Blue Gardenia is the title of a torch song composed by Lester Lee and Bob Russell,[1] for the 1953 movie The Blue Gardenia in which a recording of the song serves as a crucial plot point.[2] The song was recorded for The Blue Gardenia by Nat King Cole who also performs the song in the film as a lounge singer. Cole recorded "Blue Gardenia" in a 20 January 1953 session at the Capitol Records Recording Studio in Hollywood, featuring the Nelson Riddle orchestra. The track was issued as the B-side of Cole's number 16 hit, "Can't I".[3]