The Second Time Around

The song, "Heartaches" was composed in 1931.

Several recordings of the tune were produced that same year, but they received little public acceptance.

However, Britains beloved popular singer, Al Bowlly provided a smooth and delightful treatment of the song on EBW # 5358 backed by the Sid Phillips Melodians.

In 1933, Ted Weems and his Orchestra recorded Heartaches for Victor but once again the tune generated little interest.

Essentially, the song went nowhereuntil 1938, when the Ted Weems Orchestra recorded it againthis time for Decca. The Weems rendition is a Fox Trot, performed in Semi-Rumba tempo; with first-rate vocalist, Elmo Tanner providing the whistling. From the moment of its release, this recording created great interest from the record buying public.

As the years rolled on however, the song faded into oblivion until1947, when a North Carolina Disc Jockey re-introduced the original Weems version on his late night radio program. The listener response was gargantuan!

Decca responded immediately to the demand for a record that was out-of-print by hastily re-issuing the 1933 Weems version on Decca # 25017.

The rebirth of Heartaches became an overnight success and the song went on to become one of the biggest Hits of 1947.

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"As Time Goes", By was written in 1931 by Herman Hupfield.

Lamentably, his popular music compositions are too few in numbers.

The song made its debut in the Broadway Musical, Everybodys Welcome. The show opened on October 31, 1931 and ran for 139 performances.

The tune garnered little interest, even when the very popular artist Rudy Vallee recorded it, in 1931, on Victor # 22773.

In 1943, As Time Goes By, was the featured song in the movie Casablanca. Dooley Wilson, the bar pianist in the film, sang the lyrics while Elliot Carpenter dubbed in the piano music.

As a result of the films enormous acclaim, its theme song, As Time Goes By became an overnight sensationbut the tune could not be recorded as the Musicians Union enacted a ban on instrumental recordings which took effect in August of 1942 and lasted roughly two years.

However, RCA Victor remembered that they had the Rudy Vallee master in their vault and immediately re-issued it on Victor # 20-1526.

Brunswick also searched their files and discovered that they had a 1931 pressing of the song, by Jacques Renard and his Orchestra. While the record never sold well in 1931, it was in great demand in the 1943 re-issue. It was released on (Green Label) Brunswick # 6205.

As soon as the Musicians Union strike was settled with Decca, in late 1943, Decca pressed As Time Goes By on their (Specialty Series) # 40006. It has Dooley Wilson on the vocal with piano and rhythm accompaniment.

Re-born, the haunting song, As Time Goes By has become one of the great popular-music standards.

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"You Made Me Love You", was composed in 1913 and popularized by Al Jolson on Columbia # A-1374.

This wonderful song has had many revivals over the years, with undoubtedly more yet to come.

In 1926, Louis Armstrong gave it his famous implementation on Okeh # 8447.

Next, It appeared in the Broadway Musical, Ziegfeld Follies of 1931.

Then, Judy Garland sang it in her famed, Dear Mr. Gable letter, in the movie, Broadway Melody of 1938.

In 1941, Harry James recorded, You Made Me love You on Columbia # 36296. This recording was to become the most famous and the most recognized instrumental of his entire career.

The James rendition of this song is the pinnacle of beautiful music and illustrates beyond any doubt the total mastery that Harry James had of the trumpet.

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"Indian Summer", was composed by Victor Herbert in 1919, without lyrics, and gained an appreciable amount of recognition at that time as an instrumental.

In 1939, words were added by the very capable and prolific lyricist, Al Dubin and the song became an instant success. It was extensively recorded by the stellar orchestras of the day and appeared on the Hit Parade a total of fourteen weeks.

The popularity and success of added text seems to make a good case for competent lyrics. However, instrumental renditions of Indian Summer are highly favored by modern jazz artistsbecause the composition is constructed in such a fashion that liberties may be taken with it while the beguiling melody line can still be maintained.

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"Dancing In The Dark", was composed in 1931 and appeared in the Broadway Musical, The Band Wagon. The show featured Fred and Adele Astaire and opened on June 3, 1931. It ran for 260 performances and would forever associate Fred Astaire with the feature song, Dancing In The Dark.

The top bands of the day, as well as the most renowned singers of that period, profusely recorded the song in the 30s. It was also a favorite of male quartets and operatic sopranos.

In 1941, Artie Shaw and his Orchestra recorded it on Victor # 27335 and it immediately became a best selling record.

Shaws rendition is a masterpiece of arranging and musicianship. His Dancing In The Dark, serves as an excellent example of the splendid music that Artie Shaw and his full string orchestra created during the Big Band Era.


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"Are You Lonesome Tonight?", Was written in 1927 and recorded very sparingly at the time.

Vaughn De Leath, the first lady of radio, recorded her version on Edison # 52044 and it became one of her biggest selling records.

Gene Austin, the top recording artist of the 20s, included the song in his stage show performances but never recorded it.

Little Jack Little also performed the song in his distinctive and captivating style on Columbia 1173-D and it became one of the more popular tunes of 1927.

However, this very pleasant melody with exceptionally meaningful lyrics languished in virtual obscurity until 1960 when Elvis Presley took it to new heights of popularity.

Presley utilizes the narration technique, in the middle of the song, to great advantage with the result being that the recording was one of the years biggest hits, selling over 2,000,000 copies.

In 1969, in a live performance at Las Vegas, Presley implodes with unconstrained laughter in mid-song while singing, Are You Lonesome Tonight? The reasons given for his spontaneous laughter are varied and conflicting but his lamentation at the conclusion of the song is Simon-Pure Elvis, "Thats it man...fourteen years down the drain!"

Kenn Vitek

3609 Fountainhill Ridge Road

Charlotte, North Carolina 28226-6602

Email- KENNVITEK@AOL.COM

myname@myaddress.com