The song of the day for Tuesday, May 12, 2015 is “So Long, Big Time!”
About This Song
Today’s song was written in 1963 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Dory Langdon Previn. One of Arlen’s later songs, “So Long, Big Time” is about the “player” who’s run out of luck and is giving up the fast life and knows when it’s time to walk away. The Bill Evans Trio and Monica Zetterlund recorded this song in 1964 for the album Waltz For Debby. Other than these two recordings, this song has not (to the best of my knowledge) ever been recorded.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “So Long, Big Time!” on September 17, 1963 for the album The Many Moods of Tony. The arrangement is by Marty Manning, with the composer Harold Arlen conducting.
“So Long, Big Time!,” as well as The Many Moods Of Tony, is available from iTunes.
About Today
No reason, other than it’s been a few weeks since I’ve played an Arlen tune and I really love this song. And this video … Yes, it’s Harold Arlen conducting at the session, held at the famed CBS 30th Street Studio. Look at Arlen’s glorious smile at 2:22 in the video.