PRETTY WOMEN    Stephan Sondheims music is often criticized for its complex and difficult melodic and harmonic constructions. His lyrics, on the other hand, are recognized as some of the most ingenious and clever ever created for the Broadway stage.
From Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street , Sondheim penned a tribute to pretty women and the power they have to excite the emotions of male admirers,
In the musical, Sweeney and Judge Turpin, who has imprisoned Sweeney's daughter Joanna but plans to marry her eventually. Sweeney ends up killing thwe Judge who end up as one of Mrs. Lovett's meat pies. Gruesome indeed. Listening to this lovely melody one would have no idea about what will eventually happen.
In their own very different ways, they both love and praise the charms of " Pretty Women ."

https://youtu.be/9tI-NNvHwi0 

OLD FRIENDS    For the show Merrily We Roll Along, Stephan Sondheim wrote Old Friends, a tribute to the lastinh connection between friends because as he said " Whose Like Us  "----DAMN FEW !
Growing together throughout their lives, only oldold friends have lasting connections and shared memories that more recent friends cannot duplicate.

https://youtu.be/l5FyEQ7cqrM

That's All   Written by Alan Brandt and and Bob Haymes( singer Dick Haymes younger brother) it had been described by Alec Wilder, song archivist supreme, as " One of the last free-flowing,native and natural melodies in the grand pop style. It's one of the warmest, most natural and least "stidied" songs Wilder knew ( of the more than 17,000 songs he studied for his magnum opus " American Popular Song: The Great Innovators: 1900-1950.
Who better to convey the intrinsic warmth of the song than 
Nat King Cole whose style is ideally fitted to the requirements of the song.
As a bonus, here is a Sinatra version proving that a great song can be performed in different styles and still remain great.

https://youtu.be/sooSaQpGnMM 

https://youtu.be/SINfqtCq0lY 

Spring arrives at last. Now that Winter is about to be given that old heave h, time for some classic songs of spring. Here are two by Richard Rodgers. The first " Spring is Here" has lyrics by Lorenz Hart. He wasn't too happy because " Nobody loves me" Nonetheless , it has a beautiful melody and lyrics are ruefully exquisite. It is sung by Frank Sinatra from his landmark LP Only The Lonely , a collection "Guess I'' Hang My Tears Out To Dry and Blues In The Night.
 Oscar Hammerstein Jr. was called The Cock-Eyed optimist from one of his own South Pacific songs and he had an essentially positive view of life, as did Richard Rodgers. Together they wrote It Might as well be Spring for the movie State Fair where it was sung by Dick Haymes. Mel Torme. another masterful 20th century singer is note -perfect  and Shearing starts with an intro quoting Brigg Fair, a British folk melody before launching into a French Impressionist harmonic Rhapsody to underscore the very gossamer like vocalizing of Torme.

https://youtu.be/IoHsCn9Td8s 


https://youtu.be/cwBuI07cy6g

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square  Written in 1929 in France, the song gained great popularity in 1940's recorded by Vera Lynn . It helped Londoners focus on a more pleasant time in London even while the Germans were bombing the city  I have heard many vocal renditions of this fine song but I believe the  live George Shearing-Mel Torme is the finest. Great vocalizing and highly imaginative piano accompaniment 
At the conclusion, Shearing, on the piano, simulates a bird-like trill just like that of the Nightingale. With this performance. there " surely was magic abroad in the air ."


https://youtu.be/CJKjn2OtyH0

London By Night  Although this blog celebrates American popular song , Eric Coates London by Night and E. Maschitz .A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square are songs written by two Londoners yet very much in the tradition of Jerome Kern or Richard Rodgers. Strong melodies with literate lyrics.
The Singers Unlimited are an A Capella group who overdub multiple voices to create an orchestral vocal
sound. You can also enjoy the pictures of that great city
 https://youtu.be/yjA9NwWEfLA

BIG BAND EXTRAVAGANZA   Anyone over the age of 60 is likely to have heard and danced to the music of the great Big Bands. John Wilson's huge pops orchestra presents a symphony of big band selections featuring songs by Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, Cole Porter Lionel Hampton etc. Younger people involved with the Swing phenomenon have also given  new life to this material
There is an unforgettable emotional excitement in these songs provided by the great arrangers and players who bring them to life. I defy anyone not to tap there toes and fingers while listening.

https://youtu.be/f-cgygWdJOE