The song of the day for Monday, December 7, 2015 is “Time After Time.”
About This Song
“Time After Time” was written in 1947, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn for the film It Happened in Brooklyn. The song was introduced by Frank Sinatra and was a major hit for him. This song has been widely recorded by many artists. In his fine book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia quotes Jule Styne as saying “It’s a man’s song — ‘Time After Time.’ When a woman sings it, it is drained of all its power, so to speak. The girls can’t do it.” Well, tell that to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day and Cyndi Lauper.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” in 1992 for Perfectly Frank, his tribute album to Frank Sinatra. The arrangement is from Ralph Sharon.
“Time After Time,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.
About Today
Today The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week-long celebration of the 100th birthday of Francis Albert Sinatra, who was born on December 12, 1915. He shares his centennial birthday with other greats in jazz, including Billy Strayhorn and Billie Holiday.
Sinatra was born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey and was the only child of Dolly and Marty Sinatra. His mother was active in local Democratic circles and often took her son with her on business for the party. She was also a local midwife; Sinatra’s father owned and ran a tavern, where Frank sometimes sang while doing his homework after school.
Young Sinatra was drawn to a career in music, especially, jazz from a very early age. After high school, he worked odd jobs here and there–it was the Depression after all. But he continued to work on his music and was soon finding odd singing jobs here and there.
Tomorrow … Frank and The Hoboken Four