The Boulevard of Broken Dreams
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Harry Warren |
| Lyricist | Al Dubin |
| Year Written | 1933 |
| About This Song | Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” in 1933 for the movie Moulin Rouge, where it was sung by Constance Bennett. Although numerous artists have recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (including Bing Crosby 1944), this song is very strongly identified with Tony Bennett. In fact, his demo record of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was heard by Mitch Miller and got Bennett his first recording contract with Columbia Records. |
Lyrics
I walk along the street of sorrow,
The boulevard of broken dreams.
Where gigolo and gigolette
Can take a kiss without regret
So they forget their broken dreams.
You laugh tonight and cry tomorrow,
When you behold your shattered schemes.
And gigolo and gigolette
Awake to find their eyes are wet
With tears that tell of broken dreams.
Here is where you’ll always find me,
Always walking up and down.
But I left my soul behind me
In an old cathedral town.
The joy you find here, you borrow,
You cannot keep it long, it seems.
But gigolo and gigolette
Still sing a song and dance along
The boulevard of broken dreams.
Here is where you’ll always find me,
Always walking up and down.
But I left my soul behind me
In an old cathedral town.
The joy you find here, you borrow,
You cannot keep it long, it seems.
But gigolo and gigolette
Still sing a song and dance along
The boulevard of broken dreams.
Session / Album Information
1949
“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was recorded in October, 1949 as a demo recording. It was arranged by Tony Tamburello. No copies of this demo disk are known to exist.
1950
“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was recorded on April 17, 1950 and April 20, 1950 (Bennett first sessions at Columbia) and was released as a single on May 22,, 1950. It was arranged by Marty Manning.
This recording released on:
- 1956: Columbia LP 10″: CL 2550 — Because Of You
- 1991: Columbia CD: CSK 4083 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett (Promo)
- 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1992: MCA CD: MSD-35347 — Your Hit Parade – The ’50s Forever
- 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1994: Columbia House Music Collection CD: 28387 — The Great American Composers: Harry Warren
- 1995: Smithsonian CD: RD 048-14 — American Songbook Series: Harry Warren
- 1995: Smithsonian Collection CD: 4814 — American Songbook Series: Harry Warren
- 1995: Smithsonian Collection CD: A 23951 — American Songbook Series: Harry Warren
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 84786 — Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits Of The ’50s
- 2006: Naxos Nostalgia CD: 8120803 — While We’re Young: Original Recordings 1950-1955
- 2007: Proper CD: PROPERBOX 121 — Young Tony
- 2008: Impact CD: 11105 — Purely
- 2011: Disc #3 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK3) The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1
1956
This song was recorded on September 13, 1956 and released in 1957 on the album Tony.
This recording also released on:
- 1958: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1229 — Greatest Hits
- 1966: CBS LP 12″: DP 66010 — A String Of Tony’s Hits (UK)
- 1972: CBS LP 12″: CBS 68200 — All-Time Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1972: Columbia LP 12″: KG 31494 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 1986: Columbia CD: — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1986: CBS/Sony CD: 32DP-558 — 16 Most Requested Songs [Japan]
- 1990: Columbia/Legacy CD: CK-40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1990: Columbia/Legacy CD: 40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1990: Columbia CD: 40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1992: Sony Mid-Price CD: 4724182 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 65316 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 200o: Columbia/Legacy CD: CK 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
- 2000: Sony Music CD: 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
- 2001: Sony Music CD: SRCS-9093 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
- 2005: Sony Music CD: 4721952 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 2008: Not Now Music CD: NOT3CD010 — Three Original Hit Albums [UK]
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2011: Disc #10 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK10) Tony
1989
“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was recorded in May, 1989 and was released the following year on Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.
This recording released on:
- 1990: Columbia CD: CK 45348 — Astoria. Portrait Of The Artist
- 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5057 — Astoria. Portrait Of The Artist [Japan]
- 1990: CBS LP 12″: 4660051 — Astoria. Portrait Of The Artist [UK]
- 2011: Disc #57 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK56) Astoria: Portrait of the Artist
- 2013: Sony Music Entertainment: 98381 — Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist
2006
“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was recorded on February 7, 2006 with Sting and was released that same year on Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
This recording released on:
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876809792 — Duets: An American Classic
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876887352 — Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores]
- 2006: Sony BMG CD: 828768858721 — Duets: An American Classic [Australia]
- 2006: Sony BMG CD: 82876885862 — Duets: An American Classic [UK, Singapore]
- 2011: Disc #70 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK68) Duets: An American Classic