It's Been a Long, Long Time

The most popular recording, by trumpeter Harry James and His Orchestra with vocalist Kitty Kallen,[1] debuted in October 1945 on Billboard's Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart and reached number one in the chart dated November 24, 1945 – the last of Harry James's nine US number ones.

[5] Sammy Kaye's "Chickery Chick" then returned to number one, only to be replaced by the Harry James recording, which reclaimed the top spot (for one final week) in the chart dated December 22.

"[8] The song became a standard with versions recorded by The DeMarco Sisters (1945),[9] June Haver and Dan Dailey (1950), Perry Como (1956), Al Hibbler (1956), Peggy Lee (1959), Keely Smith (1959), Louis Armstrong (1964), and Tom Jones (1966).

In 1945 Frank Sinatra sang a version on the radio show Your Hit Parade, and this recording has appeared on many compilation albums.

The Harry James and Kitty Kallen recording features in multiple projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, notable as a tragically ironic piece of music representing Steve Rogers / Captain America (Chris Evans) and his best friend James "Bucky" Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and later with love interest Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) being torn apart by time.