The Best of the Definitive American Songbook: Volume 1 (A‐I)

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1At Last
producer:
Leonard Chess, Phil Chess and Leonard and Phil Chess (legendary US production duo)
lead vocals:
Etta James
orchestra:
Riley Hampton Orchestra
conductor:
Riley Hampton
arranger:
Riley Hampton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Windswept Pacific Music Ltd.
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 115) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 356)
cover recording of:
At Last (in 1960-10)
writer:
Mack Gordon and Harry Warren (US composer and lyricist)
publisher:
Twentieth Century Fox Music Corp., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Etta James4.53:00
2Almost Like Being in Love
bongos:
Jack Costanzo (on 1953-01-28)
double bass:
Charlie Harris (jazz bassist) (on 1953-01-28)
drums (drum set):
Lee Young (40s-60s US jazz drummer, then producer/A&R) (on 1953-01-28)
guitar:
John Collins (US jazz guitarist) (on 1953-01-28)
piano:
Buddy Cole (on 1953-01-28) and Nat King Cole (on 1953-01-28)
saxophone:
Jack Dumont (on 1953-01-28), Skeets Herfurt (on 1953-01-28), Joe Koch (on 1953-01-28), Ted Nash (40s-80s US swing reedman, uncle of the other) (on 1953-01-28) and Buck Skalak (on 1953-01-28)
trombone:
Milt Bernhart (on 1953-01-28), Ed Kusby (on 1953-01-28), Jimmy Priddy (on 1953-01-28) and Si Zentner (on 1953-01-28)
trumpet:
Pete Candoli (on 1953-01-28), Manny Klein (on 1953-01-28), Shorty Sherock (on 1953-01-28) and Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy (on 1953-01-28)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (on 1953-01-28)
orchestra:
Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra (on 1953-01-28)
conductor:
Nelson Riddle (on 1953-01-28)
arranger:
Nelson Riddle
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (1949–1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1953-01-28)
recording of:
Almost Like Being in Love (from “Brigadoon”) (on 1953-01-28)
lyricist:
Alan Jay Lerner
composer:
Frederick Loewe
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI U Catalog Inc. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), EMI United Partnership Ltd., Sam Fox Publishing Co. (London) Ltd., Sam Fox Publishing Company (publisher; do NOT use as release label), WC Music Corp., フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
Brigadoon (complete musical)
Nat King Cole1:52
3Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
cover recording of:
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe (on 1957-04-04)
lyricist:
Yip Harburg (in 1940)
composer:
Harold Arlen (in 1940)
part of:
The 16th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
Peggy Lee4:06
4Baby, It’s Cold Outside
producer:
Johnny Mercer
vocals:
Johnny Mercer (on 1949-03-18) and Margaret Whiting (on 1949-03-18)
orchestra:
Paul Weston and His Orchestra (on 1949-03-18)
recording of:
Baby, It’s Cold Outside (1948 song by Frank Loesser) (on 1949-03-18)
lyricist and composer:
Frank Loesser
publisher:
Frank Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, MPL Communications Ltd. (not for release label use! Paul McCartney-related, London-based company), MPL UK Publishing, Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM))
part of:
The 22nd Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1949 winner)
Johnny Mercer & Margaret Whiting2:50
5As Time Goes By
producer:
Derek Taylor (UK rock journalist/publicist)
conductor:
Gordon Jenkins
arranger:
Gordon Jenkins
recording of:
As Time Goes By (the song from “Casablanca”)
lyricist and composer:
Herman Hupfeld
publisher:
WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (ended), Chappell (company that specialized in library and production music), Redwood Music, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Bros., Inc. (Warner Bros. Music Division) and Warner Bros., Inc. (not for release label use!) (in 1931)
sub-publisher:
香港商華納音樂出版有限公司台灣分公司 (Warner Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited Taiwan Branch)
part of:
Casablanca (original soundtrack of the 1942 American film)
Nilsson2:56
6A Foggy Day
producer:
Ken Barnes (British writer, producer, musicologist)
conductor:
Pete Moore (UK composer and arranger)
arranger:
Pete Moore (UK composer and arranger)
recording of:
A Foggy Day (in London Town) (on 1975-07-31)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin (in 1937)
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (in 1937)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), Chappell Music Ltd., Gershwin Publishing Corp, Warner Chappell North America Ltd. and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28)
part of:
A Damsel in Distress (1937 film score)
Fred Astaire3:30
7I Can’t Give You Anything but Love
producer:
Teddy Reig
conductor:
Benny Carter
cover recording of:
I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby
lyricist:
Dorothy Fields (American librettist and lyricist)
composer:
Jimmy McHugh (songwriter)
publisher:
Aldi Music Company, Cotton Club Publishing and EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Shapiro Bernstein & Co. Ltd., ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), コンソーシアム音楽出版 C・F事業部 (Consortium Music Publishing, CF Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング CMP外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Sarah Vaughan3:09
8April in Paris
producer:
Voyle Gilmore
piano:
André Previn (pianist, conductor, composer, arranger)
vocals:
Dinah Shore
arranger:
André Previn (pianist, conductor, composer, arranger)
recording of:
April in Paris
lyricist:
Yip Harburg (in 1932)
composer:
Vernon Duke (in 1932)
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd.
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
Dinah Shore2:58
9Fools Rush In
recording of:
Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer
composer:
Rube Bloom (American songwriter, pianist and vocalist)
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., Commander Publications, Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Warner Bros. Music Corp., ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Brook Benton2:29
10How Deep Is the Ocean
conductor:
Ian Bernard
recording of:
How Deep Is the Ocean?
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (in 1932)
publisher:
Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd. and Irving Berlin Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Dick Haymes3:23
11Fly Me to the Moon
conductor:
Don Costa (US pop music arranger & producer)
performer:
The Ralph Sharon Trio
arranger:
Don Costa (US pop music arranger & producer)
cover recording of:
Fly Me to the Moon
lyricist and composer:
Bart Howard (in 1954)
premiered by:
Kaye Ballard (in 1954)
publisher:
Almanac Music-Inc., Hampshire House Publishing Corp., Kensington Music Ltd., Palm Valley Music LLC and TRO Essex Music Ltd.
sub-publisher:
ティー・アール・オー・エセックス・ジャパン A事業部 (TRO Essex Japan, A-Division)
Tony Bennett4:00
12Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
piano:
Stan Kenton
vocals:
June Christy
recording of:
Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (Seven Lively Arts musical revue)
lyricist and composer:
Cole Porter (composer) (in 1944)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell & Co., Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), Chappell Music Co. Inc. and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
June Christy & Stan Kenton3:50
13Blue Skies
engineer:
Donivan Cowart and Bradley Hartman
producer:
Booker T. Jones
vocals:
Willie Nelson
arranger:
Booker T. Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1978) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 2003)
recorded at:
The Enactron Truck in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-12-03 until 1977-12-12)
mixed at:
The Enactron Truck in Los Angeles, California, United States
cover recording of:
Blue Skies (from 1977-12-03 until 1977-12-12)
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (in 1926)
publisher:
Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd., Irving Berlin Music Company and Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Willie Nelson3.53:35
14I’m in the Mood for Love
engineer:
John Kraus (1950s US engineer) (in 1955-08)
producer:
Bobby Troup
double bass [bass]:
Ray Leatherwood (in 1955-08)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (in 1955-08)
vocals:
Julie London (in 1955-08)
recording of:
I’m in the Mood for Love (in 1955-08)
lyricist:
Dorothy Fields (American librettist and lyricist)
composer:
Jimmy McHugh (songwriter)
publisher:
Margenia Music, MCI Music Publishing Ltd., EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. (ASCAP) (in 1935, in 1963) and EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) (in 2016)
Julie London42:29
15Blue Moon
vocals:
Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”)
orchestra:
Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra
recording of:
Blue Moon (in 1949)
lyricist:
Lorenz Hart (in 1934)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer) (in 1934)
publisher:
EMI Catalogue Partnership, EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. (ASCAP), EMI United Partnership Ltd., J. Albert & Son P/L, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Robbins Music Corporation, SBK United Partnership Ltd., フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Belgium NV and Francis Day Editions (SABAM)
part of:
New York, New York (1977 musical film soundtrack)
Mel Tormé3:12
16Come Rain or Come Shine
producer:
Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
cover recording of:
Come Rain or Come Shine
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer (in 1946)
composer:
Harold Arlen (in 1946)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), S.A. Music Co. and Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB
Ray Charles3:41
17Embraceable You
producer:
George Duke
arranger and orchestrator:
Billy Childs (US composer/jazz pianist)
recording of:
Embraceable You
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin (in 1928)
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (in 1928)
publisher:
Ira Gershwin Music, New World Music (new age music), New World Music Corp., Warner Bros. Music Corp., Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 until 2024-01-01)
part of:
Crazy for You (1992 musical)
part of:
Girl Crazy (1930 Musical)
part of:
When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965 film)
Dianne Reeves7:55
18I’ll Be Seeing You
recorded in:
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1944-02-17)
producer:
Dave Kapp
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1944-02-17)
vocals:
Bing Crosby
orchestra:
John Scott Trotter's Orchestra (on 1944-02-17)
conductor:
John Scott Trotter
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1993)
cover recording of:
I’ll Be Seeing You (on 1944-02-17)
lyricist:
Irving Kahal (in 1938)
composer:
Sammy Fain (in 1938)
publisher:
Fain Music (ASCAP), New Irving Kahal Music and Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィック音楽出版 (Fujipacific Music inc.) (until 2014-12-31), ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31), フジパシフィックミュージック (Fujipacific Music, Inc.) (from 2015-01-01 to present) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) (from 2017-04-01 to present)
Bing Crosby2:51

Credits

Release

art direction:Janet Wolsborn
liner notes:Alan Warner (UK soundtrack producer and compiler)
miscellaneous support:Mark Heimback-Nielsen (task: research)
Peter Holden (task: project coordination)
engineer:Rob Christie (task: mastering coordination)
executive producer:Alan Warner (UK soundtrack producer and compiler)
mastering:Kevin Bartley
mastered at:Capitol Mastering in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
part of:The Best of the Definitive American Songbook (order: 1)