Sally (Gracie Fields song)


"Sally" written by Leo Towers, Will E. Haines and Harry Leon and was first sung by Gracie Fields in the film Sally in Our Alley.
In 1931, "Sally" was released on HMV as a single by Gracie Fields on the record Fall In And Follow The Band. Merseybeat group The Koobas covered the song in 1967 and released it as a single on Columbia. Paul McCartney covered the song during a soundcheck at Wembley on his 1990 The Paul McCartney World Tour. The song was released on the live album Tripping the Live Fantastic. Gerry Monroe scored a hit with the song in 1970 and it was also released by Karl Denver in 1966.

Background

Whilst backstage at The Metropolitan, Fields described, "In comes this fellow one night, very Cockney, and he tells us all of this song he’s just written with some friends. The title of the song was Sally." Originally titled Gypsy Sweetheart and later Mary, Mary, the three songwriters eventually settled on "Sally", which was the nickname of Leo Towers’ sister Sarah. The name "Sally" surprised Fields, as the title of her upcoming film, Sally in our Alley, had not yet been released to the public. After a little work and an audition for Archie, it was agreed the song would be used in the film.
"Sally" became the star vehicle of Field’s film, appearing throughout the film over six times including being played in the background by an orchestra, whistled by dockyard workers, and sung twice by Fields.