Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Monday, July 31, 2017 is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg.

Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1959 for the 1960 album To My Wonderful One. The arrangement was by Frank DeVol, who arranged and conducted the album.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as To My Wonderful One, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the end of our look at Mitch Miller, which includes some of Bennett’s greatest recordings as well as others that many would sooner forget. However, we must never forget that it was Mitch Miller who signed Tony Bennett to Columbia, and for that many of us are eternally grateful.