Till There Was You

By Meredith Wilson
1957

Written for the Broadway musical The Music Man, this catchy and melodic tune was sung on stage by Barbara Cook. However, it would actually be introduced on record one month prior to the show's December 1957 opening, when Nelson Riddle's orchestra recorded it with singer Sue Raney. Peggy Lee made the song a hit in the UK in 1961, leading to a bunch of kids known as The Beatles adding it to their early repertoire. It would appear on the Fab Four's 1962 album With the Beatles, and remains the only standard the group ever recorded.

Lyrics:

There were bells on the hill

But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.

And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you!

Recorded By:

Shirley Jones
Anita Bryant
Sonny Rollins
Sergio Franchi
Fran Warren

The Christmas Waltz

By Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne
1957

"And this song of mine, in three-quarter time..."
This sweet modern Christmas carol was originally written for Sinatra's Capitol Records Christmas album, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, by his dear friends and accomplished songwriters Cahn & Styne--who also wrote "Mistletoe & Holly" for the same album. Since Frank introduced, it has become a cherished holiday standard.

Lyrics:

Frosted windowpanes,
Candles gleaming inside,
Painted candy-canes on the tree.
Santa's on his way,
He's filled his sleigh with things,
Things for you, and for me.

It's that time of year
When the world falls in love,
Every song you hear
Seems to say,
Merry Christmas,
May your New Year's dream come true.

And this song of mine,
In three-quarter time,
Wishes you and yours,
The same thing, too.

Recorded By:

Nancy Wilson
Peggy Lee
Harry Connick Jr.
Jane Monheit
Doris Day

I Wish You Love

By Leo Chauliac & Albert A. Beach
1957

Beginning its life as a French song entitled "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?", the original lyrics for this tune were written by one Charles Louis Trenet. Sticking to the original's wistful theme of young love matured, Beach added English lyrics, and Keely Smith introduced the soon-to-be standard. 

Lyrics:

Goodbye,

No use leading with our chins.

This is where our story end;

Never lovers, ever friends.

Goodbye,

Let our hearts call it a day.

But before you walk away,

I sincerely want to say...

I wish you bluebirds in the spring,

To give your heart a song to sing.

And then a kiss, but more than this,

I wish you love.

And in July, lemonade,

To cool you in some leafy glade.

I wish you health, but more than wealth,

I wish you love.

My breaking heart and I agree

That you and I could never be,

So with my best, my very best,

I set you free.

I wish you shelter from the storm,

A cozy fire to keep you warm,

But most of all, when snowflakes fall,

I wish you love.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra & Count Basie

Barbra Streisand

Jerry Lee Lewis

Gloria Lynne

Nat King Cole