Fine and Mellow

By Billie Holiday
1939

Fifty-four years ago today, Billie Holiday, the greatest jazz singer of her time or perhaps any, died of heart failure in a hospital bed to which she had been handcuffed due to narcotics possession. But 20 years before that tragic day, she composed this sublime song--one of only a handful she wrote herself. Typical of her cynical and mournful nature, the song is a blue whose lyrics describe poor treatment at the hands of an unworthy man, who is loved nevertheless. It truly epitomizes the pain at the heart of this great artist's work. She initially recorded it in 1939, but also performed it during a 1957 TV special, The Sound of Jazz. Today Standard of the Day remembers the song, as we remember the passing of this unparalleled legend of music.

AND, with this month bringing the FIFTH anniversary of Standard of the Day on July 21, I'll be devoting the rest of the month to vocalists' signature songs, like this one. Stay tuned!

Lyrics:

My man don't love me

Treats me oh so mean
My man he don't love me
Treats me awfully
Hes the, lowest man
That Ive ever seen

He wears high trimmed pants
Stripes are really yellow
He wears high trimmed pants
Stripes are really yellow
But when he starts in to love me
Hes so fine and mellow

Love will make you drink and gamble
Make you stay out all night long repeat
Love will make you drink and gamble
Make you stay out all night long repeat
Love will make you do things
That you know is wrong

But if you treat me right baby
Ill stay home everyday
But if you treat me right baby
Ill stay home everyday
But you're so mean to me baby
I know you're gonna drive me away

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone.

Recorded By:

Nina Simone
Eva Cassidy
Ella Fitzgerald
Lou Rawls
Dee Dee Bridgewater

Harlem Nocturne

By Earle Hagen & Dick Rogers
1939

One of the most recognizable standard jazz instrumentals of all time, this unique song instantly evokes just what it was meant to: The sordid side of New York City during the 1930s...yet it's still tinged with the beauty that paradoxically characterizes that city. Written originally as a tribute to saxophonist Johnny Hodges, t was introduced the Randy Brooks band in 1940, and became their theme song. Although an instrumental first and foremost, it has been recorded with vocals several times as well. It was used as the theme song to the 1980s TV series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Recorded By:

Mel Torme
David Sanborn
The Viscounts
Duke Ellington
Harry James

Day In, Day Out

By Rube Bloom & Johnny Mercer
1939

Another example of Mercer's fantastic lyrics, taking a tired phrase and making it shine. The words go along with a gorgeous, soaring melody by Bloom which musicologist Alec Wilder rightly described as passionate yet unpretentious. The song was introduced by Bob Crosby's Orchestra (pictured), with Helen Ward on vocals. It was a popular song with the big bands which survived into the post-Big Band era as well.

Lyrics:

Day in - day out
That same old voodoo follows me about
That same old pounding in my heart, whenever I think of you
And baby I think of you
Day in and day out

Day out - day in
I needn't tell you how my days begin
When I awake I get up with a tingle
One possibility in view
That possibility of maybe seeing you

Come rain - come shine
I meet you and to me the day is fine
Then I kiss your lips, and the pounding becomes
An oceans roar, a thousand drums
Can't you see it's love, can there be any doubt
When there it is, day in - day out

Recorded By:

Nat King Cole
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Judy Garland

Moonlight Serenade

By Glenn Miller & Mitchell Parish
1939

One of the all-time great signature tunes of the Big Band era. It was composed by Miller for his world-famous orchestra, and became one of five Top 20 Billboard hits the band would have in 1939. Originally, it was the B-side of a record called "Sunrise Serenade", but became such a huge hit on its own that it quickly became Miller's theme song. With it's classic Miller-style clarinet-saxophone lead, it perfectly sums up the sweet "Miller sound". Parish would later add lyrics to what was previously an instrumental.

Lyrics:

I stand at your gate.
And the song that I sing is of moonlight.
I stand and I wait
For the touch of your hand in the June night.
The roses are sighing a moonlight serenade.

The stars are aglow.
And tonight how their light sets me dreaming.
My love, do you know
That your eyes are like stars brightly beaming?
I bring you, and I sing you a moonlight serenade.

Let us stray 'til break of day
In love's valley of dreams.
Just you and I, a summer sky,
A heavenly breeze, kissin' the trees.

So don't let me wait.
Come to me tenderly in the June night.
I stand at your gate
And I sing you a song in the moonlight.
A love song, my darling, a moonlight serenade

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Carly Simon
Santo & Johnny
Count Basie
Gene Krupa

All the Things You Are

By Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II
1939

A remarkable song from the master, Kern--breathtakingly beautiful, and nearly operatic in tone and melody. It was introduced on stage by the cast of Very Warm for May, the musical for which it was written. But it has taken on a life of its own that goes far beyond that play. Kern's aching melody is perfectly complemented by Hammerstein's sublime lyric, notable for being such a perfect expression of love without ever mentioning the actual word.

Lyrics:

Time and again I've longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding your love I've found my adventure,
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.

You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I'll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Tommy Dorsey
Stan Kenton
Jack Jones

Moon Love

By Mack David & Andre Kostelanetz
1939

This was David's very first hit, teaming with future "easy listening" luminary Kostelanetz to adapt Romantic composer Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky's fifth symphony (particularly the andante theme). It was introduced by Glenn Miller's orchestra, but remained a popular tune for decades.

Lyrics:

Will this be moon love,
Nothing but moon love?
Will you be gone when the dawn comes stealing through?

Are these just moon dreams,
Grand while the moon beams?
But when the moon fades away, will my dreams come true?

Much as I love you,
Don't let me love you
If I must pay for your kiss with lonely tears.

Say it's not moon love,
Tell me it's true love.
Say you'll be mine when the moon disappears.

Recorded By:

Pearl Bailey
Frank Sinatra
Nat King Cole
Chet Baker
Glenn Miller

And the Angels Sing

By Ziggy Elman & Johnny Mercer
1939

Benny Goodman's trumpeter Elman came up with this melody in 1938 as an instrumental for his own band, called "Frailach in Swing". But once Mercer added lyrics to it, it became a massive hot for Goodman's orchestra. Six years later, it became the title song of a movie musical starring Fred MacMurray and Dorothy Lamour.

Lyrics:

We meet, and the angels sing
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak, and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word

Suddenly, the setting is strange
I can see water and moonlight beaming
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
Suddenly, I see it all change
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
Through it all your face that I adore.

You smile, and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss, and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart.

Recorded By:

Glenn Miller
Count Basie
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Louis Armstrong
Ella Fitzgerald

South of the Border

By Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr
1939

A unique composition, in which the breezy, swinging melody is in direct contrast to the rueful lyrics, in which a man regrets his deception of a Mexican beauty he returns to when it's too late. It was written for "singing cowboy" Gene Autry, for the film of the same name. Frank Sinatra would record the most famous version nearly 20 years later.

Lyrics:

South of the border, down Mexico way,
That's where I fell in love, where the stars above came out to play.
And now as I wander, my thoughts ever stray
South of the border, down Mexico way.

She was a picture in old Spanish lace.
Just for a tender while, I kissed a smile upon her face.
'Cause it was fiesta, and we were so gay,
South of the border, down Mexico way.

Then she smiled as she whispered, "Manana,"
Never dreaming that we were parting.
Then I lied as a whispered, "Manana,"
'Cause our tomorrow never came.

South of the border, I went back one day.
There in a veil of white, by the candle light, she knelt to pray.
The mission bells told me that I mustn't stay
South of the border, down Mexico way.

Recorded By:

Patsy Cline
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Chris Isaak
Charlie Parker
Tommy Dorsey

I Get Along Without You Very Well

By Hoagy Carmichael
1939

A sublime tune by Carmichael, who based his lyrics on a poem by Jane Brown Thompson. Ironically, Thompson passed away the night before the song was introduced on the radio by Dick Powell. The big hit would come that year for the Red Norvo orchestra. Hoagy himself would play the song in the 1952 movie The Las Vegas Story.

Lyrics:

I get along without you very well,
Of course I do.
Except when soft rains fall,
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms.
Of course, I do.
But I get along without you very well.

I've forgotten you just like I should,
Of course I have.
Except to hear your name,
Or someones laugh that is the same.
But I've forgotten you just like I should.

What a guy, what a fool am I
To think my breaking heart could kid the moon.
What's in store? Should I phone once more?
No, it's best that I stick to my tune.

I get along without you very well,
Of course I do.
Except perhaps in spring, but I should never think of spring,
For that would surely break my heart in two.

Recorded By:

Chet Baker
Charlie Barnet
Frank Sinatra
Diana Krall
Peggy Lee

God Bless the Child

By Billie Holiday & Arthut Herzog Jr.
1939

Perhaps Billie Holiday's most famous recording, and a song co-written by her, as well. Holiday would later indicate that the origin of the lyrics came with an argument over money she had with her mother, in which she uttered the title line. From there, she was inspired to build the entire song around it. It remains one of the most iconic of all standards, to be found in numerous movies, TV shows, and countless cover versions.

Lyrics:

Them that's got shall get,
Them that's not shall lose.
So the bible says,
And it still is true.

Momma may have,
Poppa may have,
But God bless the child that's got his own,
That's got his own.

Yeah, the strong gets more,
While the weak ones fade.
Empty pockets don't
Ever make the grade.

Momma may have,
Poppa may have,
But God bless the child that's got his own,
That's got his own

Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowdin' round the door.
When it's gone and spendin' ends,
They don't come no more.

Rich relations give
A crust of bread and such.
You can help yourself,
But don't take too much

Momma may have,
Poppa may have,
But God bless the child that's got his own,
That's got his own.

Recorded By:

Diana Ross
Anita O'Day
Lou Rawls
Crystal Gayle
Barbra Streisand

Take the "A" Train

By Billy Strayhorn & Joya Sherrill
1939

Inspired by Duke Ellington's directions to new writer Strayhorn upon his hire, this seminal jazz classic became the theme song of the Ellington band, replacing "Sepia Panorama", after is was first recorded in February 1941. Duke's son Mercer recalled rescuing the composition out of the trash, after Strayhorn had discarded it for being too similar to an arrangement by Fletcher Henderson, whose style had inspired the song. 17-year-old Sherrill contributed the lyrics in 1944, after herfather brought her to Ellington's attention. She promptly became a singer with the band as well.

Lyrics:

You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem.

If you miss the "A" train,
You'll find you've missed the quickest way to Harlem.

Hurry, get on, now, it's coming.
Listen to those rails a-thrumming.

Get on the "A" train--
Soon, you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem.

Recorded By:

Dave Brubeck
Mel Torme
Sarah Vaughan
Dexter Gordon
Oscar Peterson

Indian Summer

By Victor Herbert & Al Dubin
1919/1939

The reason for splitting up the dates on this song is that Herbert originally wrote the tune in 1919, but it remained an instrumental until 1939, when Dubin won a contest to decide who would get to add lyrics. It wasn't until then that the song became a standard, introduced by Glenn Miller's orchestra (Ray Eberle singer), and then shortly after taken to number by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra (Frank Sinatra singer). As a standard, it has normally been associated with big bands.

Lyrics:

Summer--
You old Indian summer.
You're the tear that comes after
June-time's laughter.
You see so many dreams that don't come true,
Dreams we fashioned when summertime was new.

You are here to watch over
Some heart that is broken
By a word that somebody
Left unspoken.
You're the ghost of a romance in June going astray,
Fading too soon, thats why I say
Farewell to you, Indian summer.

Recorded By:

Tony Bennett
Gene Krupa
Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughan
Django Reinhardt

I'll Never Smile Again

By Ruth Lowe
1939

Tommy Dorsey brought this tune to light, with the help of a boy singer named Frank Sinatra. Their recording spent a record-setting 12 weeks in the number-one spot on Billboard's singles chart during the summer and fall of 1940, making it an instant standard. Sinatra would re-record the song nearly 20 years later as a solo artist at Capitol Records.

Lyrics:

I'll never smile again,
Until I smile at you.
I'll never laugh again,
What good would it do?

For tears would fill my eyes,
My heart would realize,
That our romance is through.

I'll never love again,
I'm so in love with you.
I'll never thrill again,
To somebody new.

Within my heart
I know I will never start
To smile again,
Until I smile at you.

Recorded By:

Glenn Miller
Michael Buble
The Ink Spots
Billie Holiday
Keely Smith

Brazil

By Ary Barroso & S.K. "Bob" Russell
1939

Written as a patriotic samba by Barroso, the greatest Brazilian composer of the standards era, this song was first recorded by Aracy Cortes with its original Portoguese lyrics. It became a runaway American hit when Russell added English lyrics to it in 1941. It was originally known as "Aquarela do Brasil", but the name was shortened in the U.S. It's been featured in an unusual amount of films and TV shows, ranging from Disney's 1942 animated picture Saludos Amigos, to 2008 Oscar favorite Australia.

Lyrics:

Brazil,
The Brazil that I knew,
Where I wandered with you,
Lives in my imagination.
Where the songs are passionate,
And a smile has flash in it,
And a kiss has art in it,
For you put your heart in it,
And so I dream of old Brazil.

Brazil,
Where hearts were entertaining June,
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured “someday soon”.
We kissed and clung together,
Then tomorrow was another day,
The morning found me miles away.
With still a million things to say

Now, when twilight dims the sky above,
Recalling thrills of our love,
There’s one thing I’m certain of;
Return, I will,
To old Brazil.

Recorded By:

Django Reinhardt
Frank Sinatra
Ray Conniff
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Rosemary Clooney

Darn That Dream

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Eddie DeLange
1939

One of the most disastrous Broadway flops of the era was Swingin' the Dream, a jazzy send-up of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream that ran for a total of 13 performances--despite featuring the likes of Louis Armstrong (pictured), Maxine Sullivan, Bill Bailey, Dorothy Dandridge, Vivian Dandridge and Etta Jones. All of these performers took turns with this song--the show's sole hit--during the initial production. It didn't become a hit until Benny Goodman recorded it in 1940 with singer Mildred Bailey.

Lyrics:

Darn that dream I dream each night.
You say you love me and hold me tight,
But when I awake and you're out of sight,
Oh, darn that dream.

Darn your lips and darn your eyes,
They lift me high above the moonlit sky,
Then I tumble out of paradise--
Oh, darn that dream.

Darn that one-track mind of mine,
It can't understand that you don't care.
Just to change the mood I'm in,
I'd welcome a nice old nightmare.

Darn that dream, and bless it, too.
Without that dream I'd never have you.
But it haunts me, and it won't come true,
Oh, darn that dream.

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Tommy Dorsey
Doris Day
Miles Davis
Thelonious Monk

We'll Meet Again

By Ross Parker & Hughie Charles
1939

In honor of Veteran's Day, I give you this classic anthem of World War II, introduced as an immensely popular UK hit by Vera Lynn. The moving lyric by Charles takes both an optimistic and melancholy stance, understood by those who hoped to see their loved ones again as they parted due to the war, yet understood that the meeting place might also be heaven. This is a sentiment known all too well today by those serving overseas in Iraq, and by those who love them. Lynn's recording was prominently featured as the closing theme of Dr. Strangelove, and more recently in Hellboy.

Here's to the veterans. Thank you all.

Lyrics:

Let's say goodbye with a smile, dear,
Just for a while, dear, we must part.
Don't let the parting upset you,
I'll not forget you, sweetheart.

We'll meet again,
Don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.

Keep smiling through,
Just like you always do,
'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello to the folks that I know,
Tell them I won't be long.
They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go,
I was singing this song.

After the rain comes the rainbow,
You'll see the rain go, never fear.
We two can wait for tomorrow,
Goodbye to sorrow, my dear.

We'll meet again,
Don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.

Recorded By:

Johnny Cash
The Byrds
Frank Sinatra
Peggy Lee
The Ink Spots

Stairway to the Stars

By Matt Malneck, Frank Signorelli & Mitchell Parish 1939

This song began its life in 1934 as the third and final part of an instrumental composed by Malneck & Signorelli called "Park Avenue Fantasy". Five years later, while Malneck was using the tune as his radio show theme, he and Signorelli approached Parish to write lyrics for the third section. The newly refashioned pop song was a megahit for Glenn Miller and his singer Ray Eberle, hitting number one and staying on the charts for 13 weeks.

Lyrics:

Let's build a stairway to the stars,
And climb that stairway to the stars.
With Love beside us,
To fill the night with a song.

We'll hear the sound of violins,
Out yonder where the blue begins.
The moon will guide us
As we go drifting along.

Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Over the rim of the hills?
Can't we sail away on a little dream,
Settle high on the crest of a thrill?

Let's build a stairway to the stars,
A lovely lovely stairway to the stars.
It would be heaven
To climb to heaven with you.

Recorded By:

Jimmy Dorsey
Stan Kenton
Ella Fitzgerald
Natalie Cole
Sarah Vaughan

I Thought About You

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Mercer
1939

Among the first collaborations by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Mercer, the song came about when Van Heusen played Mercer the music, right before Mercer caught his train to Chicago, where he was appearing on a radio show with Benny Goodman. Inspired by the ride, Mercer wrote the exceptional words to the tune. It would be none other than Goodman, with Mildred Bailey on vocals, who introduced the song in 1939 with a record that went to #17.

Lyrics:

Seems that I read, or somebody said,
That out of sight is out of mind.
Maybe that's so, but I tried to go
And leave you behind, what did I find...

I took a trip on the train,
And I thought about you.
I passed a shadowy lane,
And I thought about you.

Two or three cars
Parked under the stars,
A winding stream.
Moon shining down
On some little town,
And with each beam,
The same old dream.

At every stop that we made,
I thought about you.
But when I pulled down the shade,
Then I really felt blue.

I peeked through the crack,
And looked at the track--
The one going back to you.
And what did I do?
I thought about you.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Nancy Wilson
Diana Krall
Billie Holiday
Johnny Hartman