Song of the Day: If I Could Be With You

The song of the day for Sunday, April 12, 2015 is “If I Could Be With You.”

About This Song

“If I Could Be With You” was written in 1926 by the pianist James P. Johnson, with lyrics by Henry Creamer. Johnson, made a piano roll of it in 1927, the same year it was used in the revue Brownskin Models. In 1930, there were several successful recordings, including those by Louis Armstrong and Ruth Etting. Other recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Kay Starr and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Today’s song is the sixth song from Tony Bennett on Holiday. Ralph Sharon’s accompaniment is excellent and does a great job of setting the song in the 1920s stride piano style.

“If I Could Be With You ,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

About Billie Holiday’s Version

It appears that Holiday never recorded “If I Could Be With You,” though she is known for having sung it live early in career. So, instead of a Lady Day version, we have several others:

James P. Johnson

Louis Armstrong

Diana Washington

Kay Starr

Benny Goodman and His Rhythm Makers

Count Basie and His Orchestra