Once Upon a Time

onceuponatime
PROFILE
Composer Charles Strouse
Lyricist Lee Adams
Year Written 1962
About Once Upon a Time
“Once Upon a Time” was written for the 1962 Ray Bolger musical All American, where it was introduced by Bolger and Eileen Herlie. While the musical was not a major smash hit, the song is quite lovely. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording, it was also recorded by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Howard Keel, Bobby Darrin and Mandy Patinkin.

Lyrics

Once upon a time a girl with moonlight in her eyes
Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
But that was once upon a time, very long ago

Once upon a time we sat beneath a willow tree
Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
But that was once upon a time, now the tree is gone

How the breeze ruffled up her hair
How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn’t there
We were young and didn’t have a care
Where did it go?

Once upon a time the world was sweeter than we knew
Everything was ours, how happy we were then
But somehow once upon a time never comes again

Session / Album Information

1962

“Once Upon a Time” was recorded January 23, 1962 and released in 1962 on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

Once Upon a Time

Tony Bennett · I Left My Heart In San Francisco · Song · 1962

This recording released on:

  • 1962: Columbia 45: 4-42332
  • 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  • 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]
  • 1965: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2373 — Tony’s Greatest Hits, Vol. III
  • 1965: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9173 — Tony’s Greatest Hits, Vol. III
  • 1967: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62821 — Tony’s Greatest Hits [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
  • 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
  • 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
  • 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
  • 2005: Collectables CD: CCL8053 — The Good Life
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 84779 — Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits Of The ’60s
  • 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
  • 2011: Disc #23 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK23) I Left My Heart in San Francisco

1964

“Once Upon a Time” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Once Upon a Time - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Once Upon a Time - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

This recording released on:

  • 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On

On The Other Side Of The Tracks

Little-Me
PROFILE
Composer Cy Coleman
Lyricist Carolyn Leigh
Year Written 1962
About On the Other Side of the Tracks “On the Other Side of the Tracks” is from the 1962 musical Little Me, starring Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, who introduced this song.

Lyrics

But my heart says, “Reach for the stars”
And my heart I cannot deny
Though its my hard luck
That I’m stuck
On the farthest one in the sky

So my eyes are destined to wander
And my brain no more to relax
For there’s nothing farther out yonder
Than the other side of the tracks

On the other side of the tracks
It’s a long and difficult climb
But the air up there on the bill of faire
Is a choice of lemon and lime

And the muscles keeping your nose up
Are the only muscles you tax
Oh I envy someone who grows up
On the other side of the tracks

So I’m off and running
Over the rail
I’m going gunning
After the quail
Off and running
Send me the mail

To the great big world
On the other side
To the great big world
On the farther side
To the great big world
On the other side of the tracks

One more time!

To the great big world
On the other side
The great big world
On the farther side
The great big world
On the other side of the tracks

Session / Album Information

1963

“On the Other Side of the Tracks” was recorded on April 22, 1963 and released in 1963 on the album This Is All I Ask. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

On The Other Side Of The Tracks

Listen to On The Other Side Of The Tracks on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

This recording released on:

  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8856 — This Is All I Ask
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2056 — This Is All I Ask
  • 2011: Disc #27 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK26) This Is All I Ask

Make It Easy On Yourself

Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Burt Bacharach and Hal David

PROFILE
Composer Burt Bacharach
Lyricist Hal David
Year Written 1962
About Make It Easy On Yourself
“Make It Easy On Yourself” is one of the early popular songs from Burt Bacharach and Hal David. This song marked the beginning of the long association with Bacharach and David with Dionne Warwick, who recorded many of their songs.

Lyrics

Just tell me that we’re through

And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up is so very hard to do

And if the way I hold you
Can’t compare to his caress
No words of consolation
Will make me miss you less

My darling, if this is goodbye
I just know I’m gonna die
So run to him
Before, before you start to cry

And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up is so very hard to do

Make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up is so very hard to do
Breaking up is so very hard to do

Session / Album Information

1970

“Make It Easy On Yourself” was recorded on August 11, 1970 and released that year on the album Tony Bennett’s “Something”. It was arranged by Peter Matz.

Make It Easy On Yourself

Listen to Make It Easy On Yourself on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1970

This recording released on:

  • 1970: Columbia LP 12″: C 30280 — Tony Bennett’s “Something”
  • 1970: CBS LP 12″: S64217 — Tony Bennett’s “Something” (UK)
  • 1995: Columbia CD: CK 64601 — Tony Bennett’s “Something”
  • 2011: Disc #39 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK38) Tony Sings The Great Hits of Today!

Long About Now

Fred Hellerman

Fred Hellerman

PROFILE
Composer Fred Hellerman
Lyricist Fran Minkoff
Year Written 1962
About Long About Now “Long About Now” was written by Fred Hellerman of The Weavers and Fran Minkoff. It was first recorded in 1962 by Harry Belafonte.

Lyrics

‘Long about now, my woman’s waking
Shaking the sleep from out of her eyes
Smiling a smile so warm
That smile is making the morning sun ashamed to rise

‘Long about now, my woman’s bending
Tending the fire and setting the bread
Starting a song, so sweet
That at its ending the fire is burning extra red

‘Long about now, my woman’s waiting
Shading the sun from off of her brow
Searching the winding road with eyes that try to find me
And longing after me ‘long about now
‘Long about now, ‘long about now

Session / Album Information

1963

“Long About Now” was recorded on April 26, 1963 and released in 1963 on the album This Is All I Ask. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

Long About Now

Listen to Long About Now on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

This recording released on:

  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8856 — This Is All I Ask
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2056 — This Is All I Ask
  • 1995: Columbia CD: CK 66504 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 2011: Disc #27 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK26) This Is All I Ask

I’ve Got Your Number

Little-Me
PROFILE
Composer Cy Coleman
Lyricist Carolyn Leigh
Year Written 1962
About I’ve Got Your Number
“I’ve Got Your Number” is from the 1962 Broadway musical Little Me, the second musical that Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote (the first being Wildcat, written for Lucille Ball). Little Me starred Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, both of whom introduced “I’ve Got Your Number.”

Lyrics

I’ve got your number
I know you inside out
You ain’t no Eagle Scout
You’re all at sea

Oh yes, you brag a lot
Wave your own flag a lot
But you’re unsure a lot
You’re a lot like me, oh

I’ve got your number
And what you’re looking for
And what you’re looking for
Just suits me fine

We’ll break the rules a lot
We’ll be damn fools a lot
But then why should we not
How could we not combine when

I’ve got your number
And I’ve got the glow you’ve got
I’ve got your number
And more

So go ahead and pick a number
From 1 to 10
You’re losing streak is over
I can’t win again
And here’s the punchline
You’ve got mine

Session / Album Information

1962

“I’ve Got Your Number” was recorded on October 19, 1962 and released in 1963 on the album I Wanna Be Around. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

I"ve Got Your Number

Listen to I"ve Got Your Number on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

This recording released on:

  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″: P 13575 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2000 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 1963: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62149 — I Wanna Be Around (UK)
  • 1963: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8800 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 1975:  Columbia LP 12″: KG 33376 — Let’s Fall In Love With The Songs Of Harold Arlen And Cy Coleman
  • 1995: Columbia CD: CK 66504 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87234 — I Wanna Be Around
  • 2011: Disc #26 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK25) I Wanna Be Around

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