Once Upon a Summertime
Michel Legrand
| PROFILE | |
| Composers | Michel Legrand, Eddie Barclay |
| Lyricist (French) | Eddie Marnay |
| Lyricist (English)) | Johnny Mercer |
| Year Written | 1954 |
| About Once Upon a Summertime | |
| Blossom Dearie recorded the first English version of “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1958 for her album of the same name. Tony Bennett, Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan recorded it in 1963, followed by Bill Evans in 1964. | |
Lyrics
Once upon a summertime, if you recall,
We stopped beside a little flower stall.
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots was all
I’d let you buy me.
Once upon a summertime, just like today,
We laughed the happy afternoon away
And stole a kiss in ev’ry street cafe
You were sweeter than the blossoms on the tree.
I was as proud as any girl could be,
As if the Mayor had offered me the key
To Paris!
Now, another wintertime has come and gone.
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown,
But I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime.
Session / Album Information
1962
“Once Upon a Summertime” was recorded on October 19, 1962 and released in 1963 on the album I Wanna Be Around. It was arranged by Marty Manning.
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
- 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