Sweet Leilani (Wreath of Heaven) (1935)

Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, meaning "heavenly (Lani) garland of flowers (Lei)". It also has a figurative meaning: Small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like a lei (garland), so the name took on the meaning "heavenly child."

Though best known for his "Hawaiian" music, Harry Owens was born in Nebraska. However, he became musical director of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu, in 1934, where he mixed traditional instruments with those more commonly used by American dance bands. That same year he wrote "Sweet Leilani" for his daughter.

Harry Owens and his daughter Leilani

"Sweet Leilani" became a big hit for Bing Crosby in 1937, when he sang it in the film "Waikiki Wedding," earning an Academy Award for Song of the Year and giving Crosby his first gold record.





Prior to Waikiki Wedding, the song had been recorded on October 6th, 1935 by Sol Hoʻopiʻi under the title "Leilani (Wreath of Heaven)" as the B-side of "Hawaiian Honeymoon".
Released on Brunswick 55085.

Listen here:




Or here :




The exact same recording  (matrix : BLA 431) was re-released in 1940 on Columbia 35526

78 RPM - Sol Hoopii And His Novelty Quartette - Hawaiian Honeymoon / Leilani (Wreath Of Heaven) - Brunswick - USA - 55085

Sol Ho'opi'i is considered to have been one of the greatest exponents of the Hawaiian guitar and was at least influential in the development of the electric guitar in the early 1940s.



Harry Owens himself with his Royal Hawaiians performed "Sweet Leilani" in the 1938 film Cocoanut Grove starring Fred MacMurray.



Elvis Presley's cover-version from 1960 is a home recording, never intended for release.
A year removed from the German demos, Elvis is completely back, 1960 being a year of chart-topping records, a TV shot with Frank Sinatra and a hit movie. Surrounded by friends like gal pal Nancy Sharp, Presley tackles nine tunes, including "Sweet Leilani" twice. One try at the Bing Crosby classic is mostly instrumental, the other a real highlight, as Elvis takes the harmony and allows Nancy a gorgeous lead vocal.







Other cover-versions:


23-07-36 - Dick McIntyre's Harmony Hawaiians (Decca 945);
19-02-37 - Ted Fio Rito & his Orchestra (Decca 1176);
21-02-37 - Jan Garber & his Orchestra (Brunswick 7839);
03-03-37 - Tommy Tucker & his Orchestra with vocal R. Hoskins (Vocalion 3489 / Conqueror 8805 / Melotone 7-05-17);
04-03-37 - George Hall & the Hotel Taft Orchestra with Dolly Dawn (Bluebird 6859);
12-03-37 - Ruby Newman & his Rainbow Room Orchestra (Victor 25543);
23-03-37 - Bing Crosby (Decca 1175 / Decca 11012 / Decca 25011);
30-03-37 - Bob White & his Orchestra (Variety 548);
06-07-37 - Billy Cotton & his Band with vocal Alan Breeze (Rex 9078).


(c) Don Redman 1939

http://dismuke.org/how/prev7-02.html


(c) Harry Owens 1944
Released on Capitol 20004 as part of a 4 record album set (Capitol A-4)

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/harry_owens_and_his_royal_hawaiians/hawaii/

Re-released in 1950 on Long Playing Album Capitol H 238

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2968294


(c) Marty Robbins 1957 on album "Song Of The Islands" (Columbia CL-1087)


(c) Sam Cooke 1960 on album "Cooke's Tour" (RCA Victor LPM/LSP-2221)

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1468976


(c) Platters 1963 on album "The Platters Sing All Time Movie Hits" (Mercury MG-20782/SR-60782 )


(c) Pat Boone 1963 on album "Days of Wine and Roses" (Dot DLP 25504)

http://www.lpdiscography.com/?page=discography&interpret=38#?page=album&album=917


(c) Duane Edy 1963 on CD: "Deep In The Heart Of Twangsville - The RCA Years 1962-1964"


(c) Burl Ives 1965 on album "On The Beach At Waikiki" (Decca DL-4668/DL-74668)

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=3951292


(c) Henry Mancini 1965 on album: "The Academy Award Songs of 1965"


(c) Kilima Hawaiians 1968 

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1141438

Covered by Frank Zappa: http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/songs/Sweet_Leilani.html

FZ album(s) in which song has appeared:

• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1 (1988) as Sweet Leilani, performed in Stratford, February 16, 1969
• quoted in Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top on Bongo Fury (1975), performed in Austin, Texas, May 1975
  • shorter, faded-out version included in the Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band compilation The Dust Blows Forward (1999)

Listen to Frank on Stage (you can't do that Frank !)




Covered by Chris Isaak 1996

http://www.discogs.com/Chris-Isaak-Baja-Sessions/release/700546