standards

When I Fall in Love
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When I Fall in Love

Song 36:365 is When I Fall in Love, written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman in 1952 in the film One Minute to Zero. The first hit version was recorded by Doris Day in 1952, but perhaps the most famous version is Nat King Cole’s 1956 recording. In 1996 Nat King Cole’s daughter recorded a “duet” with her late father, using his original recording. This won the 1996 Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

There are more Nat King Cole songs here in my collection, and if its your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m playing a song a day here.

These Foolish Things
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These Foolish Things

Song 10:365 is another Eric Maschwitz song, with music this time by Jack Strachey, the 1936 classic These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You). Maschwitz was romantically linked to the Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong while working in Hollywood and the lyrics are said to represent his longing for her after their relationship ended and he returned to England.

There are more 1930s songs in my collection here, and if this is your first visit to my website, find out why I’m posting a song a day here.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
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A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Song 7:365 is A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, a jazz standard dating from 1939. It was written by Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin in the French village of Le Lavandou just before the outbreak of the Second World War. The story goes that Sherwin played the song on a piano in a local bar with the help of the resident saxophonist. Maschwitz stood, holding a glass of wine, singing the lyrics, but the patrons of the bar were not impressed. In 2002 an attempt was made to find the bar in order to hang a plaque commemorating the birthplace of the song. Unfortunately, despite help from elderly residents in the town and the local tourist office, the bar was never found.

I Can’t Get Started
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I Can’t Get Started

Today’s song is the 1936 Ira Gershwin / Vernon Duke song I Can’t Get Started (With You). It was first heard in the theatrical production Ziegfeld Follies where it was performed by Bob Hope.

The song tells the tale of a man who is successful in every aspect of his life other than his ability to get the attention of the woman he loves. One of the interesting things about this song is the fact that the Gershwin lyrics broke the mould for ballads at the time, using very topical references: “I’ve flown around the world in a plane … Settled revolutions in Spain … Been consulted by Franklin D … Greta Garbo has asked me to tea”. Frank Sinatra tried to update the lyrics with “designed the latest IBM brain”, but it tends to be the original which is performed by most artists as a result of its charm.

I hope you enjoy today’s song. For more songs from the 1930s, click here, and to find out why I’m playing a tune a day click here. You can see all of my November songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/i-cant-get-started

You Go To My Head
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You Go To My Head

Today’s song is the lovely 1938 song You Go To My Head, written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie which has become a jazz standard with some wonderful jazzy chords. It has been recorded by many artists and I think one of my favourite versions is Linda Ronstadt’s on her wonderful 1988 album For Sentimental Reasons.

If it’s your first time on the site, find out why I’m playing one song a day for the whole of 2015 or listen to my October songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/you-go-to-my-head/s-vZyso

You Belong To Me
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You Belong To Me

This beautiful song dates from 1952 when it was first recorded by Sue Thompson and soon after by Patti Page. You Belong To Me has subsequently been recorded by many artists, including Michael Bublé, Carla Bruni, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Vonda Shepherd and Rod Stewart. It’s actually Ben Taylor’s version which I’ve been listening to recently which made me decide to play the song today.

If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my September songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/you-belong-to-me/s-PpdzL

It’s Only A Paper Moon
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It’s Only A Paper Moon

Today’s song dates from 1933. Written by Arlen, Harburg and Rose, It’s Only A Paper Moon first appeared in the unsuccessful Broadway play The Great Magoo, and then was used in the film Take A Chance. It grew in popularity when versions by Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald were recorded in the 1940s.

There are more songs from the 1930s here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my September songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/its-only-a-paper-moon/s-rUk6m

Love Walked In
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Love Walked In

Today I’m returning to Gershwin, one of my favourite composers. The song Love Walked In was written in 1930, although lyrics were not added until 1937 for the musical The Goldwyn Follies.

For more Gershwin, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my September songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/love-walked-in/s-jEov9

Once In A While
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Once In A While

Today’s song is the 1937 classic Once In A While. First recorded by Tommy Dorsey, it has since been recorded by many artists. Sadly it was the last song Bing Crosby ever recorded, 3 days before his death in 1977.

To hear more August songs, click here. If it’s your first time on the site, find out more about why I’m trying to record a piano tune every day here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/once-in-a-while

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