The song of the day for Tuesday, May 6, 2014 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was composed by Cliff Burwell with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. The song was published in 1928 and quickly became a jazz standard. Rudy Vallee, accompanied by Burwell, recorded the song in 1928. Other early recordings included those by Isham Jones and Teddy Wilson. Later recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins and, most famously, Nat “King” Cole.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1965 album If Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. I’ll let Tony Bennett tell the story (from The Good Life):

That album also included a song that’s always been very special to me: “Sweet Lorraine.” I dedicated it to Nat Cole, who had died a month earlier in in April 1965. I was heartbroken when I heard that Nat had passed away. Bobby Hackett and I were working at the Palmer House in Chicago, and it seemed appropriate to pay tribute by recording Nat’s signature tune while we were in his hometown. (Bobby, whose instrument was normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.)

http://open.spotify.com/track/50XojfSBJJQ75bAFowNyGZ
“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as the album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from iTunes.