LAURA : A famous movie theme by David Raksin that AlecWilder described as"A complex yet beautiful melody" Johnny Mercer' s lyrics were added after the film was released and were a major factor in its popularity. It is one song that Cole Porter wished that he had written.
In a C0llege of Pacific Concert, Dave Brubeck played a solo version of Laura that the liner notes for thr album stated that this was a version tht Racmaninoff might have played on the brand new Bosendorfer piano purchases by the College. Less perecussive than usual, it is a highly lyrical and sensitive performance by Brubeck.

 https://youtu.be/b0c9BFiS3qs

Spring Will Be a Little Late this Year. Frank Loesser wrote the music and lyrics for a 1944 film Christmas Holiday. The longing for the end of winter is universal and the song suggest that maybe spring will provide a return to happiness . Sara Vaughan provides a winning performance with just a tinge of the sadness conveyed in the lyrics.

NOTE: Loesser had a very rocky marriage with his very difficult first wife. Friends described her as 
               " The Evil of Two Loessers !"
  
https://youtu.be/ICtCV3OJ7MQ

The Way We Were as sung by Doris Day. The song is so entrenched in our minds as it was featured and sung by Barbra Streisand in the film of the same name.
Doris Day has never received the recognition due such a warm and versatile singer described by song scholar Will Freidwals as having a " Voice like liquid sunshine."
This performance eclipses the current day extreme volume shrieking favoured by todays' would-be divas 
.Doris sings clearly, with such controlled emotion bringing to life the words and music  as she remembers the many leading men with whom she acted. A heartfelt performance posted the day after Valentines' Day.

https://youtu.be/cBXMjXD4VGc 


  

Both Sides Now: The iconic song written and sung by Joni Mitchell. She is one song writer who is in the same rarefied class as Jerome Kern,. George Gershwin, Harold Arlen and Richard Rodgers plus none of them wrote lyrics as poetic as she, As she matured, her voice deepened and became more jazz-like and less folky as she was at the beginning of her career.
This is a standard that will last like other songs that formed the Great American Songbook and which continue to be performed by younger generations.

 https://youtu.be/aCnf46boC3I

VALENTINE:  A beautiful piano composition by Fred Hersch, the aclaimed jazz pianist recorded live at an AIDS conference in Europe.
 https://youtu.be/1BARaUnqeBs

My Heart is so full of You:  This is a very genuine expression of love invoking the heart as the organ that promotes the essence of human love. It is from Frank Loessers " Most Happy Fella " and has both popularsongs like "Standing on The Corner " Big D" " Joey. Joey, Joey" AND operatic style arias like this song as well as " Warm All Over" " Rosabella"
The story of an older man wooing a mail order bride, sadness and betrayal only to result  with the both people hearts filled with love for each other
The two volune CD is filled with many songs celebrating the Italian heritage of Tony, the male main character.

 https://youtu.be/xdfteM_F9k8

Too LateNow A wonderful ballad by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Written for the 1951 film Royal Wedding starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell who sings the song to Peter Lawford. This performance by Nancy Wilson explores the richness of a very well-structured melody. 

https://youtu.be/60umAd0ao2A 

The Very Thought of You   This tender ballad was written in 1934 by English bandleader Ray Noble. He wrote in the classic American popular song style  such other popular love songs like Goodnight Sweetheart, Cherokee, The Touch of your Lips, Love is the Sweetest Thing and I Hadn't
' Anyone Till You.
The verse or introductory section is rarely sung but it states that people don't need photographs or portraits of a loved one. Just the thought alone evokes a desired memory.

Michael Feintein sings the male version while Nancy Wilson sings the ladies version. Both performers sing the important verse that sets up the main chorus with which most people are familiar.

https://youtu.be/aYHI6n2Y-So 

https://youtu.be/q9DFB0TM1h0 

OVER THE RAINBOW   This iconic Harold Arlen & E.Y.Harburg song from the Wizard Od Oz was voted the best song of the Twentieth Century by the Recording Industry. I have never run into anyone who did not like or have strong memories of what it meant in their lives. This is almost a symphonic version withth the great diva Renee Fleming, It includes the seldom performed verse or intro and suportedby a sunptuous arrangement, At the end, Renee creates a final cadenza of her own creation to complete her live performance. This is music that transcends the many normal popular music performances we have all heard before and elevates this version  into to a concert hall or grand opera presentation.

https://youtu.be/8KH4TfKj07I