"Last Night When We Were Young" is a 1935 popular song about nostalgia and young love [1] composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Arlen regarded it as the favourite of the songs that he had written.[2]
Lawrence Tibbett recorded the song on October 9, 1935.[2] It was cut from his film Metropolitan but performed instrumentally behind the credits.[3]
"Last Night When We Were Young" was highly regarded by Judy Garland, who recorded it twice, and frequently performed it.[2] Composer Alec Wilder called it a "most remarkable and beautiful song" that "goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music." Continuing, he stated that "[i]t is unlike any other Arlen song that I have heard. However, it is unmistakably his."[3] Harburg did not know where he acquired the title, saying, "the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy".[2] Singer Tony Bennett, aged 95, gave an "emotional" performance of the song at his final concerts, in 2021.[4]
Notable recordings
- Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (1955), September of My Years (1965)
- Peggy Lee - Dream Street (1956)
- Judy Garland - Judy (1956)
- Cal Tjader (arr. Clare Fischer) - Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen (recorded 1960, released 1962; reissued 2002 on CD as Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen and West Side Story)
- Mel Tormé and George Shearing - An Elegant Evening (1985)
- Tony Bennett - To My Wonderful One (1959), Perfectly Frank (1992)
- Carly Simon - Film Noir (1997)
- Keith Jarrett Trio - Tokyo '96 (released 1998)
- Carmen McRae - Torchy (1955)
- The Hi-Lo's - On Hand (1956).[5]
- Sarah Vaughan - Close to You (1960)
- Vic Damone- Young and Lively (1962).[6]
- Karin Krog / Jacob Young - Where Flamingos Fly (2002)[7]
- Franck Amsallem - Gotham Goodbye (2019)
References
- ↑ Browne, Ray Broadus; Ambrosetti, Ronald J. (1993). Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future. ISBN 9780879725938.
- 1 2 3 4 Jablonski, Edward (1998). Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues. UPNE. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-55553-366-3. Google Book Search. Retrieved on March 20, 2010.
- 1 2 Wilder, Alec (1972). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 26. ISBN 0-19-501445-6.
- ↑ "'He's my musical companion': Lady Gaga salutes, duets with Tony Bennett 'One Last Time'".
- ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.