Love Is Blue

By Andre Popp, Pierre Cour and Bryan Blackburn
1967

This "easy listening" classic began life as the French song "L'amour est bleu" by Popp and Cour, introduced by Greek vocalist Vicky Leandros as part of the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest. The following year, Blackburn would add English lyrics, first recorded by Ray Coniff. But by far the most memorable version of the song would be from French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat. Mauriat's haunting version, steeped in the "baroque pop" aesthetic that briefly reigned in the late 1960s, soared to number one on the American charts, becoming the first record by a French artist to do so. Alongside Percy Faith's recording of "Theme from a Summer Place", it is probably the most popular pop instrumental of all time.

Lyrics: 

Blue, blue, my world is blue
Blue is my world now I'm without you
Gray, gray, my life is gray
Cold is my heart since you went away

Red, red, my eyes are red
Crying for you alone in my bed
Green, green, my jealous heart
I doubted you and now we're apart

When we met how the bright sun shone
Then love died, now the rainbow is gone

Black, black, the nights I've known
Longing for you so lost and alone

Recorded By:

Al Martino
Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
Nancy Wilson
Jerry Vale
Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra

Wave

By Antonio Carlos Jobim
1967

Originally conceived as an instrumental, this breezy bossa nova tune first appeared on Jobim's album of the same name. The Brazilian composer wrote lyrics for it when Frank Sinatra asked to record it with him as part of his 1970 Sinatra & Co. album. On that record, Sinatra sings the lowest note of his career, a low E-flat. In Portuguese, the name of the song is "Vou Te Contar".

Lyrics:

So close your eyes
For that's a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

You cant deny dont try to fight the rising sea
Don't fight the moon, the stars above and don't fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

When I saw you first the time was half-past three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity

By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch that wave don't be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

Recorded By:

Oscar Peterson
Sarah Vaughn
Ella Fitzgerald
Mel Torme
Buddy Rich