The song of the day for Friday, September 6, 2013 is “I’m Confessin’ That I Love You.”

About This Song

Today’s song has a somewhat muddied provenance. The tune, with completely different lyrics and with the title “Lookin’ For Another Sweetie,” was first recorded by Thomas “Fats” Waller in 1929 and credited to Chris Smith and Sterling Grant. In 1930, the same tune was released with the present lyrics, which were written by Al Neiburg. The composition was credited to Doc Daugherty and Ellis Reynolds. Louis Armstrong made the first recording of the reborn song in 1930 and performed it regularly throughout his performing career.

About This Version

Today’s version of this song is from Tony Bennett’s and k.d. lang’s 2002 album A Wonderful World, which features songs that Louis Armstrong was known for.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2YknWOGY15oWL64myyxthP
“I’m Confessin’ That I Love You,” as well as the album A Wonderful World, is available from iTunes.

As an extra treat today, here’s Louis Armstrong in a live recording on The Frank Sinatra Show on CBS from 1952. Just one question: Did everyone, and I mean everyone, smoke in the early 1950s?

The song of the day for Sunday, June 16, 2013 is “What a Wonderful World.”

About This Song

“What a Wonderful World” was written in 1967 by Bob Thiele and George Weiss Davis. Louis Armstrong released it as a single that same year and the song has associated with Armstrong ever since. That recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

About This Version

Today’s version is the lovely duet with k.d. lang from  their 2002 album A Wonderful World. The orchestral arrangements are by Peter Matz with musical direction by Lee Musiker.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1I1nwFdcQIvMGMqLVsa5NO
“What a Wonderful World,” as well as the album A Wonderful World, is available from iTunes.