Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Songbook
Encyclopedia
Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Songbook is an album by Canadian
jazz
pianist
Oscar Peterson
, released in 1959 (see 1959 in music
). It was reissued in 2001 in combination with the 1954 recording Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen
.
2001 Reissue track listing:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
, released in 1959 (see 1959 in music
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
). It was reissued in 2001 in combination with the 1954 recording Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen
Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen
Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, released in 1954 .-Track listing:# "As Long as I Live"# "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues"# "Come Rain or Come Shine"...
.
Track listing
Original 1959 track listing.- "As Long as I LiveAs Long as I Live"As Long as I Live" is a song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ted Koehler, it was written for their last show at the Cotton Club Parade, in 1934...
" (Harold ArlenHarold ArlenHarold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
, Ted KoehlerTed KoehlerTed L. Koehler was an American lyricist.-Life and career:Koehler was born in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver but was attracted to the music business, where he started out as a theater pianist for silent films. He moved on to write for vaudeville shows and Broadway, and he also...
) - "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Arlen, Johnny MercerJohnny MercerJohn Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
) - "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the PositiveAc-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" is a popular song. The music was written by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and it was published in 1944. It is sung in the style of a sermon, and explains that accentuating the positive is key to happiness...
" (Arlen, Mercer) - "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue SeaBetween the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"Between the devil and the deep blue sea" is an idiom meaning a dilemma—i.e., to choose between two undesirable situations .-Possible origins:...
" (Arlen, Koehler) - "I've Got the World on a StringI've Got the World on a String"I've Got The World on a String" is a 1932 popular song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was written for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade....
" (Arlen, Koehler) - "That Old Black Magic" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Let's Fall in LoveLet's Fall in Love"Let's Fall In Love" is a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and published in 1933. The major hit at the time of introduction was by Eddy Duchin. It was originally written in C major with a "Moderately Bright" tempo marking...
" (Arlen, Koehler) - "Stormy Weather" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Over the RainbowOver the Rainbow"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
" (Arlen, E. Y. Harburg) - "Happiness is a Thing Called JoeHappiness is a Thing Called Joe"Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" is a song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Yip Harburg, it was written for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky, recorded by the MGM Studio Orchestra and sung by Ethel Waters.-Notable recordings:...
" (Arlen, Harburg) - "The Man that Got AwayThe Man that Got Away"The Man that Got Away" is a popular song, published in 1953 and was written for the 1954 version of the movie A Star Is Born. The music was written by Harold Arlen, and the lyrics by Ira Gershwin...
" (Arlen, Ira GershwinIra GershwinIra Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
) - "Ill WindIll Wind"Ill Wind " is a song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ted Koehler, it was written for their last show at the Cotton Club Parade, in 1934....
" (Arlen, Koehler)
2001 Reissue track listing:
- "As Long as I Live" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "I Gotta Right to Sing the BluesI Gotta Right to Sing the Blues"I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" is a popular song with music by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Ted Koehler, published in 1932. The song has become a jazz and blues standard....
" (Arlen, Koehler) - "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "I've Got the World on a String" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "t's Only a Paper Moon (song)|It's Only a Paper Moon" (Arlen, Harburg, Billy RoseBilly RoseWilliam "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"...
) - "That Old Black Magic" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Let's Fall in Love" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Stormy Weather" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Blues in the NightBlues in the Night"Blues in the Night" is a popular song which has become a pop standard and is generally considered to be part of the Great American Songbook. The music was written by Harold Arlen, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for a 1941 film begun with the working title Hot Nocturne, but finally released as Blues...
" (Arlen, Mercer) - "Over the Rainbow" (Arlen, Harburg)
- "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" (Arlen, Harburg)
- "Stormy Weather" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Over the Rainbow" (Arlen, Harburg)
- "The Man that Got Away" (Arlen, I. Gershwin)
- "Ill Wind" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Let's Fall in Love" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "As Long as I Live" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (Arlen, Mercer)
- "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "I've Got the World on a String" (Arlen, Koehler)
- "That Old Black Magic" (Arlen, Mercer)
Personnel
- Oscar PetersonOscar PetersonOscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Ray BrownRay Brown (musician)Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
– double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Ed ThigpenEd ThigpenEdmund Leonard "Ed" Thigpen was an American jazz drummer, best-known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Herb EllisHerb EllisMitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(on titles taken from Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen)