Whether it’s “My Kind of Town“ or “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)” doesn’t really matter….cuz it’s a very popular song by both names….which was composed by Jimmy Van Heusen….with lyrics by Sammy Cahn….as the song was originally part of the musical score from the 1964 movie Robin and the 7 Hoods staring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr….who were all members of the famous Hollywood Rat Pack…..as the song was nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Song….but lost to “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins….and although the song predated the Grammy Award Best Original Song for a Motion Picture category, the entire score was nominated for the 1964 Grammy Award in the category Best Original Score Written for A Motion Picture….but it lost to the titled Mary Poppins score…..which in truth, was outstanding….for I can see the chimney sweeps dancing across the roofs of London.
“My Kind of Town” made a minor appearance on the U.S. pop charts by reaching # 110 in 1964….as it was the second of two charting songs about Chicago recorded by Sinatra…..with the other being “Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town)” from 1957….which reached # 84 on the US charts.
Frank Sinatra recorded several versions….which have appeared on many of his albums….and many different artists have performed the song as a tribute to Sinatra in posthumous tribute albums…..plus, the song had been recorded by many other artists prior to Sinatra’s death. The lyrics, which praise the city of Chicago for its people and institutions, repeat the title phrase several times…..usually in a line that says “My kind of town, Chicago is”.
As seen in this video herewith…..actress / singer Leslie Uggams sings “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) at halftime of the 1988 Orange Bowl between the # 1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. # 2 Miami Hurricanes.
