18. Autumn In New York (1935)

Vernon Duke

78 rpm version – awful sound quality

(see note below)

Autumn in New York
Why does it seem so inviting
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-nighting

Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds
In canyons of steel
They’re making me feel
I’m home

It’s autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands
May sigh for exotic lands
It’s autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again

Autumn in New York
The gleaming rooftops at sundown
Autumn in New York
It lifts you up when you’re rundown

Jaded roués and gay divorcés
Who lunch at the Ritz
Will tell you that
It’s divine

This autumn in New York
Transforms the slums into Mayfair
Autumn in New York
You’ll need no castle in Spain

Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park
Greet Autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again

 

LP version – much better sound quality

(note: two takes were made in the same recording session and issued in the same year, one in 78rpm (the AT) and the MT in LP version. That’s why the lyrics have small differences)

 

Autumn in New York
Why does it seem so inviting
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-nighting

Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds
In canyons of steel
They’re making me feel
I’m home

It’s autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands
May sigh for exotic lands
It’s autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again

Autumn in New York
The gleaming rooftops at sundown
Autumn in New York
It lifts you up when you’re let down

Jaded roué and gay divorcé
Who lunch at the Ritz
Will tell you that
It’s divine

This autumn in New York
Transforms the slums into Mayfair
Autumn in New York
You’ll need no castle in Spain

Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park
Greet Autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again

 

This song was introduced in 1937 by the American baritone J. Harold Murray in the Broadway show Thumbs Up! with words and music by Vernon Duke.

As Time Goes By (1931)

lyrics and music: Herman Hupfeld

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts filled with passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
Though I will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full with passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
Man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
Though I will always welcome lovers

As time goes by

 

2nd version

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full with passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world I will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts filled with passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman loves man
Man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world I will always welcome lovers

As time goes by

 

This song first appeared in the show Everybody’s Welcome  that started in 1931 at the Schubert Theater in New York, with lyrics by Irving Kahal, and music by Sammy Fain. As Time Goes By was included as part of “aditional material by other songwriters”.

It became famous in the film Casablanca (1942).

The lyrics on the alternate take are closer to the original score.

April In Paris (1932)

Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Music by Vernon Duke

April in Paris chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris this is a feeling
No one can ever reprise

I never knew the charm of Spring
Never met it face to face
I never new my heart could sing
Never missed a warm embrace

Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What have you done to
My heart

I never knew the charm of spring
Never met it face to face
I never new my heart could sing
Never missed a warm embrace

Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What did you mean to
What have you done to
My heart

 

This song first appeared in the Broadway show Walk a Little Faster in 1932.

 April in Paris became a jazz standard, being recorded by many artists. Count Basie’s 1955 recording is probably the most famous and was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame (text and photo by Wikipedia).

April In My Heart

H. Meinardi & Hoagy Carmichael

There’s snowflakes in the sky
And geese are flying high
But it’s April in my heart again
The devil got his due
Love’s holiday is through
Love and I have made a happy start again
Though leaves lie on the ground
The world just turned around
It isn’t Fall at all you see
It’s Spring that I have found

There’s frost in Central Park
At five it’s almost dark
What’s the difference
When you’ve heard love’s sweet amend
There’s snowflakes in the sky
And geese are flying high
But there’s April in my heart again

There’s snowflakes in the sky
And geese are flying high
But it’s April in my heart again
The devil got his due
Love’s holiday is through
Love and I have made a happy start again
Though leaves lie on the ground
The world just turned around
It isn’t Fall at all you see
It’s Spring that I have found

There’s frost in Central Park
At five it’s almost dark
What’s the difference
When you’ve heard love’s sweet amend
There’s snowflakes in the sky
And geese are flying high
But there’s April in my heart again

14. Any Old Time

Artie Shaw

Any old time you want me I am yours
For just the asking darling
Any old time you need me I’ll be there
With love that’s lasting darling
All through the years we’ll stand together
Sharing the tears and stormy weather
And the sunshine will be yours and mine
Any old time your blue
You’ll have our love to chase away the blues
And any old thing you do I’ll see you through
So just remember that I am waiting dear
If ever you want me I’ll be near
Any old time and any place where you may be

 This is the only recording Billie made with Artie Shaw

13. Am I Blue? (1929)

lyrics: Grant Clarke

music: Harry Akst

Am I blue?

Am I blue?
Ain’t these tears

In my eyes

Tellin’ you
Am I blue?

You’d be too
If each plan

With your man
Done fell through

Was a time

I was his only one
But now I’m

The sad and lonely one,

Lawdy

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re through
Am I blue?

(bridge)

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re trough
Am I blue?

Oh he’s gone

He left me
Am I blue?

2nd version

Am I blue?

Am I blue?
Ain’t these tears

In my eyes

Tellin’ you
Am I blue?

Am I blue?

You’d be too
It’s plan

With my man
Done fell through

Was a time

I was his only one
But now I’m

The sad and lonely one,

Lawdy

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re through
Am I blue?

(bridge)

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re trough
Am I blue?

Oh he’s gone

He left me
Am I blue?

3rd version

Am I blue?

Am I blue?
Ain’t these tears

In my eyes

Tellin’ you
Am I blue?

You’d be too
If each plan

With your man
Done fell through

Was a time

I was his only one
But now I’m

The sad and lonely one,

Lawdy

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re through
Am I blue?

(bridge)

Was I gay

‘Til today
Now he’s gone

And we’re trough
Am I blue?

Oh he’s gone

He left me
Am I blue?

First appeared in the film On With The Show sung by Ethel Waters

Always (1925)

lyrics and music Irving Berlin

I’ll be loving you
Always
With a love that’s true
Always
When the things you’ve planned
Need a helping hand
I will understand
Always, always

Days may not be fair
Always
That’s when I’ll be there
Always
Not for just an hour
Not for just a day
Not for just a year
But always

(long bridge)

I’ll be loving you
Always
With a love that’s true
Always
When the things you’ve planned
Need a helping hand
I will understand
Always, always

Days may not be fair
Always
That’s when I’ll be there
Always
Not for just an hour
Not for just a day
Not for just a year
But always

 

All The Way (1957)

lyrics by Sammy Cahn
music by Jimmy Van Heusen 

When somebody loves you
It’s no good unless he loves you
All the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you
All the way

Taller than the tallest tree is
That’s how it’s got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue sea is
That’s how deep it goes
If its real

When somebody needs you
You no good unless he needs you
All the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the in between years
Come what may

Who knows where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say
But if you let me love you
It’s for sure I’m gonna love you
All the way,
All the way

(bridge)

But if you let me love you
It’s for sure I’m gonna love you
All the way,
All the way

 

This song appeared in the film The Joker Is Wild  with Frank Sinatra

A Sunbonnet Blue (And A Yellow Straw Hat)

Irving Kahal & Sammy Fain

A sunbonnet blue and a yellow straw hat

Shy little he and she

Were declaring love’s old story

In the shade of the old apple tree

A sunbonnet blue and a yellow straw hat

Decided to say, “I do”

So they rode to June and glory

On a bicycle built for two

Hear the past.  The song is old.

The summer days are through

With silver threads among the gold

They still say, “I love you”

A sunbonnet blue and a yellow straw hat

Are true to this very day

For he loves her in December

As he did in May

A Fine Romance (1936)

Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

Music: Jerome Kern

A fine romance with no kisses
A fine romance my friend this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you’re as cold as yesterday’s mashed potatoes
A fine romance you won’t nestle
A fine romance you won’t wrestle
I might as well play bridge with my old maid aunt
I haven’t got a chance
This is a fine romance

(bridge)

A fine romance my good fellow
You take romance I’ll take Jell-O
You’re calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
With no insults and all morals
I’ve never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants
I never get the chance
This is a fine romance

 

A fine romance, with no kisses
A fine romance my friend this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you’re as cold as yesterday’s mashed potatoes
A fine romance you won’t nestle
A fine romance you won’t wrestle
I might as well play bridge with my old maid aunts
I haven’t got a chance
This is a fine romance

(bridge)

A fine romance my good fellow
A fine romance I’ll take Jell-O
You’re calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
With no insults and all morals
I’ve never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants
I never get the chance
This is a fine romance

A fine romance, with no kisses
A fine romance my friend this is
We two should be like clams in a dish of chowder
But we just fizz like parts of a Seidlitz powder
A fine romance with no clinches
A fine romance with no pinches
You’re just as hard to land as the Ile de France
I haven’t got a chance
This is a fine romance

 

A fine romance with no kisses
A fine romance my friend this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you’re as cold as yesterday’s mashed potatoes
A fine romance you won’t nestle
A fine romance you won’t wrestle
I might as well play bridge with my old maid aunts
I haven’t got a chance
This is a fine romance

(bridge)

A fine romance my good fellow
You’ll take romance I’ll take Jell-O
You’re calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
With no insults and all morals
I’ve never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants
I never get the chance
This is a fine romance

 

First appeared in the film Swing Time, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Jell-O is a kind of gelatin dessert