs for Robin Sarstedt at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  5. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 482. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.