“Fly Me to the Moon,” a timeless classic, has serenaded generations with its romantic allure. But before Frank Sinatra’s iconic rendition soared to global fame, the song had a fascinating journey. So, when did “Fly Me to the Moon” come out? The answer might surprise you as it predates the moon landing by more than a decade.
Originally titled “In Other Words,” this beloved song was penned in 1954 by the talented Bart Howard. It wasn’t Sinatra who first graced the melody; that honor belongs to Kaye Ballard. In the same year Howard crafted the tune, Ballard stepped into a recording studio and laid down the very first commercial version, marking the initial release of what would become a legendary song.
Billboard magazine, in a brief review from May 1954, described “In Other Words” as “a love song sung with feeling by Miss Ballard,” highlighting the emotional depth of Ballard’s initial interpretation. Interestingly, this debut recording was the B-side to “Lazy Afternoon,” a song Ballard was performing in the stage show “The Golden Apple,” showcasing the song’s initial positioning within her broader work.
In the years that followed its initial release, “In Other Words” began to find its voice within the jazz and cabaret scenes. Numerous artists, including Chris Connor, Johnny Mathis, Portia Nelson, and Nancy Wilson, embraced the song, recording their own renditions for EPs and LPs. Eydie Gormé’s 1958 album, “Eydie In Love,” featured her take on the song, achieving notable success by reaching #20 on the Cashbox Album Charts and earning a Grammy nomination, further solidifying the song’s growing recognition.
The year 1960 marked a turning point in the song’s trajectory. Peggy Lee included “In Other Words” on her album “Pretty Eyes.” Crucially, her performance of the song on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” a prominent television program, catapulted it into the public consciousness, significantly broadening its appeal. As its popularity surged, the song gradually became more recognized by its evocative alternate title, “Fly Me to the Moon.” By 1963, Peggy Lee’s influence led Bart Howard to officially embrace the new title, cementing “Fly Me to the Moon” as its definitive name. The song’s global appeal also began to emerge, with Connie Francis releasing non-English versions in 1963, including “Portami Con Te” in Italian and “Llévame a la Luna” in Spanish, demonstrating its cross-cultural resonance.
Venturing into instrumental interpretations, Joe Harnell created a bossa nova arrangement in 1962. Released as a single in late 1962, Harnell’s version enjoyed a 13-week run on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #14 in February 1963, and reaching #4 on Billboard’s Middle-Road Singles chart. Billboard ranked it #89 in its “Top Records of 1963.” Harnell’s innovative rendition earned him a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra – for Dancing at the 5th Annual Grammy Awards, showcasing the song’s versatility across genres. His album “Fly Me to the Moon and the Bossa Nova Pops,” released in early 1963, reached #3 on the Billboard Top LP’s chart, further capitalizing on the song’s burgeoning fame. Paul Anka also released his version in 1963, contributing to the growing catalog of interpretations.
Then came 1964, the year Frank Sinatra recorded “Fly Me to the Moon” with Count Basie for the album “It Might as Well Be Swing.” Arranged by Quincy Jones, Sinatra’s version injected a vibrant energy into the song. Will Friedwald described it as a “straight swinger” that “all but explodes with energy,” contrasting it with earlier, more subdued arrangements. Bart Howard himself estimated that by the time Sinatra recorded his version, over 100 covers already existed, highlighting the song’s established popularity even before Sinatra’s iconic take. Sinatra’s version became indelibly linked with NASA’s Apollo missions, further propelling the song into legendary status and associating it with dreams of space exploration.
Bobby Womack’s 1968 R&B version, reaching #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the R&B chart, demonstrated the song’s adaptability across musical styles. Even in popular culture, “Fly Me To The Moon” found its way into unexpected corners, such as being sampled as a doorbell melody in the TV series “WKRP in Cincinnati.”
By 1995, the song had been recorded over 300 times, a testament to its enduring appeal. Its influence extended into Japanese animation with “Neon Genesis Evangelion” featuring multiple versions as closing music, and into video games like “Bayonetta” with a remix titled “Fly Me To The Moon (Climax Mix),” showcasing its continued relevance in contemporary media.
In conclusion, “Fly Me to the Moon” emerged in 1954 as “In Other Words,” initially sung by Kaye Ballard. Its journey to becoming a global standard involved numerous artists, name changes, and genre explorations, culminating in Frank Sinatra’s iconic rendition which cemented its place in music history and popular culture. The song’s enduring charm lies in its simple yet profound romantic message, which continues to resonate with audiences across generations, long after its initial release.
