Jan Peerce - The Bluebird of Happiness (Las Vegas album version, 1958)

[MrEenieQWolverine]

This was used for the sign-off on KCRA TV, Channel 3 in Sacramento California for years...until they went 24 hours. One of the greatest singers singing one of the greatest songs EVAH !

[frank061029]

There was a radio station in Philly, WIP, that at 1AM and 3AM, played the Bluebird of Happiness. When I came home from a date, I would turn on WIP to hear the Jan Peerce sing the song. Wonder if it still does so.

[dayatslumberVEVO]

nice song..!!! but mmmmmmmmmmmmmm...!! 

[jazzman9]

my dad died 30 years ago. I remember he loved this song. This made him happy. it brings a tear to me.

[presbyterosBassI]

There was a DJ in Philadelphia in the 1950's that played this every morning at 2:00 AM.

[AnalogAppearOffline]

wow! this year since my mom was born. love it ya!

[LiveForChaCha]

My dad who was such a man, world war II vet, strong, raising his five children not really knowing the way after coming from a home of hostility, would sit and sing this song to me as a young girl. it makes me cry each time i hear it. i am so thankful that he left this message with me! he used to call me his bluebird.

[stevevandien]

OK, we can dismiss this as a not-so-great pop song if we're so inclined.  I am not. I'll grant that this record is more than a little corny. Nevertheless, I CHERISH its message of hope, so fervently delivered by our beloved Jan :) ---

[W2n1dowsx]

Daddy used to sing this to us. Almost always he was drunker than a fiddlers' bitch. God, it brings back such shuddering memories. Rank schmaltz.

[tlh828]

@W2n1dowsx You are a great writer!

[cooligalgirl]

hope is in the heart eternal, we can all find happiness if we look for it ,life is what you make of it, seek and you will find, a lovely song ,cooligalgirl

[jblen777]

Brings back warm memories of my childhood ......we listened to the radio

at 12:00 am every night to hear Jan Peirce

end the day w/this inspiring rendition.

Such a feel-good song.........still!.....

[alanccoop]

Meseridium I can identify with what you are saying. I was raised in the hills 35 miles east of Melbourne (Aust). Things were pretty tough - no TV, few cars(the general store delivered our groceries), no water or power (we relied on rain water tanks, wood fires, kerosene lamps) A few lucky people had kerosene fridges - the rest of us relied on the butcher's cool-room.

[alanccoop]

(CONT) mesmeridium One could easily get depressed in those circumstances but then you didn't have to worry about locking your house, people always stopped to give you a lift, there were no illegal drugs there was little crime and we had beaten the Japs. I agree with you "it was the ultimate 'cheer up' song"

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

This song was originally released in 1945, but it was later released on the LP about 13 years later.

[VinylToVideo]

This isn't the original recording from 1945.

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

You should listen to the original version in my video response I just uploaded.

[drdoowop]

I Love This Song...many folks looking for that bird at present.

[mesmeridium]

KOMO TV in Seattle used to end its broadcast day with this song. It was put together with filmed visuals of meadows, forests, streams and so forth. I always thought it was the ultimate 'cheer up' song and when I found the track on a CD many years ago, I purchased it right away.

In times when you feel like your life has gone to the dogs, this song wakes that embittered heart. Then you can't help but say to yourself, "Well, here are the dogs and it's not so bad..."

[BillBC]

I remember hearing this fifty years ago and wondering what on earth "life is no abyss" meant. Eventually I found out what an abyss was....I saw him sing in London Ontario in 1965..the crowd loved him. He sang this as an encore...

[WaveDiva22]

i love this song.

[alanccoop]

I was a tiny boy when I first heard this song just after the war. My Mum was very sick and Dad was under a huge amount of pressure trying to bring up our large family. I sometimes think this song was the only thing that kept him going.

[voltape]

I remember around 1951 there was a radio here in Lima Peru that aired this same Blue Bird with Jan Peerce every saturday evening. My first efforts to understand English! The high note at the end fascinated me.

[Republicrat74]

I've always loved this song, and was a fan of Jan Peerce ever since hearing him on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in the 1940's. A great voice, inspired lyrics, and well sung too!!

[daisyduck352]

My mother loved to sing this song and it brought back tears when I heard it again. Thank you.. Pat

[pearlmuth3]

always fine a class act.

[slaya6y]

I love this song, believe im one of the few 18 year olds nowaday whom really appreciates the talent of such a singer

[ShawDAMAN]

I was! :-P I'm 19 now and I love it. There's still a few of us left. ;-)

[paxguns]

How true to life. Thank you so much.

[leviolonist]

I grew up with this. It was my Dad's favorite. Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 99 years old. How I love him, how I miss him!

[Ronbo710]

Pure Genius. Thanks!

[Fequus]

Jan Peerce God Bless You! I can play your "Live in Las Vegas" Album 24 Hours a day. Oh how I wish It was Available in a CD.

[peacewomanisrael]

it's still a great message.

Search till you find the bluebird..... peace and contentment forever! AMEN

[Michaelbos]

Wonderful,

[Helenews]

This always bring the tears to my eyes. Growing up, it was my favorite. I appreciate hearing it again, after so many years. Thank you so much, for sharing it.

[fretaf]

I was a teenager when I first heard Jan Peerce sing Bluebird of Happiness. I've never forgotten it.

[gladfan1989]

I remember this song when a Sacramento TV station was signing off the air. They played it just before the announcement was made. A very beautiful song.

[yes55]

Just wanted you (and other fans of this recording) to know... I'm not the original poster, but I happen to have that sign-off clip posted on my channel, gladfan... I'm forgetting whom the original poster was, but it's still on that channel, too, I think. I'm sure it will be in the "related" window if you should view the clip on my channel, so you can thank that original poster.

[BrooklynMouse]

I agree with that "yes55", the song used for this sign-off clip does have shots from glorious scenery to get a breath taking view all the way to the end where it shows a nice touching scenery of a glorious sunset just for the fitting end.

[mmcrosbie]

My dad used to sing this around the house. It touched me even as a young girl.

[michelee2]

I had never heard this song until May 5, 2008. It was the last thing my Dad said or sang to me. He passed away the next day, but this was his last song, I'm glad I got to hear it,  but I have tears ion my eyes right now.

[1mirkat]

vinyl you are da bomb! i hadnt known schmidt til you turned me on. o my gosh! thanks again and again

[1mirkat]

when i was a little girl, a long time ago in a galaxy far away......

the am classical music station, (kfac?) signed on every day with this.

they signed off at midnite with faure's pavanne.

jan peerce was always my hero. were there any other jewish opera stars before him?

[VinylToVideo]

I don't know any other than Joseph Schmidt, who did sing opera but not really on stage.

[paulostroff99]

1mirkat-Richard Tauber was Jewish. actually only his father was Jewish,but the Nazis made him leave Germany and Austria anyhow. Efrem Zimbalist was married to a famous Jewish opera star whose name escapes me for the moment. Best I can do off the top of my head.

[paulostroff99]

1mirkat-Bernard Tokkie -1867-1942

Flemish Jewish opera star.

Mrs Zimbalist was among the all time greats. There have been many others living in places such as pre 1948 Palestine. Check wikipedia for much more info.

[CarloQuinto]

@1mirkat There was Richard Tucker (Reuben Ticker) also a tenor, in the same era. Tucker was a little younger. They were in-laws but didn't speak to each other. Joseph Schmidt was a concert singer but also sang for years on the operatic stage. Frances Yeend was a rather well known operatic soprano in the 40's who was also Jewish.

[VinylToVideo]

@CarloQuinto More I can think of are Rise Stevens, Roberta Peters, Beverly Sills, Robert Merrill, George London, Igor Gorin, Alex Kipnis, Neil Shicoff, and Jan Kiepura. Leonard Warren and Kurt Baum were raised Jewish. Most of them came after Peerce though.

[paulostroff99]

Wonderful! Brings back many pleasant memories of by gone and mainly wonderful days. Bravo! TY.

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

This song was later used in a music video where it includes shots from every scenery. This was from KCRA-TV that "yes55" was posted and it was on one of the classic TV sign-offs.

[renofirvine]

yes,this is the lp i have,with that great cover of all those old hotels-remember,las vegas is 300 years of history crammed into 60,so says Alan Hess,architectural critic, in his book 'viva las vegas'-this also makes me think of how musical acts back then were just a solid performer in front of nice draperies(the pic on the front of 'the new ray antohny show'at the alladin(or sahara?),not $12,000,000 worth of special effects.