That's Amore

By Harry Warren and Jack Brooks
1953

One of the all-time most recognizable signature songs and an anthem for Italian-Americans everywhere, this song was written specifically for Dean Martin, who introduced it in the Martin & Lewis vehicle, The Caddy. Just three days after the film's release, Martin recorded it for Capitol Records, and took it all the way to number 2 on the Billboard charts. Warren, who years earlier had had great success with songwriting partner Al Dubin, was this time hired by Jerry Lewis to write the song, along with British lyricist Brooks, who would later also write tunes for Lewis' 1960 comedy Cinderfella.

Lyrics:

In Napoli where love is king
When boy meets girl here's what they say...

When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool
That's amore
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You're in love
When you walk in a dream but you know you're not dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli
That's amore

Recorded By:

Dean Martin
Lou Monte
Domenico Modugno
Julius LaRosa
Connie Francis

It's Alright With Me

By Cole Porter
1953

One of the very most sophisticated compositions by the songbook's most sophisticated composer. This gem was written for Porter's 1953 musical Can-Can, in which it was introduced by Peter Cookson. Porter's melody line virtually embodies a combination of smoldering longing and wistful regret, as the lyric expresses the subject's acceptance of his attraction to the object of his desire, even though he admits that he is still in love with someone else. A complex and beautiful song.

Lyrics:

It's the wrong time and the wrong place
Though your face is charming, it's the wrong face
It's not her face, but such a charming face
And it's alright with me

It's the wrong song with the wrong style
Though your smile is lovely, it's the wrong smile
It's not her smile, but such a lovely smile
That it's alright with me

You can't know how happy I am we met
I'm strangely attracted to you
There's someone I'm trying so hard to forget
Don't you wanna forget someone too

It's the wrong game with the wrong chips
Though your lips are tempting, they're the wrong lips
They're not her lips, but they're such tempting lips
That it's all right with me

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Tom Waits
Mel Torme
Erroll Garner

Secret Love

By Sammy Fain & Paul Francis Webster
1953

An Academy Award-winner from the closing years of classic pop era, it was written for and introduced by the lovely Doris Day in her starring role in Calamity Jane. Ms. Day also recorded a commercial version of the song the year after the movie came out. It remains one of the most beautiful tunes to ever snare an Oscar, from an age when winning the award for a song actually meant something.

Lyrics:

Once I had a secret love
That lived within the heart of me.
All too soon my secret love
Became impatient to be free.

So I told a friendly star
The way that dreamers often do.
Just how wonderful you are
And why I'm so in love with you.

Now I shout it from the highest hills.
Even told the golden daffodils.
At last my heart's an open door,
And my secret love's no secret anymore.

Recorded By:

Mandy Moore
Frank Sinatra
Sinead O'Connor
George Michael
Anne Murray

Satin Doll

By Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn & Johnny Mercer
1953

A late standard known for its unusual chord progression, "Satin Doll" was already a big hit as an instrumental by Ellington & Strayhorn before Mercer ever added a lyric. In fact, the Mercer lyric is generally not considered one of his best, and Ella Fitzgerald notably recorded a scat version which didn't even make use of it. Still, the song remains popular in both versions.

Lyrics:

Cigarette holder,
Which wigs me.
Over her shoulder,
She digs me.
Out cattin'
That satin doll.

Baby, shall we go
Out skippin'?
Careful, amigo,
You're flippin'
Speaks Latin,
That satin doll.

She's nobody's fool,
So I'm playin' it cool as can be.
I'll give it a whirl,
But I ain't for no girl catchin' me.

Telephone numbers,
Well, you know.
Doin' my rhumbas
With uno,
And that's my satin doll.

Recorded By:

101 Strings
The Gaylords
Nancy Wilson
Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald

Baubles, Bangles and Beads

By Robert Wright & George Forrest
1953

A beguiling song written for the musical Kismet, and based--as with all the songs in that show--on a melody by classical composer Alexander Borodin. In this case, it's Borodin's String Quartet in D (second theme of the 2nd movement). Originally written as a waltz, pop artists have changed the structure to a more rhythmic four-beat one. Jazz artists are particularly drawn to it for its unique melody.

Lyrics:

Baubles, bangles,
Hear how they jing, jing-a-ling-a,
Baubles, bangles, bright, shiny beads.

Sparkles, spangles,
My heart will sing, sing-a-ling-a,
Wearing baubles, bangles and beads.

I'll glitter and gleam so,
Make somebody dream so,

That someday he may buy me,
A ring, ring-aling-a,
I've heard that's where it leads,
Wearing baubles and bangles and beads.

Recorded By:

Peggy Lee
Frank Sinatra
Julie Andrews
June Christy
Deodato

Ebb Tide

By Robert Maxwell & Carl Sigman
1953

A late-era standard, this was a hit song composed during a time of big, bombastic and lush pop songs. It's certainly one of the best examples, and has even been co-opted by lots of rock-influenced vocal groups. The Frank Chacksfield orchestra introduced it, and it became a major hit mere months later for Vic Damone. Both Maxwell's melody and Sigman's gorgeous lyric combine to give the real effect of an ocean tide rushing in...

Lyrics:

First the tide rushes in,
Plants a kiss on the shore,
Then rolls out to sea,
And the sea is very still once more.

So I rush to your side,
Like the oncoming tide,
With one burning thought,
Will your arms open wide?

At last we're face to face,
And as we kiss through an embrace,
I can tell, I can feel,
You are love, your are real,
Really mine in the rain,
In the dark, in the sun,
Like the tide at its ebb,
I'm at peace in the web of your arms.

Recorded By:

The Righteous Brothers
Frank Sinatra
Jerry Colonna
Santo & Johnny
Ella Fitzgerald

Cry Me a River

By Arthur Hamilton
1953

A sultry, powerful and vindictive song of wounded pride and love. Originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the 1955 film Pete Kelly's Blues, this song was instead dropped from the movie at the last minute. It would instead be introduced on record that year by Julie London (pictured), in what would become the signature version. She also performed it in the 1956 rock 'n' roll musical The Girl Can't Help It. It has since been recorded a vast number of times by a multitude of artists.

Lyrics:

Now you say you love me,
You cried the whole night through.
Well you can cry me a river,
Cry me a river,
I cried a river over you.

Now you say you're sorry,
For bein' so untrue.
Well you can cry me a river,
Cry me a river,
I cried a river over you.

You drove me, nearly drove me
Out of my head;
While you never shed a tear.

Remember, I remember,
All that you said;
You told me love was too plebeian,
Told me you were through with me-

And now you say you love me,
Well, just to prove you do,
Cry me a river,
Cry me a river,
I cried a river over you.

Recorded By:

Barbra Streisand
Diana Krall
Lesley Gore
Anne Murray
Etta James

Here's That Rainy Day

By Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke
1953

A famous favorite of Frank Sinatra's this sublime ballad has its origins in the stage musical Carnival in Flanders, in which it was introduced by Dolores Gray. It was also the very favorite song of Johnny Carson, and the TV legend sang an impromptu duet of it with Bette Medler on his second-to-last Tonight Show. I've embedded the video of it below, and if you can watch it without getting at least a little misty...well, then you're reading the wrong blog.

Lyrics:

Maybe I should have saved
Those leftover dreams.
Funny, but here's that rainy day.

Here's that rainy day
They told me about.
And I laughed at the thought
That it might turn out this way.

Where is that worn out wish
That I threw aside,
After it brought my love so near?

Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day.
Funny, that rainy day is here.

Recorded By:

Lena Horne
Tony Bennett
Jack Jones
Astrud Gilberto
Billy Eckstine