Out of Nowhere

By Johnny Green and Edward Heyman (pictured)
1931

From the same team responsible for "Body and Soul" and "I Cover the Waterfront" came this song, which turned out to be Bing Crosby's first solo #1 hit when he recorded it for Brunswick Records in March 1931. It would continue to be closely associated with Bing, although it eventually became a widely recorded jazz standard. Interestingly, the harmonic progression of this tune can be found in several other compositions, including Gigi Gryce's "Sans Souci" and Alexander Courage's classic theme to the original Star Trek TV series. It is also a favorite of Woody Allen's, popping up in three of his films: 1993's Manhattan Murder Mystery (Coleman Hawkins version), 1997's Deconstructing Harry (Django Reinhardt version) and 1999's Sweet and Lowdown (Dick Hyman version).

Lyrics:

You came to me from out of nowhere 
you took my heart and found it free
Wonderful dreams, wonderful schemes from nowhere
Made every hour sweet as a flower to me

And if you should go back to your nowhere 
Leaving me with a memory
I'll always wait for your return out of nowhere
Hoping you'll bring your love to me

When I least expected, kindly faith directed
You to make each dream of mine come true
And if it's clear or raining, there is no explaining
Things just happened and so did you

You came to me from out of nowhere
You took my heart and you found it free
Wonderful dreams, wonderful schemes from nowhere
Made every hour sweet as a flower to me

Recorded By:

Dave Brubeck
Lena Horne
Ella Fitzgerald
Vic Damone
Art Tatum

Mississippi Mud

By Harry Barris

1927

Harry Barris, composer of this joyous Roaring '20s tune, was a member of the Rhythm Boys, the vocal group that accompanied Paul Whiteman's orchestra and also included a very young Bing Crosby. The Rhythm Boys introduced the song with Whiteman's band, also featuring the legendary Bix Beiderbecke on cornet. It remained popular in later years, although with the original derogatory term "darkies" changed to "people". It appeared in an early episode of M*A*S*H, and has even proven a popular children's song, performed by The Muppets and Alvin & The Chipmunks.

Lyrics:

When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, 
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud".

What a dance do they do!
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you
They don't need no band
They keep time by clappin' their hand
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud,
When the darkies beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.

Lordy, how they play it!
Goodness, how they sway it!
Uncle Joe, Uncle Jim,
How they pound the mire with vigor and vim!
Joy! that music thrills me!
Boy! it nearly kills me!
What a show when they go!
Say! they beat it up either fast or slow.

When the sun goes down, the tide goes out,
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud".

What a dance do they do!
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you
They don't need no band
They keep time by clappin' their hand.
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud.
When the darkies beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.

Recorded By:

Dean Martin
Ray Charles
The Lennon Sisters
Eydie Gorme
Dinah Shore

Please

By Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin
1932

One of the most iconic recordings of Bing Crosby, the 20th century's most important popular vocalist, "Please" was introduced by Crosby in the Paramount Pictures movies The Big Broadcast. It was Der Bingle's first starring role, and helped make him a national sensation. The song was a product of the successful movie songwriting team of Rainger & Robin, perhaps best known for writing "Thanks for the Memory" for Bob Hope in The Big Broadcast of 1938 some six years later. With an endearingly catchy lyric and utterly hummable melody, the song has been an inspiration to many, including John Lennon, who cited its wordplay as a direct influence on his early Beatles hit, "Please Please Me".

Lyrics: 

Oh, please
Lend your little ear to my pleas
Lend a ray of cheer to my pleas
Tell me that you love me too

Please
Let me hold you tight in my arms
I could find delight in your charms
Every night my whole life through

Your eyes reveal that you have the soul of
An angel white as snow
How long must I play the role of
A gloomy Romeo?

Oh, please
Say you're not intending to tease
Speed that happy ending and please
Tell me that you love me too

Recorded By:

Bing Crosby
Sarah Vaughan
Ray Coniff
Bucky Pizzarelli
Will Osborne and his Orchestra

Silver Bells

By Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
1950

A warm, fuzzy Christmas classic of the post-war era, this charming chestnut was composed for the film The Lemon Drop Kid, in which it was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. A major hit recording by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards released before the film was so successful it caused the film producers to re-shoot the scene more elaborately prior to the release of the movie. Conflicting reports indicate that the inspiration for the song came either from the bell-ringing Salvation Army Santas on NYC streetcorners, or a bell that was kept on Livingston and Evans' shared office desk. Incidentally, the songwriting team of Livingston & Evans were also responsible for such post-war classics as "To Each His Own" and "Mona Lisa".

Lyrics:

Silver bells silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks busy sidewalks .
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear...

Silver bells silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear...

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Recorded By:

Perry Como

Dean Martin

Frank Sinatra

Martina McBride

Andy Williams

Be Careful, It's My Heart

By Irving Berlin
1942

One of 12 original songs written by Berlin for the movie musical Holiday Inn, starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby (this is the movie that introduced "White Christmas". With songs written each with a holiday theme, this one is themed for Valentine's Day, and is introduced in the film by Crosby. Constructed as a waltz, the song nevertheless proved quite popular as a pop and even jazz standard.

Lyrics:

Sweetheart of mine, I've sent you a Valentine
Sweetheart of mine, it's more than a Valentine

Be careful, it's my heart
It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart

It's not the note I sent you
That you quickly burned
It's not the book I lent you
That you never returned

Remember, it's my heart
The heart with which so willingly I part

It's yours to take, to keep or break
But please, before you start
Be careful, it's my heart

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Tommy Dorsey
Bing Crosby
John Pizzarelli & The George Shearing Quintet
Vera Lynn

I'll Be Home for Christmas

By Walter Kent & Kim Gannon
1943

A warm yet melancholy Christmas standard that dates back to World War II, during which the lyric held a special meaning for soldiers stationed overseas for the holidays. Bing Crosby introduced the tune in time for Christmas 1943, and his version was shipped directly to those soldiers. A controversy ensued over the copyright when poet Buck Ram alleged that the title was stolen from a poem he had written. Some songwriting credits include Ram for this reason. Since WWII, it has become a standard expression of Christmas longing for families everywhere.

Lyrics:

I'll be home for Christmas,
You can count on me.
Please have snow
And mistletoe,
And presents under the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas,
If only in my dreams.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Perry Como
Al Green
Leon Redbone
Joe Williams

In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening

By Hoagy Carmichael & Johnny Mercer
1951

The formidable duo of Carmichael and Mercer teamed up to create this irresisibly jaunty tune--which won the Academy Award--for the film Here Comes the Groom. It was introduced in the movie by the two stars, the incomparable Bing Crosby and then-Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman. A fine merger of a Carmichael melody and Mercer lyric.

Lyrics:

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Save your pappy a chair
When the party's getting a glow on
And singin' fills the air
In the shank of the night
When the doin's are right
Well you can tell em I'll be there

I like a barbecue
I like to boil a ham
And I vote for bola baste stew
What's that?
I like a weenie bake, steak and a layer cake
And you'll get a tummy ache too
We'll rent a tent or a teepee
Let the town crier cry
"All's well!"
And if it's RSVP
This is what I'll reply

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Tell 'em we'll be there
If you need a pair of freeloaders
To fracture your affair
I may even give them Pagliacci
Now stand back and give him air
If one can relax and we'll have a few yaks
And you can tell them we'll be there

"Oui," said the bumblebee
"Let's have jubilee."
"When?" said the prairie hen, "Soon?"
"Sure," said the dinosaur
"Where?" said the grisly bear
"Under the light of the moon."
"How about your brother, jackass?"
Everyone gaily cried
"Are you coming to the fracas?"
Ain't gonna blow it
"And all the respects," he sighed

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Stick 'em on my hair
If perchance we look a bit peeked
Remember se la guerre
If we're still on our feet
And there's something to eat
Well you can tell them we'll be there

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Better save a chair
When the party's getting a glow on
And singin' fills the air
If there's gas in my hack
and my laundry is back
If there's room for one more
And you need me
Why sure
If you need a new face or a tenor or base
If I can climb out of bed and put a head on my head
Well you can tell 'em we'll be there.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Bette Midler
Dean Martin
Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford
Ray Conniff

Swingin' on a Star

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke
1944

An infectious classic composed specifically for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1944 film Going My Way, for which is won the Academy Award. The origin of the concept lay in a visit composer Van Heusen paid to Bing's house, during which the crooner rebuked his son comically for not wanting to go to school. Following Going My Way, Crosby would also have a huge hit with the song as a single recording. It would go on to become a truly beloved standard--specifically a favorite among children.

Lyrics:

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

A mule is an animal with long, funny ears.
He kicks up at anything he hears.
His back is brawny, but 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!

Or 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 has no manners when he eats his food,
He's fat and lazy, and extremely rude.
So if you don't care a feather or a fig,
You may grow up to be a pig.

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

A fish won't do anything but swim in a brook,
He can't write his name or read a book.
To fool the people is his only thought,
And though he 's 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 the zoo--
Everyday you meet quite a few.
So you see, it's all up to you.
You could be better than you are--
You could be swingin' on a star.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Oscar Peterson
Burl Ives
Maria Muldaur
Tony Bennett

Trade Winds

By Charles Tobias & Cliff Friend
1940

The prolific Tin Pan Alley tunesmith Tobias (pictured) put this one together with occasional collaborator Friend (the duo would enjoy a hit two years later with the World War II anthem, "We Did It Before and We Can Do It Again"). None other than Bing Crosby snatched up the song and immediately made a hit out of it. Very popular in the early 1940s, it can even be heard in several Warner Bros. cartoons of the period.

Lyrics:

Down where the trade winds play,
Down where you lose the day,
We found a new world where paradise starts,
We traded high way down where the trade winds play.

Music was everywhere,
flowers were in her hair,
Under an awning of silvery boughs,
We traded vows the night that I sailed away.

Oh trade winds, what are vows that lovers make,
Oh trade winds, are they only made to break,

When it is may again,
I’ll sail away again,
Though I’m returning, it won’t be the same,
She traded her name way down where the trade winds play.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Martin Denny
Lou Rawls
Billy Vaughan
Tommy Dorsey

Blue Hawaii

By Leo Robin & Ralph Rainger
1937

Bing Crosby introduced this breezy, evocative song in both the motion picture Waikiki Wedding (for which it was written), and on record that same year. It would also be the title track of an Elvis Presley movie nearly 25 years later. Part of the Polynesian craze of the 1930s (not to be confused with the Polynesian craze of the 1950s)...

Lyrics:

Night and you,
And blue Hawaii.
The night is heavenly,
And you are heaven to me.

Lovely you,
And blue Hawaii.
With all this loveliness,
There should be love.

Come with me
While the moon is on the sea,
The night is young
And so are we, so are we.

Dreams come true,
In blue Hawaii,
And mine could all come true
This magic night of nights with you.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
David Byrne
Gene Autry
Ray Coniff
Ray Charles

It's Easy to Remember

By Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
1935

Another immortal Rodgers & Hart ballad written for a film that is far less remembered. In this case, the movie was Mississippi, starring W.C. Fields and Bing Crosby. Bing introduced the sophisticated lament both in the film, and with a hit recording later the same year. A fine example of the work of a sublime songwriting team.

Lyrics:

Your sweet expression,
The smile you gave me,
The way you looked when we met.
It's easy to remember,
But so hard to forget.

I hear you whisper,
"I'll always love you."
I know it's over, and yet,
It's easy to remember,
But so hard to forget.

So I must dream
To have your hand caress me,
Fingers press me tight.
I'd rather dream
Than have that lonely feeling
Stealing through the night.

Each little moment
Is clear before me,
And though it brings me regret,
It's easy to remember,
But so hard to forget.

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Frank Sinatra
John Coltrane
Mel Torme
Johnny Hartman

White Christmas

By Irving Berlin
1941

"Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I've ever written — heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!"
Those are supposedly the words Berlin spoke to his secretary when struck with what would become his most famous and successful composition. It was introduced on the radio by Bing Crosby in 1941, but achieved immortality on the soundtrack of Bing's 1942 musical film Holiday Inn. Bing's recording of it would go on to become the highest-selling single in the history of recording music, credited with 50 million sales. It also immediately conjures up Christmas for millions of people around the world.

Lyrics:

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
The Drifters
Dean Martin
Andy Williams
Ella Fitzgerald

Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?

By Harry Revel & Mack Gordon
1933

An irresistible charmer written for Bing Crosby, who at the time was the single hugest pop phenomenon to ever hit the nation since the dawn of recorded music. It was so popular that an entire Fleischer Studios Popeye cartoon was themed around it the following year. It was also the closing credits theme for A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2--a nice touch.

Lyrics:

Something very strange & mystic happened to me.
Something realistic & as weird as can be.
Something that I fear is somehow now endeared to me.
What a funny feeling,odd & yet so true.
Did a thing like this ever happen to you?

Did you ever see a dream walking?
Well, I did.
Did you ever hear a dream talking?
Well, I did.

Did you ever have a dream thrill you
With "Will you be mine?"
Oh, it's so grand,
And it's too, too divine!

Did you ever see a dream dancing?
Well, I did.
Did you a ever see a dream romancing?
Well, I did!

Did you ever see heaven right in your arms,
Saying, "I love you, I do!"
Well, the dream that was walking,
And the dream that was talking,
The heaven in my arms was you.

Recorded By:

Eddy Duchin
Guy Lombardo
Ray Noble
Les Brown
Fats Domino

I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You

By Victor Young, Ned Washington & Bing Crosby
1932

One of Bing Crosby's signature tunes, introduced and even co-written by Der Bingle. At least 20 major versions of the song would be recorded in the next couple of decades. Although less heard these days, it is a Crosby song that instantly conjures of the time from which it originates.

Lyrics:

I need your love so badly,
I love you oh so madly,
But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you.

I thought at last I found you,
But other loves surround you,
And I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you.

If you'd surrender,
Just for a tender kiss or two,
You might discover
That I'm the lover meant for you,
And I'd be true.

But what's the good of scheming,
I know I'm only dreaming.
For I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Billie Holiday
Mel Torme
Stan Getz
Duke Ellington

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from STANDARD OF THE DAY!

I'm Thru with Love

By Joseph A. Livingston, Matt Malneck & Gus Kahn
1931

An aching composition that epitomizes those all-too-familiar feelings of heartbreak and jilted love. A major hit song of 1931, it was recorded by a vast number of artists that year, including Paul Whiteman's orchestra, Al Bowlly, Don Voorhees' orchestra, Al Lack's City Radiolians, and most notably Bing Crosby. It remains a timeless, poignant classic, made even more popular by Marilyn Monroe's famous rendition in Some Like It Hot.

Lyrics:

I have given you my true love,
But you love a new love.
What am I supposed to do now
With you now, you're through?
You'll be on your merry way
And there's only this to say:

I'm through with love
I'll never fall again.
Said adieu to love
Don't ever call again.
For I must have you or no one
And so I'm through with love.

I've locked my heart
I'll keep my feelings there.
I have stocked my heart
with icy, frigid air.
And I mean to care for no one
Because I'm through with love.

Why did you lead me
to think you could care?
You didn't need me
for you had your share
of slaves around you
to hound you and swear
with deep emotion and devotion to you.

Goodbye to spring and all it meant to me
It can never bring the thing that used to be.
For I must have you or no one
And so I'm through with love.

Recorded By:

Lena Horne
Joe Williams
Jane Monheit
Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Krall

I Love You

By Cole Porter
1944

An amusing composition from the king of amusing compositions. For his musical Mexican Hayride, Porter took a cliche title and deliberately wrote a lyric that would be humorously banal for it. It was introduced by Bobby Clark on stage, and later that year in a hit record from Bing Crosby.

Lyrics:

I love you
Hums the April breeze.
I love you
Echo the hills.

I love you
The golden dawn agrees
As once more she sees
Daffodils.

It's spring again
And birds on the wing again
Start to sing again
The old melody.

I love you,
That's the song of songs
And it all belongs
To you and me.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Jo Stafford
Barbra Streisand
Bill Evans
Anita O'Day

Moonlight Becomes You

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke
1942

This particular Van Heusen/Burke tune comes from one of the classic Bing Crosby/Bob Hope "Road" comedies. In this case, it was Road to Morocco, in which the song was introduced by Crosby himself. To this day, Crosby's version remains the benchmark.

Lyrics:

Moonlight becomes you, it goes with your hair.
You certainly know the right thing to wear.
Moonlight becomes you, I'm thrilled at the sight.
And I could get so romantic tonight.

You're all dressed up to go dreaming,
Now don't tell me I'm wrong.
And what a night to go dreaming--
Mind if I tag along?

If I say I love you, I want you to know
It's not just because there's moonlight,
Although, moonlight becomes you so.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Chet Baker
Willie Nelson
Ella Fitzgerald
Glenn Miller

Be Careful, It's My Heart

By Irving Berlin
1942

For the classic movie musical Holiday Inn, a whole bunch of Berlin songs were assembled, some old chestnuts and others specifically written for the film. This clever love song was one of the latter, written by the composer especially for Bing Crosby to sing in the picture.

Lyrics:

Be careful, it's my heart.
It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart.

It's not the note that I sent you that you quickly burned,
It's not a book I lent you that you never returned.

Remember, it's my heart.
The heart with which so willingly I part.

It's yours to take, to keep or break,
But please, before you start,
Be careful, it's my heart.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Dinah Shore
Rosemary Clooney
John Pizzarelli
Vera Lynn

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

By Harry Warren & Johnny Mercer
1938

Sung by Dick Powell in the movie Hard to Get, in which it first appeared, the song actually became huge thanks to its first studio recording, by Bing Crosby. Although recorded many, many times over the years, it's Bing's version that remains the most instantly identifiable. Cartoon fans will also recognize the tune as a popular one incorporated often by composer Carl Stallings into Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes.

Lyrics:

Does your mother realize
The stork delivered quite a prize
The day he left you on the family tree?
Does your dad appreciate
That you're merely supergreat,
The miracle of any century?
If they don't just send them both to me.

You must have been a beautiful baby,
You must have been a wonderful child.
When you were only starting to go to kindergarten,
I bet you drove the little boys wild.

And when it came to winning blue ribbons,
You must have shown the other kids how.
I can see the judges' eyes as they handed you the prize,
You must have made the cutest bow.

You must've been a beautiful baby,
'Cause baby, look at you now.

Recorded By:

Russ Morgan
Tommy Dorsey
Bobby Darrin
Perry Como
Vic Damone

But Beautiful

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke

1947

This ballad was written for the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope vehicle Road to Rio, and quickly became a favorite of jazz singers, who changed its structure a bit from its original composition. Nancy Wilson used it as the title song for one of her albums.

Lyrics:

Love is funny, or it's sad,
Or it's quiet, or it's mad.
It's a good thing, or it's bad,
But beautiful...

Beautiful to take a chance
And if you fall, you fall,
And I'm thinking, 
I wouldn't mind at all.

Love is tearful, or it's gay,
It's a problem, or it's play.
It's a heartache either way,
But beautiful...

And I'm thinking, if you were mine,
I'd never let you go.
And that would be but beautiful,
I know.

Recorded By:

Barbra Streisand

Johnny Hartman

Stan Getz

Bill Evans

Billie Holiday