"What a Diff'rence a Day Made", also recorded as "What a Difference a Day Makes", is a popular song originally written in Spanish by María Grever, a Mexican songwriter, in 1934 with the title "Cuando vuelva a tu lado" ("When I Return to Your Side") and first recorded by Orquesta Pedro Vía that same year. A popular version in Spanish was later recorded by trio Los Panchos with Eydie Gormé in 1964.[3]
The song is also known in English as "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes", as popularized by Dinah Washington in 1959.[4]
English adaptation
The English lyrics were written by Stanley Adams, and was played by Harry Roy & his Orchestra. It was published in late 1934. The most successful early recording, in 1934, was by the Dorsey Brothers, with vocals by Bob Crosby, although it was first recorded in English by Cleveland crooner Jimmy Ague.[5]
In 1975, Esther Phillips recorded her version of the song. Her version had a disco feel to it. The Esther Phillips version became a big hit, reaching number twenty on the US Hot 100. It also reached number two on the disco charts.[8] Her version also did well on the US soul chart, reaching the top ten. Phillips performed the song on the television comedy variety program Saturday Night Live during its first season.
Andy Russell, a Mexican-American singer, recorded a bilingual version of the song in 1944 (Capitol #167, paired with "Don't You Notice Anything New?"), which reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[10]
Natalie Cole recorded the song on her 1996 album Stardust, and later in 2013 a bilingual Spanish/English version was included as an iTunes bonus track of her album Natalie Cole en Español.
It was recorded by Diana Ross in 1972, but not released until thirty-four years later when her Blue album was discovered in the Motown vaults and released in 2006.* Diana Ross - Blue (recorded in 1973, unreleased until 2006)[17]
Deana Martin recorded “What a Difference a Day Made” on her 2009 album Volare.
China Moses covered the song with Raphael Lemonnier in 2009 in their album This One's for Dinah in 2009.[18]
Rod Stewart - Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook - Volume V (2010)
In 2021, artist and songwriter, SHELLS[19] and producer Robin Pearkes[20] (aka PALMR) recorded an English version entitled "What a Difference a Day Makes". It was commissioned for the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Lonnie Johnson covered the song on his album Losing Game.
Julie Dawn and Roy Marsh and His Swingtette released a version of the track paired with "I am Going to Love That Guy" (this track bringing together Julie Dawn and Frank Deniz and His Spirits of Rhythm). The exact release date unknown at the moment (Decca 8034 Matrix numbers I 1320 and I 1322).
Paul Pata - sa guitare et son quintette, on the album Week-End aux Puces, as the instrumental Tous Les Jours Se Ressemblent.
Ethel Merman sang a partial rendition of the song in a radio commercial for Mailgram, one of her last recordings. She substituted the word "Mailgram" for "day."