Too Marvelous for Words
"Too Marvelous for Words" | |
---|---|
Song | |
Published | 1937 |
Genre | Traditional pop |
Composer(s) | Richard Whiting |
Lyricist(s) | Johnny Mercer |
"Too Marvelous for Words" is a popular song written in 1937. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for music composed by Richard Whiting. It was introduced by Wini Shaw and Ross Alexander in the 1937 Warner Brothers film Ready, Willing, and Able, as well as used for a production number in a musical revue on Broadway. The song has become a pop and jazz standard and has been recorded by many artists.
Overview
The song was used as the love theme for the characters played by Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in the 1947 film noir Dark Passage, directed by Delmer Daves. It was introduced in a vocal version (often erroneously credited, without verification, to Jo Stafford), then recurred as an instrumental at important points in the story. Harry James recorded a version in 1947 on Columbia 37851.
Alec Wilder has praised the song as a "model of pop songwriting, musically and lyrically".[1] He cited its surprising shifts in rhythm and key.
The lyrics have won praise as sophisticated and perfectly synchronized with the tune. In the opinion of at least one critic, Mercer borrowed some of the lyric techniques and wordplay from Ira Gershwin.[2] Singer Margaret Whiting was the daughter of composer Whiting and a good friend of lyricist Mercer. She said that Mercer's lyrics in "Too Marvelous for Words" were an enormously original approach to saying "I love you, honey".[3]
Covers
Bing Crosby recorded the song on March 3, 1937[4] with Jimmy Dorsey for Decca Records and it went to the top of the charts of the day during ten weeks in the listings.[5] Leo Reisman and his Orchestra also had chart success with the song in 1937, briefly reaching the No. 16 spot.[6]
Frank Sinatra covered the song on his 1956 album Songs for Swingin' Lovers!, arranged by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He continued to perform the song on his 1962 world tour and performed it with a new arrangement by the Count Basie Band in 1965.[7]
Other artists who have recorded the song include:
- Pat Boone
- June Christy - Through the Years (1995), June Christy with The Johnny Guarnieri Quintet, A Friendly Session, Vol. 3 (1998)
- Rosemary Clooney (on her 1960 album Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie!)
- Nat King Cole
- Doris Day (on the 1950 soundtrack album Young Man with a Horn, an alternate version by Day with a string orchestra appears in the film)
- Michael Feinstein (on his 1993 album Forever)
- Ella Fitzgerald (on her 1964 album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book)
- Stan Getz
- Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues (1956)
- Joni James (on her 1959 album Joni Sings Sweet)[8]
- Diana Krall (on her 2009 album Quiet Nights)
- Frankie Laine for his 1959 album Reunion in Rhythm
- John Pizzarelli
- Johnnie Ray (for his 1958 album 'Til Morning)[9]
- Andy Russell[10]
- Frank Sinatra - Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956)
- Jeri Southern - The Southern Style (1955)
- Jo Stafford
- Frankie Vaughan[11]
See also
References
- ^ Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-501445-6.
- ^ Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-506408-9.
- ^ Wilk, Max (1997). They're Playing Our Song. New York: Da Capo. ISBN 0-306-80746-7.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 106. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 366. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "Frank Sinatra: Too Marvelous for Words". Merriam-Webster. 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ "Joni James – Joni Swings Sweet (1959, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Johnnie Ray With The Billy Taylor Trio - 'Til Morning". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Andy Russell With Dean Elliott And His Orchestra – Love Notes From Andy Russell (1948, Shellac)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "78 Record: Frankie Vaughan - Too Marvellous For Words (1953)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Billie Holiday Sings/Solitude
- An Evening with Billie Holiday
- Billie Holiday
- Billie Holiday at Jazz at the Philharmonic
- Stay with Me
- Music for Torching
- Velvet Mood
- Lady Sings the Blues
- Body and Soul
- Songs for Distingué Lovers
- Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport
- All or Nothing at All
- Lady in Satin
- Last Recording
- The Essential Billie Holiday: Carnegie Hall Concert Recorded Live
- Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years
- Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944
- Lady Day Swings
- Remixed and Reimagined
- "Ain't Nobody's Business"
- "As Time Goes By"
- "Billie's Blues"
- "Blue Moon"
- "Body and Soul"
- "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"
- "Don't Explain"
- "Easy Living"
- "Embraceable You"
- "Everything Happens for the Best"
- "Everything Happens to Me"
- "Fine and Mellow"
- "Gloomy Sunday"
- "God Bless the Child"
- "Good Morning Heartache"
- "I Cover the Waterfront"
- "I Loves You, Porgy"
- "If You Were Mine"
- "I Thought About You"
- "I'll Be Seeing You"
- "I'll Get By"
- "I'll Never Be the Same"
- "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"
- "Just One of Those Things"
- "Lady Sings the Blues"
- "Left Alone"
- "Love for Sale"
- "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"
- "Me, Myself, and I"
- "Miss Brown to You"
- "My Man"
- "Moonlight in Vermont"
- "Night and Day"
- "No More"
- "Now or Never"
- "Our Love Is Different"
- "P.S. I Love You"
- "Pennies from Heaven"
- "Please Don't Do It Here"
- "Preacher Boy"
- "Sophisticated Lady"
- "Stormy Blues"
- "Stormy Weather"
- "Strange Fruit"
- "Sugar"
- "Summertime"
- "That Ole Devil Called Love"
- "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)"
- "Too Marvelous for Words"
- "Trav'lin' Light"
- "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"
- "What Is This Thing Called Love?"
- "Why Was I Born?"
- "Willow Weep for Me"
- "You Go to My Head"
- "Your Mother's Son-In-Law"
- "Angel of Harlem"
- Lady Sings the Blues
- book
- film
- soundtrack
- Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
- Statue
- The United States vs. Billie Holiday
- soundtrack
- Category