Imagination is a classic 1940 American popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was first recorded by Jan Savitt and His Orchestra with Bon Bon on vocals on January 24, 1940. The tune quickly became a hit in 1940 with two top charting versions - Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. The Glenn Miller version with Ray Eberle on vocals reached the Billboard Best Seller chart in July 1940, peaking at number 3 and staying for three weeks; the Tommy Dorsey version, featuring Frank Sinatra, reached number 8 for one week. Over the years it has become a jazz and pop standard, covered by Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney and many others. In 1987 Miki Howard released a soulful R&B cover from the album Come Share My Love, which reached number 13 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The lyrics describe imagination turning a cloudy day sunny and making romance seem possible, a sentiment that has helped the song endure across decades.
