The song of the day for Monday, October 21, 2013 is “I Wish I Were In Love Again.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “I Wish I Were In Love Again” in 1937 for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms (note that the Broadway show bears no resemblance to the Mickey Rooney – Judy Garland film of the same name, though Judy Garland did record this song in 1940). The lyric is Lorenz Hart at his sardonic best:

When love congeals, it soon reveals
The faint aroma of performing seals
The double-crossing of a pair of heels
I wish I were in love again

About This Version

Today’s recording is from Tony Bennett’s album Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1977. This album, as well as its earlier companion, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs, feature Tony and the Ruby Braff – George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright also on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. All of these recordings can be found on The Complete Improv Recordings box set, which also includes Life is Beautiful, both of his albums with Bill Evans and a recording of a club date with Marion and Jimmy McPartland.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4Qytn2uiRVOpuWHmmo1OMt
“I Wish I Were In Love Again,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes and Amazon. (If you are considering purchasing the The Complete Improv Recordings, I recommend the CD version from Amazon; the booklet by Will Friedwald is excellent.)