Also, below is the link to a very splendid 2011 orchestral and singing version of "This Heart of Mine", which was broadcast on BBC Television very recently (2011). First the male soloist sings the lovely song and then later, the choir sings it too - copying the presentation from the old 1945 film "Ziegfeld Follies".
- elegant dancing of Fred Astaire and his partner in this film Lucille Bremer. In the movie cameo, Fred plays the role of a jewel thief - he goes immaculately dressed to a glittering party (ball) and observes all the guests arriving dripping in diamonds and jewellery! Our thief soons spots the glamorous young lady (Miss Bremer) and seeks to dance with her. Their dancing is very graceful and includes gliding movements on a moving part of the stage (which looks like they're dancing on ice).
The lady is captivated by Fred's dancing but as they say goodbye to leave the party, as he holds her close while dancing, he slips off the catch to her diamond bracelet and puts it into his pocket without her realising that she has been robbed (so he thinks!).
Having successfully stolen her diamond bracelet, he gets his hat from the butler and turns to leave the party place. However, the lady taps him on the shoulder and calls him back - she then unclips her diamond necklace and hands it over to him! The thief takes it but is perplexed. As he walks away, he starts to put the necklace in his pocket but then it he realises that the lady has "overlooked" his crime and loves him! The lady joins him and after a kiss, they go off happy together.
Presumably, the thief will now be a reformed character and marry the lady?
~~~~~~~~~~
From the Web:
"....The next sequence, however, is pure Minnelli. Harry Warren and Arthur Freed's song, This Heart of Mine, is a ballroom-dance ballet, reminiscent of the Astaire-Rogers' "Let's Face the Music" and Dance from "Follow the Fleet". It tells in movement of a gentleman-thief (Astaire), who crashes a society ball and woos a bejeweled princess (Lucille Bremer). After their dance, his greed clashes with his love, and as they exit, he wins both the diamonds and the girl...."
Note that before the "thief" (Fred) starts singing, he offers the princess a cigarette. You couldn't do that today!
I believe that they've even censored the famous Beatles photo in Abbey Road in N.W.London on the zebra-crossing where one of the Beatles (Paul, second from the left) had a cigarette drooping from his hand!
(with cigarette!)
and here is 22 year-old Judy Garland's 1945 studio recording of "This Heart of Mine".
Judy later starred with Fred Astaire in the colourful MGM film "Easter Parade" in 1948.
In one scene in the film, Fred and Judy (both dressed as tramps) famously performed the song "A Couple of Swells".
"Forget Me Never" was originally recorded for Elvis's post-army film "Wild In The Country" (Twentieth Century Fox 1961) co-starring Hope Lange and Tuesday Weld amongst others. In order to keep up the dramatic content, a couple of songs were dropped in the final cut including this pretty song. Elvis acted very well in this serious movie, but it made less money at the box office.
The song and still photos from the movie can be heard and seen in the slide show below:
Collector's CD below:
From the Web:
Wild in the Country is a 1961 film drama starring Elvis Presley in which he portrays a troubled young man from a dysfunctional family who pursues a literary career. The screenplay was written by playwright Clifford Odets.
The song by Frank Loesser "A Woman In Love" was powerfully sung by the great singer Frankie Lane who was born in the USA in 1913 of Italian descent and who still sang on albums as late as 2004.
Frankie Laine's original hit record below was recorded in New York (Columbia Records) on 3rd October 1955 and was a million selling No.1 Hit in the UK, where he was immensely popular.
He sang well-known theme songs for many movie Western soundtracks, including 3:10 To Yuma, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Blazing Saddles, although he was not a country & western singer. Laine sang an eclectic variety of song styles and genres, stretching from big band crooning to pop, western-themed songs, gospel, rock, folk, jazz, and blues. He did not sing the soundtrack song for High Noon, which was sung by Tex Ritter, but his own version (with somewhat altered lyrics, omitting the name of the antagonist, Frank Miller) was the one that became a bigger hit, nor did he sing the theme to another show he is commonly associated with Champion the Wonder Horse (sung by Mike Stewart) but released his own, subsequently more popular version.
Laine's enduring popularity was illustrated in June 2011, when a TV-advertised compilation called "Hits" reached No. 16 on the British chart. The accomplishment was achieved nearly 50 years after his debut on the UK chart, more than half a century after his U.S. debut and four years after his death.[1]
The Voice himself - Frank Sinatra sings "Body and Soul" recorded on 9th November 1947 and arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl with Bobby Hackett on trumpet.
My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for you dear only Why haven't you seen it I'm all for you body and soul I spend my days in longing And wondering why it's me you're wronging I tell you I mean it I'm all for you, body and soul I can't believe it, it's hard to conceive it That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending it looks like the ending Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear My life a wreck you're making You know I'm yours for just the taking I'd gladly surrender Myself to you, body and soul
(Heyman/Sour/Eyton/Green)
Introduced in the US in the Broadway Revue "Three's A Crowd".
"There Will Never Be Another You" - the song was composed by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the musical film "Iceland".
It was recorded by Frank Sinatra for a special wartime government recording in late 1942 or early 1943. Here is a 1961 recording on Capitol Records.
There will be many other nights like this And I'll be standing here with someone new There will be other songs to sing
Another Fall, another Spring But there will never be another you There will be other lips that I may kiss But they won't thrill me like yours used to do Yes, I may dream a million dreams But how can they come true If there will never ever be another you
This is the song "There Will Never Be Another You" sung by teen idol Frank Sinatra almost 70 years ago and it still sounds great. The recording was with David Broekman & The Treasury Song Parade Orchestra, likely made in January 1943.
"Laughter In The Rain" - the song composed by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody and recorded by Neil Sedaka in 1975 as can be heard below. It reached No.1 in the charts in the USA.
Strolling along country roads with my baby It starts to rain, it begins to pour Without an umbrella we're soaked to the skin I feel a shiver run up my spine I feel the warmth of her hand in mine
Ooooh, I hear laughter in the rain Walking hand in hand with the one I love Ooooh, how I love the rainy days And the happy way I feel inside
After a while we run under a tree I turn to her and she kisses me There with the beat of the rain on the leaves Softly she breathes and I close my eyes Sharing our love under stormy skies
Ooooh, I hear laughter in the rain Walking hand in hand with the one I love Ooooh, how I love the rainy days And the happy way I feel inside
I feel the warmth of her hand in mine Ooooh, I hear laughter in the rain Walking hand in hand with the one I love Ooooh, how I love the rainy days And the happy way I feel inside
Ooooh, I hear laughter in the rain Walking hand in hand with the one I love Ooooh, how I love the rainy days And the happy way I feel inside
From the Web: Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939) is an Americanpop/rocksinger, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricistsHoward Greenfield and Phil Cody.
Neil Sedaka's autobiography is: Laughter in the Rain: My Own Story. New York: Putnam 1982. ISBN 0-399-12744-5
Some of his most popular hit songs are: "Oh! Carol", "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", "Calendar Girl", "That's When The Music Takes Me" and a later recording "Solitaire". Neil Sedaka is due to tour the UK again in October this year.
Night and day, you are the one Only you beneath the moon or under the sun Whether near to me, or far It's no matter darling where you are I think of you Day and night
Night and day, why is it so That this longing for you follows wherever I go In the roaring traffic's boom In the silence of my lonely room I think of you Day and night
Night and day Under the hide of me There's an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me And this torment won't be through Til you let me spend my life making love to you Day and night, night and day
by Cole Porter.
This is the very young Frank Sinatra singing "Night And Day" in a movie clip.
The song "Night and Day" was composed by Cole Porter and originally introduced in the 1932 show "Gay Divorce" sung by Fred Astaire. The song is said to be Cole Porter's most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
Fred Astaire sang it again in the RKO 1934 film version of the show, renamed "The Gay Divorcee", and it became one of his signature pieces. The film was re-named after objections to the original title (gay = happy).
The song became very well-known after Frank Sinatra's 1956 recording on "Capitol" records - he made 3 versions of the song one earlier, another later. In the later version the introductory words were also dramatically sung. These are:-
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom tom When the jungle shadows fall Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock As it stands against the wall. Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops When a jungle shower is through. So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you.
This recording was made by Frank Sinatra on 11th August 1947 with the accompanying orchestra arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl (for Columbia Records). Although it was not composed for a stage show, "The Nearness of You" (1937) became an immediate hit and has been recorded by many artists since. Apparently, even "The Rolling Stones" sung the song!
Jo Elizabeth Stafford (November 12, 1917 - July 16, 2008[1]) was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards and occasional actress whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. Stafford was greatly admired for the purity of her voice and was considered one of the most versatile vocalists of the era.[note 1] .... Stafford's work in radio, television and music is recognized by three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[4]
"Time After Time" - gently sung by the young Frank Sinatra in this Columbia recording made in late October 1946 and released on 31st March 1947. Composed by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl. The song was featured in the RKO film "It Happened in Brooklyn".
Looking on in the above film clip with Frank Sinatra at the piano is Jimmy Durante aka "Schnozzle" Durante!
It's 9 years since Chris Danneffel's photo assignment in Prague in September 2003 when Chris met Lea. The day they met Lea had earlier been making an interview recording on film for inclusion of the "Private Life of Lea De Mae" Double DVD Set.
Amongst Chris's photos taken in Prague was one of Lea in the local Park, a wooded area. Lea like the colours of the photo and Donati in China included part of it in the first ever "poster" he made for the forums. You may remember that good-natured Lea did not ask for any modelling fee, which would be expected for a well-known movie performer.
I have created below a new but quite simple wallpaper with Lea pictured against an Autumn background of trees with leaves of red and gold from another location, as per the song "Autumn Leaves". Lea looks stunning! Those lovely eyes!
The words of the song are:
The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold I see your lips, the summer kisses The sunburned hands, I used to hold
Since you went away, the days grow long And soon I'll hear old winter's song. But I miss you most of all my darling, When autumn leaves start to fall.
It was originally composed in 1945 in the French language as "Les Feuilles Mortes" and in 1947, English lyrics were written by USA songwriter, Johnny Mercer. The original French composers were Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévert.
Frank Sinatra's 1945 version of the song (also recorded by Jo Stafford and Nat King Cole amongst others) can be heard at either of the following locations:
I am delighted to see that we have now had over 90,000 viewings of this tribute to Lea. Also, over 55,000 for the two Monica topics combined which are nearby in the Forum listing.
Thanks to everyone for looking in from time to time.
In less than 2½ months time, it will be the 8th anniversary since we lost Lea/Andrea. Hopefully, several members of Lea's and/or this former CSS Forum will be able to place some flowers on Lea's grave, as last year.
The many wallpapers of Lea and on the former CSS Forum as well have all suddenly disappeared! Hundreds of them. I am hoping to hear from Martin. You may remember this happened once before a few years ago. It took many weeks to locate and restore them. I apologise for the problem and hope that everything can be solved.
Addendum: I have just heard from Martin in Prague that he has fixed the problem and the pictures should all be back again now on both Forums. I am glad they are as it would be a very big job to restore each picture one at a time! Thanks Martin! 19 Oct '12.
Once, once upon a dream, I met her Long ago, but somehow I can't forget her I met her, once upon a dream
We built a castle Where we planned to live together Precious moments in the land of Never I met her, once upon a dream
Dreams can come true, darling That's what they say Prove that you're real And it's my lucky day
Once, once upon a dream, I met her Never, never thought we'd be together Forever, riding on our dream I met her, once upon a dream
(Paramour/Rowe)
This song was written by Norrie Paramour and Dick Rowe for Billy Fury (England's answer to Elvis Presley). Billy sang it in his movie debut for Allied Artists in the black & white movie "Play It Cool" (1962). NB. Billy met his idol Elvis Presley when Elvis was filming "Girls! Girls! Girls! for Paramount in 1962 (the film in which Elvis performed UK No.1 Hit Record "Return To Sender").
Here's Billy Fury singing his recording which was in a scene from his movie "Play It Cool"....
Billy Fury meets his idol Elvis Presley on the film set of "Girls! Girls! Girls! (Paramount) in the USA in 1962, where Billy presented Elvis with music awards.
Billy recorded "Because Of Love" when he returned to England. A part of the song was sung by Elvis in the movie.
Here's Billy Fury's recording:
A great performance of Billy's is "Like I've Never Been Gone" as sung here.
and another dramatic one is "Last Night Was Made For Love" (the girls used to scream at the part of the song at 1.08 minutes)
and at this same link, another great song is available "Somebody Else's Girl".
Billy Fury was from Liverpool (before The Beatles made it a world-famous city).
A statue of Billy is there.
Billy Fury's Statue at Albert Dock, Liverpool.
From "Wiki"...
Billy Fury (17 April 1940 - 28 January 1983)[1] born Ronald William Wycherley, was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death.[2] An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled The Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the UKchart, without a chart-toppingsingle or album.[1]Allmusicjournalist, Bruce Eder, stated, "His mix of rough-hewn good looks and unassuming masculinity, coupled with an underlying vulnerability, all presented with a good voice and some serious musical talent, helped turn Fury into a major rock and roll star in short order".[2] Others have suggested that Fury's rapid rise to prominence was due to his "Elvis Presley-influenced, hip-swivelling, and at times highly suggestive stage act."[3]