Roxyrama Cover Versions

As Time Goes By

Bryan Ferry's decision to record an album comprised completely of classic songs from the 1930's has something of the 'wheel going full circle' about it, as Ferry recorded a 1930's song 'These Foolish Things' on his solo album of the same name in 1973. There is something of the crooner about Ferry, who is a superlative interpreter of other people's songs. For the main part, these songs, arranged by Ferry with jazz pianist Colin Good, who has a affinity with the music of the period, are true to the arrangements of the time, with just that special Ferry twist. Many of the arrangements are influenced by the work of jazzer Teddy Wilson.

As Time Goes By

(Herman Hupfeld)

This timeless classic was first recorded by the man for whom the word crooner was originally coined, Rudi Vallee, in 1931. However the song is synonymous with the film Casablanca, where it was performed by Dooley Wilson. Famously Humphrey Bogart's character Rick is said to have demanded 'Play It Again Sam" of Wilson, the piano player in Rick's Bar. In fact the line was "You know what I want to hear. 'You played it for her, (Ingrid Bergmann's character) now play it for me. Play it." Ferry's version is true to the style of the original versions. Lyrics to As Time Goes By

The Way You Look Tonight

(Fields / Jerome Kern)

This song first saw the light of day in the film Swing Time, sung by Hollywood hoofer Fred Astaire. At this time is was a slow ballad, but has appeared in a more uptempo style, as with Ferry's version, which echoes the phrasing of one of his influences, the original 'Lady Sings The Blues,' Billie Holliday. Lyrics to The Way You Look Tonight

Easy Living

(Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger)

This song has been repeatedly interpreted by many a galaxy of stars over the years, including Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae. Lyrics to Easy Living

I'm In The Mood For Love

(Fields / McHugh)

This song had its origins in the 1935 film Every Night At Eight. Ferry's version eschews the acoustic approach employed on all the other As Time Goes By tracks, but to good effect, as he produced a smooth languid version of the perrenial classic, often associated with Fred Astaire. Lyrics to I'm In The Mood For Love

Where or When

(Rogers and Hart)

The haunting 'Where or When', written by the legendary Tin Pan Alley songwriting team of Richard Rogers and Lorentz Hart was first featured in the 1937 musical 'Babes In Arms' This show also featured Lady Is A Tramp, and My Funny Valentine, not a bad trio of songs... Lyrics to Where Or When

When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful

(Woods and Dunn)

Although covered by many artists, this song is generally associated with one of the Blues' progenitors, Jazz pianist Fats Waller. Sweet and Lovely Gus Arnheim Arnheim, Tobias and Lemare Notes: Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias and Jules Lemare wrote this classic, which was the signature tune for Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra, although later became greatly associated with the most famous crooner of them all, Bing Crosby. Lyrics to When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful

Miss Otis Regrets

(Cole Porter)

Cole Porter's morose 1934 tale of public retribution wreaked upon a wronged woman who has taken the law into her own hands is bleak, yet strikingly poignent. This is particularly true in Ferry's breathy version, against a backing of the Ondes Martinot, a primitive keyboard. This song first appeared in the musical Hi Diddle Diddle, unlikely as it seems. Lyrics to Miss Otis Regrets

Time On My Hands

(Adamson, Gordon, Youmans & Connelly)

Another song with its origins in American musical theatre, this first saw light of day in the show called Smiles, once again sung by Fred Astaire. Lyrics to Time On My Hands

Lover Come Back To Me

(Romberg and Hammerstein)

Written in 1929, and first performed by Rudi Valee in the musical 'The New Moon', this song was famously interpreted by Billie Holliday in 1953. Lyrics to Lover Come Back To Me

Falling In Love Again

(Hollander and Connelly)

This famous tune first appeared in the German film Der Blau Engel (The Blue Angel) sung by the Germa singer and film actress Marlene Dietrich. At that time it laboured under the title Ich Bin Von Kupf Bis Fuss Auf Liebe Eingestel, literally 'I'm built out of love from head to toe'. Thankfully an English lyric was added and the song was covered by Sammy Lerner amongst others. Lyrics to Falling In Love Again

Love Me Or Leave Me

(Kahn and Donaldson)

This is another song from an American musical, this time the 1930 release 'Whoopee' You Do Something To Me Genevieve Tobin and William Gaxton Cole Porter Notes: Cole Porter's 1929 musical 'Fifty Million Frenchmen' was the source for this song. Lyrics to Love Me Or Leave Me

Just One Of Those Things

(Cole Porter)

Another Cole Porter song, but one which has a more jaunty air about it. Its origins are in the 1935 opus 'Jubilee' Like many of the songs on 'As Time Goes By', this was recorded by the legendary Billie Holliday. Lyrics to Just One Of Those Things

September Song

(Anderson and Weill)

Another song with German origins, first sung by Huston in the 1938 musical Knickerbocker Holiday, this is a perrenial favourite of cover artists. Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and even the Velvet Underground's Lou Reed have all covered this song at one time or another. Lyrics to September Song

Last Updated: 24 March 2008