Misty was already popular before it had words, but I think it’s the lyrics added by veteran songwriter Johnny Burke that made it a standard. Whatever the case, it’s hard to imagine that it didn’t always have lyrics!
The Original: Dakota Staton (1957)
A fun part of doing a deep dive into a particular song is discovering that the first recorded version might not be what you think it was! Case in point: Dakota Staton was the first vocalist to record Misty with lyrics when she included it on her 1957 album The Late, Late Show for Capitol Records.
Kind of intriguing that the first vocal version of Misty was something of a deep cut on an artist’s debut album!
The "Divine" Influence: Sarah Vaughan (1959)
The song got a bit more traction when the great Sarah Vaughan recorded it for Mercury as part of her Vaughan and Violins album, as well as including it as the B-side of her big hit Broken-Hearted Melody in 1959.
The Blockbuster: Johnny Mathis (1959)
Apparently Johnny Mathis thought Sarah’s record was divine, and he recorded his version of Misty for his Columbia album Heavenly later in 1959. A 45-rpm single of the song was released and became a massive hit, solidifying the song’s permanent place in the Great American Songbook.
The "Intimate" Miss Christy (1963)
Something that I think is very cool is that “The Misty Miss Christy” – June Christy – recorded her own version! It was included on her 1963 album The Intimate Miss Christy for Capitol.
Oh, yes, Miss Christy was both misty and intimate!
Which version makes you mistiest? Are you team Staton, Vaughan, Mathis, or Christy?
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