Written by: Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
Recorded: 7, 14, 28 November 1969
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Phil McDonald, Geoff Emerick
Released: 27 March 1970 (UK), 24 April 1970 (US)
Available on:
Sentimental Journey
Personnel
Ringo Starr: vocals
The George Martin Orchestra: instrumentation
Unknown: piano, drums, percussion
‘Stardust’ is the sixth song on Sentimental Journey, Ringo Starr’s debut solo album.
The song was written in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics later added by Mitchell Parish. Carmichael settled upon the title after a fellow university student, Stuart Gorrell, had suggested ‘Star Dust’.
Carmichael recorded an instrumental version for Gennett Records in 1927. The following year he was hired by Mills Music, who assigned Parish to add words to the song. It was recorded the same year by Don Redman, and was popularised in 1930 by Isham Jones.
‘Stardust’ soon became an American standard, with recordings by Frank Sinatra, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Willie Nelson. Starr’s version was arranged by Paul McCartney.
In the studio
The backing track for ‘Stardust’ was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in north London on 7 November 1969. The session lasted from 7-10pm, with George Martin producing.
The backing track consisted of strings, horns, piano, chimes, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums. Starr overdubbed his lead vocals at Trident Studios on 14 November.
‘Stardust’ was completed on 28 November at Studio Two, Abbey Road. Starr added a second lead vocal part, not for double-tracking purposes, but to give a choice of lead vocals to select from. The two versions can be heard overlapping in the final mix at the one-minute mark.
‘Stardust’ was mixed in stereo towards the end of the night, in a final session lasting from 10pm to midnight.
Lyrics
Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
Ah, that was long ago
Now my consolation is in the stardust of a song
Beside a garden wall where stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew
Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love’s refrain
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew
Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love’s refrain
