“Tangerine” was introduced in the 1942 film The Fleet’s In, directed by its composer Victor Schertzinger, a film producer, screenwriter, symphony conductor, and violinist, who also composed the film’s other hit song, “I Remember You.” The lyricist for both tunes was Johnny Mercer.

The film starred Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken, Cass Daly, and Betty Hutton in her film debut. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra was prominently featured in the film with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, and their version of the song made Billboard’s chart and sat in first place for six of the 16 weeks that it charted. Vocalist/bandleader Vaughn Monroe’s version made it to number 11. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass recorded a popular version in 1965, and an instrumental disco version of the song by the Salsoul Orchestra was in the top 20 in 1976.

“Tangerine” was also used as background music in the 1984 movie Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. The Broadway show Dream, which honored Johnny Mercer, opened on April 3, 1997, and ran for 133 performances. The production featured “Tangerine” among the Mercer songs performed by a sixteen member cast that included Margaret Whiting, John Pizzarelli, and Lesley Ann Warren.

In Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer, author Philip Furia quotes Mercer describing Schertzinger as “a doll to work with.” Schertzinger loved Mercer’s lyric to “Tangerine.” Said Mercer, “I don’t know why I called it ‘Tangerine,’ except that it had a kind of Latin flavor, the melody.” Furia points out that since South America was not involved in WWII, music of that genre offered escape from the conflict.

The lyric tells of a renowned Argentinean beauty: “Tangerine, She is all they claim, With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame.” She dazzles men and women alike, “But her heart belongs to just one, Her heart belongs to Tangerine.”

“Tangerine” has been recorded by pianist Dave Brubeck, violinist Johnny Frigo, saxophonist Stan Getz, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, and vocalist Mark Murphy, and the song’s popularity continues. It was recorded in 2002 by bassist Ray Brown, in 2003 by guitarist Howard Alden, and in 2004 by saxophonist Anthony Braxton. It is featured on the 2005 release of the Red Mitchell/George Cables duo recorded in performance at Jazz Port Townsend on July 25, 1992, shortly before Mitchell’s death. Marian McPartland recorded the song at her 85th birthday bash in 2005.