This song was written by Porter for a film called “Something to Shout About”, which debuted in the midst of WWII (1943). Introduced by Janet Blair and Don Ameche, it became a major hit as it had special meaning for departing soldiers leaving wives and sweethearts. Sir Roland Hanna (1932-2002), a major jazz artist, one […]
Playing for a private party
“You’re the Top”
Though Cole Porter could create a catchy melody like no other, for most listeners what usually lingers about his songs are his inventive rhymes and wordplays. He was especially adept at the “list” song – a tune where the lyrics are comprised mostly of a list of items. Legend has it that Porter wrote “You’re […]
A Very Brief Bio of Cole Porter
Born in 1891, Cole Porter is regarded as the most cosmopolitan of American composer-lyricists. Altogether he wrote more than 800 songs, the bulk of which were written for the stage, more than half were never published. As a Yale undergrad he wrote two of the school’s perennial football songs, “Bull Dog” and “Bingo”. From World War […]
“So in Love”
“So in Love” was a song that Cole Porter wrote for his musical, “Kiss Me Kate” (1948), a play within a play about a theatre company staging a musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”. While it has been recorded by many artists, one of my favorites versions is Roberta Gambarini’s take on […]
You Do Something to Me
The earliest memory I have of listening to jazz is of an LP I received as a Xmas present when I was eight years old (1958!!), Erroll Garner’s, “Concert by the Sea” (which has just been reissued). I vaguely remember thinking, when I grow up I’d love to be able to play the piano like […]
“How’s Your Romance?”
One of the most celebrated performers of Cole Porter’s music was Bobby Short, the singer/pianist who held court at the Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan’s Carlyle Hotel for more than 30 years. Short had a way of interpreting Porter’s lyrics that was both casual and intimate and perfectly embodied New York style and sophistication. “How’s Your […]
The Great American Song Book
Cole Porter was one of a number of composers whose songs make up “The Great American Song Book”, also known as “American Standards”. While there is no actual book or list of songs, the most enduring and popular American popular songs and jazz standards that were created from the 1920’s to the 1950’s for Broadway […]
Night & Day
What is your favorite Cole Porter tune? Mine is probably “Night & Day”. Here are some interesting notes about this song from Wikipedia: “Night and Day” was written for the 1932 musical play Gay Divorce. It is perhaps Porter’s most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of artists. […]
Home for the Holidays!
Each year for Christmas, my daughters come home for a few days to celebrate the holiday season and I love taking the time to spread holiday cheer the best way I know how – through song. Last year I spent the night with the girls gathered around our piano singing the classics from “Jingle Bells” […]
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