Author Archives: Paulo Novaes

That’s All I Ask of You

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233. That’s All I Ask Of You

R.E. Pope

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 MT 106 Complete on Columbia v.5 11 2’55”

You’ve heard my story before
I’ve often told it you know
Well it’s just the same
A dream that’s been in vain

Someone to miss when I’m away
Someone to kiss at close of day
A heart that’s new
With a love that’s true
That’s all I ask of you

Someone to care when things look blue
A love to share my whole life through
We’re side by side
Just a groom and a bride
That’s all I ask of you

Now most of my plans have crumbled and faded
May this one come true
I’ll make a start
I’ll give you my heart
The rest is up to you

So give your love
In one sweet kiss
I ask no more of you than this
Be sweet and kind
Say that you’ll be mine
That’s all I ask of you

(bridge)

Now most of my plans have crumbled and faded
May this one come true
I’ll make a start
I’ll give you my heart
The rest is up to you

So give your love
In one sweet kiss
I ask no more of you than this
Be sweet and kind
Say that you’ll be mine
That’s all I ask of you

 

2nd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 AT 106a Complete on Columbia v.9 9 2’54”

You’ve heard my story before
I’ve often told it you know
Well it’s just the same
A dream that’s been in vain

Someone to miss when I’m away
Someone to kiss at close of day
A heart that’s new
With a love that’s true
That’s all I ask of you

Someone to care when things look blue
A love to share my whole life through
We’re side by side
Just a groom and a bride
That’s all I ask of you

Now most of my plans have crumbled and faded
May this one come true
I’ll make a start
I’ll give you my heart
The rest is up to you

So give your love
In one sweet kiss
I ask no more of you than this
Be sweet and kind
Say that you’ll be mine
That’s all I ask of you

(bridge)

Now most of my plans have crumbled and faded
May this one come true
I’ll make a start
I’ll give you my heart
The rest is up to you

So give your love
In one sweet kiss
I ask no more of you than this
Be sweet and kind
Say that you’ll be mine
That’s all I ask of you

 

Notes

 

That Old Devil Called Love

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232. That Old Devil Called Love

Allan Roberts & Doris Fisher

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1944 MT 177 Complete on Decca v.1 4 2’52”

It’s that old devil called love again
Gets behind me and keeps giving me the shove again
Putting rain in my eyes, tears in my dreams
And rocks in my heart

It’s that sly old son of a gun again
He keeps telling me that I’m the lucky one again
But I still have that rain still have those tears
And those rocks in my heart

Suppose I didn’t stay ran away wouldn’t play
That devil – what a potion he would brew
He’d follow me around build me up, tear me down
Till I’d be so bewildered I wouldn’t know what to do

Might as well give up the fight again
I know darn well he’ll convince me that he’s right again
When he sings that siren song I just gotta tag along
With that old devil called love

He’d follow me around build me up, tear me down
Till I’d be so bewildered I wouldn’t know what to do

Might as well give up the fight again
I know darn well he’ll convince me that he’s right again
When he sings that siren song I just gotta tag along
With that old devil called love
With that old devil called love

 

2nd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1944 AT 177a Private Recording 2’56”

It’s that old devil called love again
Gets behind me and keeps giving me the shove again
Putting rain in my eyes, tears in my dreams
And rocks in my heart

It’s that sly old son of a gun again
He keeps telling me that I’m the lucky one again
But I still have that rain still have those tears
And those rocks in my heart

Suppose I didn’t stay ran away wouldn’t play
That devil – what a potion he would brew
He’d follow me around build me up, tear me down
Till I’d be so bewildered I wouldn’t know what to do

Might as well give up the fight again
I know darn well he’ll convince me that he’s right again
When he sings that siren song I just gotta tag along
With that old devil called love

He’d follow me around build me up, tear me down
Till I’d be so bewildered I wouldn’t know what to do

Might as well give up the fight again
I know darn well he’ll convince me that he’s right again
When he sings that siren song I just gotta tag along
With that old devil called love
With that old devil called love

 

3rd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1949 LR 48 Perfect Complete Collection v.3 1 2’13”

(intro – sound is awful)

It’s that old devil called love again
Gets behind me and keeps giving me the shove again
Putting rain in my eyes, tears in my dreams
Rocks in my heart

It’s that sly old son of a gun again
He keeps telling me that I’m the lucky one again
But I still have that rain still I have those tears
And those rocks in my heart

Suppose I wouldn’t stay wouldn’t play and run away
That devil – what a potion he would brew
He’d follow me around build me up, tear me down
Till I’d be so bewildered I wouldn’t know what to do

Might as well give up the fight again
I know darn well he’ll convince me that he’s right again
When he sings those siren songs I just gotta tag along
With that old devil called love

Notes

 

Tenderly

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231. Tenderly (1946)

Lyrics by Jack Lawrence
Music by Walter Gross

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1952 MT 230 Complete on Verve v.2 4 3’23”

The evening breeze
Caressed the trees,
Tenderly
The trembling trees
Embraced the breeze
Tenderly
Then you and I
Came wandering by
And lost in a sigh
Were we

The shore was kissed
By sea and mist
Tenderly
I can’t forget
How two hearts met
Breathlessly

Your arms opened wide
And closed me inside
You took my lips
You took my love
So tenderly

Then you and I
Came wandering by
And lost in a sigh
Were we

The shore was kissed
By sea and mist
Tenderly
I can’t forget
How two hearts met
Breathlessly

Your arms opened wide
And closed me inside
You took my lips
You took my love
So tenderly

 

2nd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1952 LR 98 Perfect Complete Collection v.5 6 2’53”

 

(The Amateur Hour intro)

BH: “Well, I’m gonna try do the recording made for Norman Granz, Mercury. Tenderly”)

 

The evening breeze
Caressed the trees
Tenderly
The shimmering trees
Embraced the breeze
Tenderly
Then you and I
Came wandering by
Lost in a sigh
Were we

I can’t forget
How two hearts met
Tenderly
The sky was kissed
By sea and mist
Breathlessly

Your arms opened wide
And closed me inside
You took my lips
You took my love
So tenderly

Notes

First to sing Sarah Vaughan

 

Tell Me More and More, And Then Some

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230. Tell Me More And More (And Then Some)

Billie Holiday

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1940 MT 134 Complete in Columbia v.6 14 3’08”

Tell me more and more and then some
You know what I long to hear
I want more and more and then some
Of that I Love You Only Dear

Tell me more and more and then some
The way that you feel and then
When you’ve told that old sweet story
And you’re through, start right in again
I’ve made that old mistake
Know the awful ache
Of a heart that’s double crossed
The waitin’s been so long
It’s hard to be believing
If I’ve missed my guess, happiness is lost

Tell me more and more and then some
You know how I love that stuff
Whisper on from now ’til Doomsday
But I never will hear enough

(bridge)

I’ve made that old mistake
Know the awful ache
Of a heart that’s double crossed
The waitin’s been so long
It’s hard to be believing
If miss my guess happiness is lost

Tell me more and more and then some
You know how that I love that stuff
Whisper on from now ’til Doomsday
But I never will hear enough

 

Notes

 

Swing, Brother, Swing

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Swing, Brother, Swing

L. Raymond & W. Bishop & C. Williams

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1937 LR 3 Complete on Columbia v.8 4 1’49”

Deep rhythm captivates me
Hot rhythm stimulates me
Can’t help but swing it boy
Swing it brothers swing

Don’t stop to diddle daddle
Stop this foolish prattle
Come on swing me Gate
Swing it brothers swing

Raring to go and ain’t nobody
Gonna hold me down
Say listen boy
Hurry up and send me
Let me go to town
Stop this diddle daddle
And this foolish prattle
Come on kill me Jo
Swing it brothers swing

Deep rhythm captivates me
Hot rhythm stimulates me
Can’t help but swing it boy
Swing it brothers swing

Don’t stop to diddle daddle
Stop this foolish prattle
Come on send me Count
Swing it brothers swing

Rarin’ to go and ain’t nobody
Gonna hold me down
Say listen boy
Hurry up and send me
Let me go to town
Stop this diddle daddle
And this foolish prattle
Come on swing me Count
Swing it brothers swing

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 MT 124 Complete on Columbia v.6 4 2’55”

Deep rhythm captivates me
Hot rhythm stimulates me
Can’t help but swing it boy
Swing it brothers swing

Don’t stop to diddle daddle
Stop this foolish prattle
Come on swing me boys
Swing it brothers swing

Raring to go and ain’t nobody
Gonna hold me down
Say listen boy
Hurry up and send me
Let me go to town
Stop this diddle daddle
And this foolish prattle
Come on kill me boy
Swing it brothers swing

(bridge)

Deep rhythm captivates me
Hot rhythm stimulates me
Can’t help but swing it boy
Swing it brothers swing

Don’t stop to diddle daddle
Stop this foolish prattle
Come on kill me boys
Swing it brothers swing

Rarin’ to go and ain’t nobody
Gonna hold me down
Say listen boy
Hurry up and send me
Let me go to town
Stop this diddle daddle
And this foolish prattle
Come on knock me out
Swing it brothers swing

Swing, brother, swing!

 

Comments

On LR #3 Billie mentions Count (Basie) and Jo (Jones – both were in the band). She also mentions “Gate”. I presume she could be referring to Louis Armstrong who carried this nickname at some point. And he had an strong influence on her.

Sun Showers

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228. Sun Showers

Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1937 MT 56 Complete on Columbia v.3 8 3’05”

Sun showers
Never mind the rain
The sun will shine again
Through sun showers

In a little while
They sky above will smile
Like luster that follows your tears

Dark clouds of sorrow
Will soon be a sunny tomorrow

While sun flowers
Raise their happy eyes
Up to the flaming skies
Then sun showers
Leave us as they follow
Rainbows in our hearts
The gray skies soon will be clear
My dear
While sun showers are here

Notes

 

Summertime

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227. Summertime (1935)

lyrics by DuBose Heyward

music by George Gerhwin

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1936 MT 24 Complete on Columbia v.1 24 2’53”

Summertime

And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’

And the cotton is high
Oh your daddy’s rich

And your ma is good lookin’
So hush little baby

Don’t you cry

One of these mornings
You’re goin’ to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take the sky
But till that morning
There’s a-nothin’ can harm you
With Daddy and Mammy

Standin’ by

(bridge)

One of these mornings
You’re goin’ to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take the sky
But till that morning
There’s a nothin’ can harm you
With daddy and mammy

Standin’ by

Notes

From the show Porgy and Bess

 

Sugar

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226. Sugar (That sugar baby o’mine) 1944

lyrics by Sidney D. Mitchell & Edna Alexander

music by Maceo Pinkard

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 MT 111 Complete on Columbia v.5 16 2’45”

Sugar
I call my baby my sugar
I never maybe my sugar
That sugar baby of mine
He’s special ration
Funny he never asks for my money
All I give him is honey
And that he can spend anytime

I’d make a million trips to his lips
If I were a bee
Because he’s sweeter than chocolate candy to me
He’s confectionary

Sugar I never cheat on my Sugar
‘Cause I’m too sweet on my Sugar
That sugar baby of mine

Notes

to be checked

 

Strange Fruit

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225. Strange Fruit (1939)

Lewis Allan

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 MT 117 Complete Commodore v.1 1 3’10”

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

 

2nd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1939 AT 117a Complete Commodore v.1 2 3’18”

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

 

3rd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1945 LR 24 Complete on Verve v.1 2 2’56”

(Billie Holiday intro)

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

 

4th version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1945 LR 88 Perfect Complete Collection v.4 20 3’20”

(Billie introduces the song:
“By request, it was written specially for me, it’s title is Strange Fruit)

 

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

(applauses)

 

5th version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1945 MT 277 Complete on Verve vol.7 5 3’01”

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

 

6th version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1959 LR 223 Perfect Complete Collection v.12 14 2’45”

(Billie introduces next song: “and now a little tune written specially for me: Strange Fruit”)

 

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

(applauses)

Notes

Billie was the first to sing this song, as it was composed specially for her.
 

Stormy Weather

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223. Stormy Weather (1933)

Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Music by Harold Arlen

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1952 MT 236 Complete on Verve v.2 11 3’41”

Don’t know why
There’s no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time

Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can’t get my poor self together
I’m weary all the time,
The time
So weary all the time

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away
Old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can’t go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time
Keeps raining all the time

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away
Old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can’t go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time
Keeps raining all the time

 

2nd version

rec date type # discography tk rec time
1955 LR 144 Perfect Complete Collection v.7 26 3’39”

Don’t know why
There’s no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time

Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can’t get my poor self together
I’m weary all the time ,

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away
Old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The Lord will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can’t go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time,

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away
Old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can’t go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time,
Keeps raining all the time

(applauses)

Notes

First appeared in the nightclub act The Cottonclub Parade; first to sing Ethel Waters