The Forgotten Music

Published on November 29th, 2008 in: Issues, Music, New Old Stock, Retrovirus |

7. “A Taste Of Honey” by Bobby Scott and Rick Marlow (1960)
2:17
Apparently this song is known most popularly as an instrumental, which makes the sung “a taste of honey” parts even more intriguing. And apparently it’s a favorite of Paul McCartney who made it part of the Beatles repertoire for years. (Thanks Wikipedia!)

8. “Love Is Blue” (aka “L’amour est bleu”) by André Popp and Pierre Cour (1967)
2:28
I remember this tune being used in an episode of Millennium (as a brainwashing tool, no less!) and wishing they’d used this version instead. The ending has a melancholy quality that I love. According to Wikipedia, it is “noted as one of the most covered and biggest selling Eurovision Songs ever.”

Les feuilles mortes

9. “Autumn Leaves” (aka “Les feuilles mortes”) by Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévert (1945)
2:32
Here is another older tune, which has become a jazz standard (sung by the likes of Diana Krall, for example). Thanks to Wikipedia, I now know that it is “the only piano instrumental to reach number one.” This was due to the Roger Williams version from 1955. The original French title was “Dead Leaves,” which suits the somber mood of this piece far better than the English translation. The ghostly voices also add to the effect.

10. “Come Back To Sorrento” (aka “Torna a Surriento”) by Giambattista De Curtis and Ernesto De Curtis (1905)
2:23
This one is the oldest of all, from 1905! It was originally composed in Italian but later translated to English. It’s been covered by a whole slew of people including Mario Lanza and Dean Martin. It bears its Italian origins on its accordion-playing sleeve.

11. “The Girl From Ipanema” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes (1962)
2:18
Probably everyone knows “The Girl From Ipanema” and has heard countless covers of it over the years. But have you ever heard a version in which all the lyrics are whistled? This is that version. I like how some of the whistling is done in that vibrato, “old man” style. It makes this version seem even more quaint and antique.

12. Unknown
2:06
This is a jazzy, almost samba-sounding tune which I wish I knew the name of so badly. Someone has suggested Astrud Gilberto, but I don’t know enough of her music to say for sure.

13. Unknown
2:48
Of all the songs on this tape, this one is my favorite since it’s the most melancholy and unforgettable, with a stand-up bass sound that is exquisite. Sadly, I don’t know the name of it, either. The ending is elegiac, a perfect ending to a perfect series of forgotten pieces of music.


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Songs one through six

Or download the zipped file of all the songs.

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5 Responses to “The Forgotten Music”


  1. JL:
    December 1st, 2008 at 8:45 am

    Downloading NOW!
    You have given me an early Christmas gift – thanks!
    -John

  2. summer hayes:
    January 7th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    music of the future B side??

  3. Popshifter:
    January 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    Yes, that’s the tape! Music of the Future was later revealed to be French composers Perrey & Kingsley and I bought a CD of theirs after I found this out.

    LLM

  4. Popshifter » Peter Project, Fresh EP:
    February 13th, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    […] duties over a more upbeat track featuring some great sampling of “Love is Blue,” a song covered by so many artists that it’s hard to tell which recording it came from. The rest of the song is built around […]

  5. Popshifter » Iggy Pop, Roadkill Rising . . . The Bootleg Collection: 1977 – 2009:
    May 18th, 2011 at 12:19 am

    […] Mortes” (a.k.a. “Autumn Leaves”) a song I love thanks to a haunting, instrumental version from the ’60s or ’70s. And I never thought I’d hear him perform anything with […]







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