While We’re Young

While-Were-Young
PROFILE
Composer Alec Wilder, Morty Palitz
Lyricist William Engvick
Year Written 1944
About While We’re Young
“While We’re Young” was first recorded in 1944 by the Fred Waring Singers and again in 1949 by Meredith Willson (who wrote The Music Man) and his Orchestra. Peggy Lee also recorded the song in 1949, but not to Wilder’s liking. Marion McPartland quotes Wilder as telling Miss Lee that “The next time you come to the bridge (of the song), jump off!” “While We’re Young” remains popular in the American songbook, having been recently recorded by Jane Monheit and Ben Sidron.

Lyrics

Songs were made to sing,
While we’re young.
Every day is Spring,
While we’re young.

None can refuse,
Time flies so fast!
Too dear to lose,
An’ too sweet to last!

Though it may be just . . .
For today!
Share our love we must . . .
While we may!

So blue the skies,
All sweet surprise,
Shines before our eyes,
While we’re young!

( Though it may be just . . .
For today!
Share our love we must . . .
While we may! )

So blue the skies,
All sweet surprise,
Shines before our eyes,
While we’re young!

Session / Album Information

1951

“While We’re Young” was recorded on May 31, 1951 and released that same year.

While We"re Young

Listen to While We"re Young on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011

This recording released on:

  • 1951: Columbia 78: 39449
  • 1951: Columbia 45: 4-39449
  • 1952: Columbia LP 10″: CL 6221 — Because Of You
  • 1959: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1292
  • 2000: Blue Jackel CD: 8427328030137 — Blue Velvet and Other Early Hits
  • 2001: Blue Moon CD: BMCD 8001 — Blue Velvet and Other Early Hits [Spain]
  • 2004: Solo CD: 1214 — Blue Velvet And Other Early Hits
  • 2004: Blue Moon CD: BMCD 3013 — Blue Velvet And Other Early Hits [Spain]
  • 2004: Sepia Records CD: SEPIA 1028 — The Young Tony Bennett
  • 2005: ASV/Living Era CD: 5512 — Take My Hand…
  • 2006: Naxos Nostalgia CD: 8120803 — While We’re Young: Original Recordings 1950-1955
  • 2007: Proper CD: PROPERBOX 121 — Young Tony
  • 2011: Disc #3 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK3) The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1

1977

“While We’re Young” was recorded in May, 1977 and released that year on Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music.

While We"re Young - Live

Listen to While We"re Young - Live on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 1977: Improv IMP-7123:Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music
  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2011: Concord CRE-32955-02 – The Best of the Improv Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #54 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK53) Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music

The Trolley Song

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PROFILE
Composer Hugh Martin
Lyricist Paul Blane
Year Written 1944
About The Trolley Song
“The Trolley Song” is from the 1944 Vincente Minnelli film, Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland. Set against the backdrop of the 1904 World’s Fair, this movie explores the life of the middle-class Smith family. Judy Garland’s performance of this song in the film is a true joy. The great score by Hugh Martin includes another Tony Bennett favorite, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Lyrics

With her high-starched collar and her high-top shoes,
And her hair piled high upon her head,
She went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley and found my heart instead.
With my light brown derby and my bright green tie,
I was quite the handsomest of men,
I started to yen so I counted to ten
Then I counted to ten again.

Clang, clang, clang went the trolley,
Ding, ding, ding, ding went the bell,
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings,
From the moment I saw her I fell.

Chug, chug, chug went the motor,
Bump, bump, bump went the break,
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings,
When he smiled I could feel the car shake.

I tipped my hat and took a seat,
I said I hoped I hadn’t stepped upon her feet.
I asked her name, then lost my breath,
She looked so lovely that it scared me half to death.

Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer,
Flop, flop, flop went the wheels,
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings,
As she started to go then I started to know
How it feels,
When the universe reels.

Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings,
As he started to leave,
I took hold of his sleeve with my hand,
And as if it were planned.

She stayed on with me
And it was grand just to stand
With her hand holding mine
To the end of the line.

Session / Album Information

1965

“The Trolley Song” was recorded on December 29, 1965 and released in 1966 on The Movie Song Album. It was arranged by Al Cohn.

The Trolley Song

Listen to The Trolley Song on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1966

This recording released on:

  • 1966: CBS LP 12″: BPG 62677 — The Movie Song Album (UK)
  • 1966: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2472 — The Movie Song Album
  • 1966: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9272 — The Movie Song Album
  • 1973: Embassy LP 12″: EMB 31002 — Trolley Song
  • 1988: Columbia CD: CK 09272 — The Movie Song Album
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87233 2 — The Movie Song Album
  • 2011: Disc #32 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK31) The Movie Song Album

1971

“The Trolley Song” was recorded on January 31, 1971 and released that year on the album Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra. It was arranged by Al Cohn.

The Trolley Song - Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England - January 1971

Listen to The Trolley Song - Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England - January 1971 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1971

This recording released on:

  • 1971: Columbia LP 12″: C 30953 — Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 2011: Disc #42 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK41) Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra

Swinging on a Star

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PROFILE
Composer Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyricist Johnny Burke
Year Written 1944
About Swinging on a Star
“Swinging on a Star” was written in 1944 by the songwriting team of Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It was written for the movie Going My Way, starring Bing Crosby and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for that year. Crosby recorded a very successful version of the song in 1944. Other recordings include those by Rosemary Clooney, Burl Ives, and Ruby Braff, among many others.

Lyrics

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule

A mule is an animal with long funny ears
He kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny – and his brain is weak
He’s just plain stupid with a – stubborn streak
And by the way, if you hate to go to school
You may grow up to be a mule

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a pig

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He ain’t got no manners when he eats his food
He’s fat and lazy – and extremely rude
But if you don’t care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a fish

A fish won’t do anything but swim in a brook
He cant write his name or read a book
And to fool the people is his only thought
Though he slippery – he still gets caught
But then if that sort of life is what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish

And all the monkeys aren’t in a zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it’s all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swinging on a star

Session / Album Information

1998

“Swinging on a Star” was recorded in June 1998 and released that same year on the album The Playground.

Swinging On A Star

Listen to Swinging On A Star on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1998

This recording released on:

  • 1998: Columbia CD: CK 69380 —The Playground
  • 2011: Disc #64 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK62) The Playground

Stella By Starlight

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PROFILE
Composer Victor Young
Lyricist Ned Washington
Year Written 1944 (music), 1946 (lyrics)
About Stella By Starlight
“Stella by Starlight” was introduced in the 1944 film The Uninvited. The song was recorded in 1947 by Harry James and Frank Sinatra; it has been frequently recorded ever since. It found its way as a jazz standard in the early 1950s, with recordings by Stan Getz, Bud Powell and Stan Kenton. It ranks as the 10th most important jazz title at jazzstandards.com.

Lyrics

The song a robin sings,
Through years of endless springs,
The murmur of a brook at eventide,
That ripples by a nook where two lovers hide.

That great symphonic theme,
That’s Stella by starlight,
And not a dream,
My heart and I agree,
She’s everything on earth to me.

That great symphonic theme,
That’s Stella by starlight,
And not a dream,
My heart and i agree,
She’s everything on earth to me.

Session / Album Information

1961

Stella By Starlight was recorded on April 6, 1961 and released in 1961 on the album My Heart Sings. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

Stella By Starlight

Listen to Stella By Starlight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

This recording released on:

  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8458 — My Heart Sings
  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1658 — My Heart Sings
  • 1961: Philips LP 12″ (Mono): BBL 7495 — My Heart Sings (UK)
  • 1967: Hallmark LP 12″: SHM 769 — The Very Thought Of You
  • 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
  • 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
  • 1971: Harmony LP 12″: KH 30758 — The Very Thought Of You
  • 1987: CBS LP 12″: 4504651 — Jazz (UK)
  • 1987:  Columbia LP 12″: C2 40424 — Jazz
  • 1987:  Columbia CD: CGK 40424 — Jazz
  • 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5245 — My Heart Sings [Japan]
  • 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
  • 2005: Columbia CD: 94299 — Jazz Moods: Cool
  • 2011: Disc #20 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK20) My Heart Sings

April 6, 1961

Some Other Time

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PROFILE
Composer Leonard Bernstein
Lyricists Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Year Written 1944
About Some Other Time
“Some Other Time” was written for the musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

Lyrics

Where has the time all gone to
Haven’t done half the things we want to
Oh well, We’ll catch up some other time

This day was just a token
Too many words are still unspoken
Oh Well, we’ll catch up some other time

Just when the fun is starting
comes the time for parting
let’s just be glad for what we had
And what’s to come

There’s some much more embracing
Still to be done but time is racing
Oh Well, we’ll catch up some other time.

Session / Album Information

1975-1

“Some Other Time” was recorded in June, 1975 and was released that year on The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.

Some Other Time

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

This recording released on:

  • 1975: Fantasy LP 12″: F 9489 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 1984: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab LP 12″: MFSL-1-117 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 1991: Fantasy CD: OJCCD-439-2 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 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: Fantasy/OJC CD: OJCCD 439 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
  • 2000: Fantasy CD: 204392 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 2001: JVC XRCD CD: JVCXR-020802 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
  • 2006: Concord CD: CCD-6023-2 — Tony Bennett Sings For Lovers
  • 2006: Fantasy CD: FCD-30177 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 2009: Concord CD: FAN-31281 — The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #52 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK51) The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album
  • 2013: Columbia/Legacy – Sixty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett

1975-2

“Some Other Time” (alternate take #7) was recorded in June, 1975 and was released that year on The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.

Some Other Time - Take 7

Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

This recording released on:

  • 2006: Fantasy CD: FCD-30177 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
  • 2009: Concord CD: FAN-31281 — The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #52 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK51) The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album

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