Without a Song

Without A Song
PROFILE
Composer Vincent Youmans
Lyricists Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
Year Written 1926
About Without a Song
“Without a Song” was written for the 1929 musical Great Day. It has been recorded by artists ranging from Perry Como to Mario Lanza to Frank Sinatra. Great Day was set in 19th century Louisiana; as a result some of the lyrics have been changed over time to remove currently objectionable language.

Lyrics

Without a song the day would never end
Without a song the road would never bend
When things go wrong, a man ain’t got a friend
Without a song

That field of corn would never see a plow
That field of corn would be deserted now
A man is born but he’s no good no-how
Without a song

I got my troubles and woe but sure as I know that Jordan will roll
I’ll get along as long as a song is strong in my soul

I’ll never know what makes the rain to fall
I’ll never know what makes the grass so tall
I only know there ain’t no love at all
Without a song

Session / Album Information

1956

Without a Song was recorded on September 12, 1956 and released in 1957 on the album Tony.

Without A Song

Listen to Without A Song on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957

This recording also released on:

  • 2007: Proper CD: PROPERBOX 121 — Young Tony   (2007)
  • 2008:  Not Now Music CD: NOT3CD010 — Three Original Hit Albums [UK]
  • 2011: Disc #10 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK10) Tony

1958

“Without a Song” was recorded on December 22, 1958 and released in 1959 on the album In Person!

Without a Song

Tony Bennett & Count Basie · The Complete Recordings (Bonus Track Version) · Song · 2013

  • Columbia LP 12″: LE 10125 — In Person! With Count Basie
  • CBS LP 12″: 35DP159 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
  • CBS LP 12″: 20AP1418 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
  • Philips LP 12″: 840059BY — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
  • 1959: CBS LP 12″: BPG 62250 — In Person! [UK]
  • 1959: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8104 — In Person! With Count Basie
  • 1959: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1294 — In Person! With Count Basie
  • 1959: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7398/SBBL 542 — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
  • 1983: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): 32373 — In Person! [UK]
  • 1994: Columbia CD: CK 64276 — In Person! With Count Basie
  • 1999: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD: UDCD743 — In Person!
  • 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
  • 2011: Disc #14 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK14) In Person!

1962

“Without a Song” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962, but was not released until 1997 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall: Complete Concert. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.

Without A Song (From "Great Day!") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Without A Song (From "Great Day!") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962

This recording released on:

  • 1997:  Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
  • 2011: Disc #24 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall

True Blue Lou

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PROFILE
Composer Richard Whiting
Lyricist Sam Coslow, Leo Robin
Year Written 1929
About True Blue Lou
“True Blue Lou” was written for the 1929 musical film The Dance of Life, an adaptation of the Broadway play Burlesque. The song was sung in the film by Hal Skelly, in the role of an out-of-work burlesque comedian. “True Blue Lou” was a standard song for Ethel Waters, who sang it throughout her career. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, Frank Sinatra also recorded it in the 1950s.

Lyrics

Down in the poolroom
Some of the gang were
Talking of gals they knew
Women are all the same, said Joe

Then one dizzy bird
Said, pal, ain’t you heard
The story of True Blue Lou

Listen and get an earful, Joe
While I remind you she was
A dame in love with a guy
She stuck to him
But didn’t know why

Everyone blamed her
Still they all named her
True Blue Lou

He gave her nothing
She gave him all
But when he had
His back to the wall

Who fought to save him
Smiled and forgave him
True Blue Lou

He got a break and went
Away to get a new start
But poor kid, she never got a break
Except the one way
Down in her heart

Maybe somewhere
In heaven up above
There’s a reward
For that kind of love

Angels won’t blame her
They too will name her
True Blue Lou

Session / Album Information

1963

“True Blue Lou” was recorded on April 24, 1963 and released in 1963 on the album This Is All I Ask. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

True Blue Lou

Listen to True Blue Lou on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

This recording released on:

  • 1963:  Columbia 45: 4-42820
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8856 — This Is All I Ask
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2056 — This Is All I Ask
  • 1994: Columbia House Music Collection CD: C22 8430 — The Great American Composers: Leo Robin
  • 1994: Smithsonian CD: RD 048-22 — American Songbook Series: Richard Whiting
  • 1996: Smithsonian Collection CD: A 24571 — American Songbook Series: Richard Whiting
  • 1996:  Smithsonian Collection CD: 4822 — American Songbook Series: Richard Whiting
  • 2011: Disc #27 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK26) This Is All I Ask

More Than You Know

More Than You Know
PROFILE
Composer Vincent Youmans
Lyricists Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
Year Written 1929
About More Than You Know
“More Than You Know” was written for the Broadway musical Great Day, which only ran for 36 performances. In spite of its poor run on Broadway, the score was considered very good and so it got sold to Hollywood, where it was to be a starring vehicle for Joan Crawford. Eight weeks into production, the film was shut down and was never released. Thankfully, this song remained popular, in many ways thanks to Fanny Brice, who was married to Billy Rose, and sang the song in her performances with the Ziegfeld Follies. It has been widely recorded by jazz and popular artists since it was written.

Lyrics

Whether you are here or yonder
Whether you are false or true
Whether you remain or wander
I’m growing fonder of you

Even though your friends forsake you
Even though you don’t succeed
Wouldn’t I be glad to take you
Give you the break you need

More than you know
More than you know
Girl of my heart, I love you so
Lately I’ve found you on my mind
More than you know

Whether you’re right
Whether you’re wrong
Man of my heart, I’ll string along
I need you so
More than you’ll ever know

Loving you the way that I do
There’s nothing I can do about it
Loving may be all you can give
But darling, I can’t live without it

Oh, how I’d cry
How I’d sigh
If you got tired and said goodbye
More than I show
More than you’ll ever know

Session / Album Information

1961

More Than You Know was recorded on April 4, 1961 and released in 1961 on the album My Heart Sings. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

More Than You Know

Listen to More Than You Know on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

This recording released on:

  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8458 — My Heart Sing
  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1658 — My Heart Sings
  • 1961: Philips LP 12″ (Mono): BBL 7495 — My Heart Sings (UK)
  • 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5245 — My Heart Sings [Japan]
  • 2011: Disc #20 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK20) My Heart Sings

Judy

Hoagy Carmichael

Hoagy Carmichael

PROFILE
Composer Hoagy Carmichael
Lyricist Sammy Lerner
Year Written 1929
About Judy
Written in the early part of Carmichael’s career, “Judy” is love song that some thought was a little too worldly-wise; in fact even though written in 1929, it wasn’t published until 1934. Early recordings came from the Dorsey Brothers, Lionel Hampton and Bob Chester. Other recordings include those by Louis Prima, Frankie Laine and, of course, Tony Bennett. It is said to have been a favorite song of the young performer Frances Gumm, who changed her name to Judy Garland.

Lyrics

If her voice can bring
Every hope of the spring
That’s Judy, my Judy

If her eyes say yes
But you’re wrong in your guess
That’s Judy, my Judy

If you hear her call
In a soft, southern drawl
“Hi, stranger”, that’s danger

If you’re smart
Watch your heart
She’ll upset ‘most
Any fellows apple cart

In a hundred ways
You’ll be shouting her praise
She’ll let ya, I mean she’ll get ya

When she sees you fall
She will tell you, “That’s all
You wretch ya, you bet ya”

Then you’ll know
All the heartaches
Of a fool just like me

If she seem a saint
And you’ll find that she ain’t
That’s Judy, sure as you’re born

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/tony_bennett/

Session / Album Information

1964

“Judy” was recorded on March 27, 1964 and released in 1964 on the album When Lights Are Low. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Judy

Tony Bennett · When Lights Are Low · Song · 1964

This recording released on:

  • 1964: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8975 — When Lights Are Low
  • 1964: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2175 — When Lights Are Low
  • 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5242 — When Lights Are Low [Japan]
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 69699 85807 2 — When Lights Are Low
  • 2011: Disc #29 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK28) When Lights Are Low

I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)

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PROFILE
Composer Henry Sullivan
Lyricist Harry Ruskin
Year Written 1929
About I May Be Wrong
“I May Be Wrong” was written for the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.

Lyrics

I may be wrong, but I think you’re wonderful
I may be wrong, but I think you’re swell
I like your style, say I think it’s marvelous
I’m always wrong so how can I tell?

Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You might be John Barrymore

You came along, say I think you’re wonderful
I think you’re grand, but I may be wrong

I may be wrong, but I think you’re wonderful
I may be wrong, but I think you’re swell
I like your style, say I really think it’s marvelous
I’m always wrong so how can I tell?

Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You might be John Barrymore

You came along, say I think you’re wonderful
I think you’re grand, but I may be wrong

You said that Edison would never make that light
You laughed at Mr. Franklin with his key and light
The point of the song is I’m always wrong
But with you baby, I’m, oh, so right

Session / Album Information

1995

“I May Be Wrong I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)” was recorded on July 26, 1995. The recording was a previously unreleased outtake from Bennett’s album Here’s To The Ladies. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

I May Be Wrong (But I Think You"re Wonderful)

Listen to I May Be Wrong (But I Think You"re Wonderful) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012

This recording released on:

  • 2011: Disc #2 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK2) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2

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