Romance After Hours
by David Wilson
"Romance After Hours" - The play list in "Romance After Hours" is made up of some of my personal favorite songs from the golden age of "lounge" music. These are tunes one might have heard upon entering a back room bar in some long forgotten Las Vegas lounge.
Track # 1 - "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime"
- the song most associated with Dean Martin's swaggering crooning.
- the song most associated with Dean Martin's swaggering crooning.
Track # 2 - "Am I Blue?"
- a great torch song. made famous with Billie Holiday's rendition.
- a great torch song. made famous with Billie Holiday's rendition.
Track # 3 - "Go Away Little Girl"
- the rich, swingin' voice of Steve Lawrence did this song justice.
- the rich, swingin' voice of Steve Lawrence did this song justice.
Track # 4 - "Come Rain Or Come Shine"
- such a great tune! starts in a major key, while the last line cries out in a forceful minor key. A terrific ending!
- such a great tune! starts in a major key, while the last line cries out in a forceful minor key. A terrific ending!
Track # 5 - "Willow Weep for Me"
- a tender melody expressing so well the loss of love.
- a tender melody expressing so well the loss of love.
Track # 6 - "'Round Midnight"
- the great, brooding jazz standard by the renowned Thelonius Monk.
- the great, brooding jazz standard by the renowned Thelonius Monk.
Track # 7 - "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
- perhaps the ultimate diva show song.
- perhaps the ultimate diva show song.
Track # 8 - "Blue Velvet"
- this, to me, is the pinnacle of lounge songs. I performed this one regularly before David Lynch used it in his film of the same title.
- this, to me, is the pinnacle of lounge songs. I performed this one regularly before David Lynch used it in his film of the same title.
Track # 9 - "Sleepy Time Down South"
- Tin Pan Alley's best song of life in ol' Dixie. Louis Armstrong's theme song.
- Tin Pan Alley's best song of life in ol' Dixie. Louis Armstrong's theme song.
Track # 10 - "Just a Gigolo"
- originally written and recorded in pre-war Germany. Very existential lyrics.
- originally written and recorded in pre-war Germany. Very existential lyrics.
Track # 11 - "Summertime"
- everybody's favorite Gershwin song. This sultry melody can make you sweat.
- everybody's favorite Gershwin song. This sultry melody can make you sweat.
Track # 12 - "The Good Life"
- it's last call, the bar is emptying out, you're a bit tipsy and thinkin' some
deep philosophical thoughts. this tune says it all...
- it's last call, the bar is emptying out, you're a bit tipsy and thinkin' some
deep philosophical thoughts. this tune says it all...