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 (library/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
cover recording of:
Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer
writer:
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 Nelson33:35
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)