had been performing the song, but were unable to record it because of the 1942–44 musicians' strike. When the strike ended, the band, with Doris Day as vocalist, had a hit record with the song, Day's first #1 hit, in 1945. The song's release coincided with the end of the Second World War in Europe and became the unofficial homecoming theme for many veterans. The recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36769, with the flip side "Twilight Time". The record first reached the Billboard charts on March 29, 1945 and lasted 23 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. The song actually reached the charts after the later-recorded "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time". About this same time, the Merry Macs had a recording following Brown and Day which featured a bouncy arrangement where the group modulates the verse eight times in the last half of the song. A vocal feat for any group attempting to record a song in one take without the benefit of tape editing in that era of modern recording. The song later became something of a standard with jazz artists and was recorded by, among others, Buck Clayton with Woody Herman and by Ben Sidran. Frank Sinatra recorded his version of the song in 1961. Rosemary Clooney issued an album which included the song. Harry James recorded a version in 1965 on his album New Versions Of Down Beat Favorites.
Lyrics
The song describes someone about to take a train to a place to which they have a great emotional attachment and their mounting anticipation while wondering why they ever roamed away. The opening verse is: Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease Gonna make a sentimental journey To renew old memories.
Paul Fenoulhet with The Skyrockets Dance Orchestra Voc.: Cyril Shane. Recorded in London on October 10, 1945. It was released by EMI on the HMV Records label as catalogue number BD 5908
Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song with Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra in 1947, it was later released on her Decca album "Ella and Her Fellas"
In 1951, Brown's orchestra redid the song, with The Ames Brothers on vocals. This was released by Coral Records as catalog number 60566, with the flip side "Undecided".
In 2010, Bob and Bernice Thorpe sang this song in the popular theatre show, Prop 8 Love Stories.
In 2000 Jan Jankeje Trio jazzpointrecords
In 2000/2001, late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, who was 17 years-old at the time, recorded an acoustic cover of this song, with Sam Beste on the piano. This cover of Winehouse was not known, until her father, Mitchell recovered it in June 2014.
Lynda Carter covered this song for her 2011 album Crazy Little Things.
In 2013 Emmy Rossum covered this song in her album Sentimental Journey.
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic Incorporate the song into their huge hit "Not Just Knee Deep" when performing the song live.
Bob Dylan covered the song on his 2017 album Triplicate.
The String-A-Longs recorded an instrumental version with 3 guitars, bass, and drums for their 1961 debut album, "Pick A Hit", Warwick LP #2036
The song features prominently in the 1978 M*A*S*H episode "Your Hit Parade", as Col. Potter – citing a long-standing infatuation with Doris Day – requests the song be played over the camp P.A. system several times during the day. In the UK spot on The Muppet Show Episode 3:08 with Loretta Lynn, Gonzo and Kermit the Frog sang the song on their way back to the show. It was the theme song of the ABC Radio program Sentimental Journey presented by John West. The song is featured in Season 2, Episode 4 of The Man in the High Castle.
