Slim Whitman - I Remember You

"I Remember You": Music written by Victor Schertzinger, lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Published in 1941. American country singer Slim Whitman, known for his yodeling, recorded the song in a fashion very similar to Frank Ifield's 1962 recording. "I Remember You" was released as a 45 in 1966 on Imperial, and a later recording was released in 1980 on Epic/Cleveland International/CBS. It's available as an MP3 from Capitol. There's also a mono archival recording of a live radio broadcast.

Tony Bennett Returns with The Art of Romance

28 November 2004

All is well with veteran jazz crooner Tony Bennett. At 78, he looks great, and says, with no uncertainty, that he's feeling just fine. Well, why not? His career remains in full swing. Tony recently performed at a benefit concert with Paul McCartney and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tony also jetted off to the island of Anguilla in the Caribbean to sing at a wedding on national television, and has released a five-disc anniversary collection. Tony Bennett captures our hearts, yet again, with a new CD titled "The Art Of Romance."

Tony Bennett is a master of the Great American Songbook. He's held that title for as long as most fans can remember. Tony puts a magical touch on every song he sings, whether it's Johnny Mercer's "I Remember You" or Johnny Mandel's "Little Did I Dream." His obvious love for entertaining always seems to win over another generation of adoring fans.

To fully appreciate Tony Bennett, you have to return to his humble beginnings as a struggling New York nightclub performer working under the name Joe Bari. Following Bob Hope's suggestion that he change his name to Tony Bennett, the aspiring young singer won his first recording contract and a hit song with "Can You Find It In Your Heart." For most jazz singers, including Tony Bennett, the 1960s and '70s proved to be tough times, as rock 'n' roll, folk and disco commanded a majority of sales and radio airplay. But Bennett, despite falling out of favor, pushed on. He stuck with the classics, and in 1994 he was back on top with his multi-million selling Unplugged album.

What's been the key to Tony Bennett's success? He admits that some of it comes from luck, but adds, "It's about having faith in the audience to discover great art."

Tributes to great composers and vocalists are nothing new for Tony Bennett. His most recent recordings included tribute albums honoring Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and a Grammy-winning effort with k.d. lang to Louis Armstrong.

Tony Bennett wanted to try something a little different on his latest release, Art Of Romance. In addition to re-introducing little-known songs to listeners, he made his songwriting debut, composing the lyrics to Django Reinhardt's "All For You."

Tony also covers the 1966 Johnny Mercer/Geoffrey Clarkson song "Time To Smile".

Another message on Tony Bennett:

Tony Bennett
http://mercerjohnny.blogspot.com/2011/12/tony-bennett.html

Tony Bennett is also mentioned here:

All-Star Recording Pays Tribute to Johnny Mercer
http://mercerjohnny.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-star-recording-pays-tribute-to.html

Susannah McCorkle
http://mercerjohnny.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-cd-features-susannah-mccorkles-most.html

Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry

"Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer, music by Victor Schertzinger) was published in 1941, and became a hit in 1942.

Arthur Murray (4 April 1895 – 3 March 1991) was a dance instructor and businessman, whose name is most often associated with the dance studio chain that bears his name.His pupils include Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, Barbara Hutton, Elizabeth Arden, Manuel L. Quezon, and Jack Dempsey. Arthur Murray was inducted into the National Museum of Dance C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 2007.

Victor L. Schertzinger (8 April 1888 - 26 October 1941) was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include Paramount on Parade (co-director, 1930), Something to Sing About (1937) with James Cagney, and the first two "Road" pictures Road to Singapore (1940) and Road to Zanzibar (1941). His two best-known songs are "I Remember You" and "Tangerine", both with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and both featured in Schertzinger's final film The Fleet's In (1942).

Despite the novelty status of "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" it has been recorded by many people, including:
Marilyn Cooper

Jimmy Dorsey and Helen O'Connell

Shari Lynn and Bob Corwin

Susannah McCorkle

It has also been recorded by The King Sisters, by "Arthur Murray", and by Red Norvo with Mildred Bailey.

The most popular versions are by Jimmy Dorsey with Helen O'Connell, and by Red Norvo with Mildred Bailey.

Victor Schertzinger is also mentioned here: Johnny Mercer meets The Beatles

Johnny Mercer meets The Beatles

The Beatles included the song "I Remember You" (music by Victor Schertzinger, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1941) in their 1962 live performances, with Paul McCartney on vocals. The Beatles' arrangement of "I Remember You" was a duplicate of the 1962 recording issued by Frank Ifield.

"P.S. I Love You" (music by Gordon Jenkins, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1934) has been recorded many times. Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Kay Starr, among others.

In 1962, The Beatles recorded a Paul McCartney - John Lennon composition also titled "P.S. I Love You". McCartney was probably aware of the Mercer song. But you can't copyright a song title.

Producer Ron Richards: "I was originally a music publishing man, a plugger, so I knew someone had done a record with that title. I said to Paul [McCartney] 'You can have it as B-side, but not an A-side.'"

Mercer's biographer Gene Lees expressed annoyance at this duplicate title.

Johnny Mercer co-founded Capitol Records in 1942. The Beatles joined Capitol in 1963. Johnny was gone from Capitol by then.

Ringo Starr sang Johnny Mercer's 1944 song "Dream" (produced and arranged by George Martin) for his 1970 standards album Sentimental Journey.

Paul McCartney contacted Johnny Mercer in the 1970s in an attempt to write a song with Johnny. But Mercer was already ill and nearing the end of his life.

The 2012 Paul McCarney album Kisses On The Bottom includes "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (music by Harold Arlen - lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1944).