Bell Bottom Trousers (commercial song)

"Bell Bottom Trousers" is a modern commercial reworking of a folksong. For earlier versions see Rosemary Lane.

This clean version of the tune was written in 1944 for modern audiences by bandleader Moe Jaffe. This version enjoyed great popularity during World War II, and has been recorded by different performers.

Bell Bottom Trousers was the last song with a military connection to be featured on the popular radio and television broadcast Your Hit Parade.

The recording by Tony Pastor's orchestra was made on April 4, 1945 and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1661, with the flip side "Five Salted Peanuts". It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 10, 1945 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2.

The recording by Kay Kyser's orchestra was recorded on April 2, 1945 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36801, with the flip side "Can't You Read Between the Lines?". It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 7, 1945 and lasted 6 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5.

The recording by Guy Lombardo's orchestra was recorded on April 20, 1945, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 18683, with the flip side "Oh, Brother!". It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 14, 1945 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6.

The recording by Jerry Colonna was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 204, with the flip side "I Cried for You". It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 26, 1945 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9.

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