May I Never Love Again

mayineverloveagain
PROFILE
Songwriters Sano Marco, Jack Erickson
Year Written 1940
About May I Never Love Again
This song has found a home in jazz, popular and barbershop singing. Notable recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and The Ted Weems Orchestra.

Lyrics

May I never see the sun go down,
May I never feel the falling rain,
If the love that I declare
Isn’t all that’s right and fair,
May I never, may I never love again!

May I never see the blue of the sky,
Nor the moon and stars down Lovers’ Lane;
May I never live a day
If I don’t mean what I say,
May I never, may I never love again!

Sweetheart, when I’m with you,
I’m not a foolish pretender;
Sweetheart, if you love me too,
All I possess I surrender!

May I never feel your tender lips,
May you never take my love in vain;
You’re the answer to my prayer,
But if your love isn’t there,
May I never, no I’ll never love again!

Sweetheart, when I’m with you,
I’m not a foolish pretender;
Sweetheart, if you love me too,
All I possess I surrender!

May I never feel your tender lips,
May you never take my love in vain;
You’re the answer to my prayer,
But if your love isn’t there,

Session / Album Information

1955

“May I Never Love Again” was recorded on May 8, 1955 and released that year as a single.

May I Never Love Again

Listen to May I Never Love Again on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011

This recording released on:

  • 1955: Philips 78: PB 486
  • 1955: Columbia 78: 40523
  • 1955: Columbia 45: 4-40523
  • 1956: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2550 — Because Of You
  • 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
  • 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett>
  • 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
  • 2011: Disc #6 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK6) The Columbia Singles, Volume 4
  • 2013: Columbia/Legacy – Sixty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett

Love For Sale

loveforsale
PROFILE
Composer Cole Porter
Lyricist Cole Porter
Year Written 1930
About Love For Sale
“Love For Sale” was written in 1930 for the Broadway musical The New Yorkers. The song was sung by a prostitute advertising her services. The song was considered rather scandalous at the time. In fact, for the production of The New Yorkers, it was supposed to be sung by the white star Kathryn Crawford, but the song was assigned to to an African-American singer instead. In spite of being banned from play on the radio, “Love For Sale” has had many fine recordings, including those by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Miles Davis

Lyrics

When the only sound in the empty street,
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
She opens shop.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town.
That her smile becomes a smirk,
She goes to work.

Love for sale,
Appetizing young love for sale.
Love that’s fresh and still unspoiled,
Love that’s only slightly soiled,
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who’s prepared to pay the price,
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love
in their childish way,
She knows every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love,
She’s been through the mill of love;
Old love, new love
Every love but true love.

Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.
If you want to buy her wares.
Follow her and climb the stairs
Love for sale.
Love for sale.

Session / Album Information

1957

Love For Sale was recorded on October 24, 1957 and released in 1957 on the album The Beat of My Heart. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Love for Sale

Listen to Love for Sale on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957

This recording also released on:

  • Pacific LP 12″: — Just One Of Those Things [Australia]
  • 1957: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7219 — The Beat Of My Heart
  • 1962: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): BPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
  • 1962: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1869 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  • 1962: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
  • 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  • 1969: Harmony LP 12″: HS 11340 — Just One Of Those Things
  • 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
  • 1970: Hallmark LP 12″: SHM 646 — Just One Of Those Things [UK]
  • 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
  • 1980: CBS LP 12″: 32732 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
  • 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5241 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [Japan
  • 1990: Columbia CD: CK 08669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  • 1993: Columbia House Music Collection CD: 2C2 7926 — The Great American Composers: Cole Porter
  • 2008: Not Now Music CD: NOT3CD010 — Three Original Hit Albums [UK]
  • 2011: Disc #11 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK11) The Beat of My Heart

The Last Time I Saw Paris


PROFILE
Composer Jerome Kern
Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein
Year Written 1940
About The Last Time I Saw Paris
“The Last Time I Saw Paris,” unlike many songs by Jerome Kern, wasn’t written specifically for a film or Broadway musical. However, it was used in the 1941 film Lady Be Good, where it was sung by Ann Sothern; the song won the Academy Award for best song that year. the song also inspired the 1954 film of the same name, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. Significant recordings include those by Kate Smith, Bud Powell, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, and Connie Francis.

Lyrics

The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay
I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café
The last time I saw Paris, her trees were dressed for spring
And lovers walked beneath those trees and birds found songs to sing
I dodged the same old taxicabs that I had dodged for years
The chorus of their squeaky horns was music to my ears
The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay
No matter how they change her, I’ll remember her that way

I’ll think of happy hours, and people who shared them
Old women, selling flowers, in markets at dawn
Children who applauded, Punch and Judy in the park
And those who danced at night and kept our Paris bright
Till the town went dark

Session / Album Information

2015

“The Last Time I Saw Paris” was recorded by Tony Bennett in 2015 and was released on The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. It was arranged by Bill Charlap.

The Last Time I Saw Paris

No Description

2015: Columbia/RPM CD: 8875 45742 — The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern

I Could Write a Book

palJoeyPlayBill
PROFILE
Composer Richard Rodgers
Lyricist Lorenz Hart
Year Written 1940
About I Could Write a Book
“I Could Write a Book” was written for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day and Ella Fitzgerald.

Lyrics

A-B-C-D-E-G-H
I never learned to spell
at least not well.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7
I never learned to count
a great amount.
But my busy mind is burning
to use what learning I’ve got.
I won’t waste any time,
I’ll strike while the iron is hot.

If they asked me, I could write a book
about the way you walk and whisper and look.
I could write a preface on how we met
so the world would never forget.
And the simple secret of the plot
is just to tell them that I love you a lot.
Then the world discovers as my book ends
how to make two lovers a friend

Session / Album Information

1973-1

“I Could Write a Book” was recorded in July, 1973 and released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

This recording released on:

  • 1976: Improv LP 12″: 7113 — Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs
  • Disky CD: BX 883552 — As Time Goes By
  • 1990: King CD: KICP-2046 — The Rodgers and Hart Songbook [Japan]
  • 1991: Improv LP 12″: DARC2-2102 — The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
  • 1991: DRG CD: CDXP 2102 — The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
  • 2000: Horatio Nelson CD: HNRCD9001 — The Essential Tony Bennett (UK)
  • 2002: Recall CD: RECA 353 — Have You Met Miss Jones? [UK]
  • 2004: Concord CD: PRO-CJ-0081-2 — The Complete Improv Recordings Sampler
  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2006: Concord CD: CCD-6023-2 — Tony Bennett Sings For Lovers
  • 2011: Concord CRE-32955-02 – The Best of the Improv Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #50 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK49) Tony Bennett’s Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs

1973-2

“I Could Write a Book” (alternate take #2)  was recorded in July, 1973 and released in 2004 on The Complete Improv Recordings.

I Could Write A Book - Album Version - (Alt. Tk2)

Listen to I Could Write A Book - Album Version - (Alt. Tk2) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2011: Disc #50 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK49) Tony Bennett’s Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs

I Concentrate On You

220px-Broadway_Melody_of_1940_-_1940_Poster
PROFILE
Composer and Lyricist Cole Porter
Year Written 1940
About I Concentrate On You
Cole Porter wrote “I Concentrate On You” for the film Broadway Melody of 1940. It’s one of Porter’s best songs, with recordings by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington and Judy Garland among others.

Lyrics

And so when wise men say to me
That love’s young dream never comes true
To prove that even wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you
I concentrate and concentrate

Whenever skies look grey to me
And trouble begins to brew
Whenever the winter winds
Become too strong
I concentrate on you

When fortune cries, “Nay, nay” to me
And people declare “You’re through”
Whenever the blues become my only song
I concentrate on you

On your smile so sweet so tender
When at first my kiss you decline
And that look in your eyes
When you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine

And so when wise men say to me
That love’s young dream never comes true
To prove that even wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you.
I concentrate, and concentrate on you.

Session / Album Information

1972

“I Concentrate On You” was recorded on December 13, 1972 and released in 1973 on the album Listen Easy. It was arranged by Don Costa.

This recording released on:

  • 1972: Philips LP 12″: 6641297 — Spotlight On Tony Bennett (UK)
  • 1973: Verve LP 12″: V6 5094 — Listen Easy
  • 1973: Philips LP 12″: 6308 157 — Listen Easy [UK]
  • 2011: Disc #46 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK45) Listen Easy

1993

“I Concentrate On You” was recorded in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

I Concentrate on You

Listen to I Concentrate on You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993

This recording released on:

  • 1993: Columbia CD: CK 57424 — Steppin’ Out
  • 2011: Disc #59 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK58) Steppin’ Out

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