As we close out the Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade Week at the Year of Tony Bennett, the song of the day for Saturday, January 12, 2013 is While We’re Young.
About While We’re Young
While We’re Young was composed by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz, with lyrics by William Engvick. It was first recorded in 1944 by the Fred Waring Singers (little known fact: the Waring blender was invented by the same Fred Waring) and again in 1949 by Meredith Willson (who wrote The Music Man) and his Orchestra. Peggy Lee also recorded the song in 1949, but not to Wilder’s liking. Marion McPartland quotes Wilder as telling Miss Lee that “The next time you come to the bridge (of the song), jump off!” While We’re Young remains a popular in the American songbook, having been recently recorded by Jane Monheit and Ben Sidron.
Alec Wilder was a composer of amazing breadth and interests. In addition to his popular and jazz music, he also composed operas, film music and classical chamber music. He is also the author of American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950 (available inexpensively on the Kindle platform at Amazon; the book is also available from the publisher Oxford University Press), with an introduction by Gene Lees.
About This Version
Even though While We’re Young wasn’t a hit as far as the charts go, I chose it because it’s a really beautiful song by a great composer. Tony Bennett recorded the song in May 1951 with an arrangement by Percy Faith. It was produced by Mitch Mitchell, who attended the Eastman School of Music with Mr. Wilder.
While We’re Young, as well as the full Columbia Singles: Volume 1, is available from iTunes.
It’s amazing that this song by Benedetto never received much airplay by our DJs.
It is well sung with feeling and emotion by Tony I remember dancing to it while being played on a jukebox in Coney Island under the pier 15 boardwalk. This song was played by many young people back then!
It’s a beauty and vintage Tony Bennett !
I would like to add that the era we are talking about was the early 50’s.
This song and I’m The King Of Broken Hearts were favorites under pier 15!
I’m glad you liked this song, Nick. I thought it was so beautiful that I had to include it.
I love Peggy Lee’s version. Wonder Why Alec Wilder didn’t like it.
I love Peggy Lee’s version as well. Alec Wilder was notoriously grumpy. Here’s from the biography Alec Wilder: In Spite of Himself by Desmond Stone. I grabbed an image from the Google Books version, which you see if you follow this link: http://awesomescreenshot.com/0222y0pid3