I Didn't Know About You

By Duke Ellington and Bob Russell
1944

One of several Ellington big band tunes for which long-time collaborator Russell (pictured) wrote accompanying lyrics. Duke first composed the melody as an instrumental in 1943, and recorded it under the title "Sentimental Lady" with his band for radio broadcast, and when lyrics were added, he recorded it again at the end of 1944 with Joya Sherrill on vocals. However, they were beaten to it a few weeks earlier by Paul Weston's Orchestra, which introduced the song with Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers on vocals. A wistful jazz favorite, it has occasionally still been recorded over the years under the "Sentimental Lady" banner (perhaps as a connection to Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady").

Lyrics:

I ran around, with my own little crowd
The usual laughs, not often, but loud
And in the world that I knew
I didn't know about you

Chasing after the ring, on the merry-go-round
Just taking my fun, where it could be found
And yet what else could I do
I didn't know about you

Darling, now I know
I had the loneliest yesterday, everyday
In your arms
I know for once in my life, I'm living

Had a good time, everytime I went out
Romance was a thing, I kidded about
How could I know about love
I didn't know about you

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
June Christy
Woody Herman
Count Basie
Lena Horne

There's No You

By Hal Hopper & Tom Adair
1944

A lush, gorgeous composition that helped catapult Jo Stafford's solo career. After leaving the Pied Pipers vocal group and becoming Capitol Records' first solo vocalist in '44, Stafford (or her arrangers) chose this beautiful song to be one of her very first recordings. Perfectly suited to her range and style, it became an instant standard thanks to her and has been recorded by numerous artists over the years since.

Lyrics:

I feel the autumn breeze, it steals 'cross my pillow
As soft as a will-o'-the-wisp and in its song
There is sadness because there's no you

The lonely autumn trees, how softly they're sighing
'Cause summer is dying, they know that in my heart
There's no gladness because there's no you

The park that we walked in, the garden we talked in
How lonesome they seem in the fall
Stormy clouds hover and falling leaves cover
Our favorite nook in the wall

In spring we'll meet again, we'll kiss and recapture
That summertime rapture we knew and from that day
Never more will I say, "There's no you"

Recorded By:

Duke Ellington
Frank Sinatra
Louis Armstrong
Coleman Hawkins
Stacey Kent

Day by Day

By Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston & Sammy Cahn

1945

Long-time collaborators going back to their days together as arrangers in the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, Stordahl and Weston wrote this song for Weston's wife, the late, great Jo Stafford. At the time, Stordahl was working at Columbia Records as Frank Sinatra's arranger, and the young Chairman would soon record the tune, as well. Lyricist Cahn would later write the words for many of Sinatra's later hits in the 1950s.

Lyrics:

Day by day,

I'm falling more in love with you.

And day by day,

My love seems to grow.

There isn't any end to my devotion;

It's deeper, dear, by far than any ocean.

I find that day by day,

You're making all my dreams come true.

So come what may,

I want you to know

I'm yours alone,

And I'm in love to stay,

As we go through the years,

Day by day.

Recorded By:

Ray Anthony

Bing Crosby & Mel Torme

Vic Damone

John Entwistle

Astrud Gilberto