| “It's All in the Game” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Tommy Edwards | |||||
| B-side | "Please Love Me Forever" | ||||
| Released | 1958 | ||||
| Length | 2:36 | ||||
| Label | MGM | ||||
| Writer(s) | Carl Sigman, Charles Dawes | ||||
| Tommy Edwards singles chronology | |||||
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"It's All in the Game" is a song that was a 1958 hit for Tommy Edwards. Tommy Edwards ( 15 October 1922 — 22 October 1969) was an African American Singer. Carl Sigman composed the lyrics in 1951 to fit a wordless 1911 composition entitled "Melody in A Major," written by Charles Dawes, who would later become the Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge. Carl Sigman ( September 24, 1909 &ndash September 26, 2000) was a major American songwriter Charles Gates Dawes (August 27 1865 &ndash April 23 1951 was an American Banker and Politician who was the thirtieth Vice President of the United States The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death John Calvin Coolidge Jr (July 4 1872 January 5 1933 was the thirtieth President of the United States (1923–1929 It is thus the only #1 pop single in history to have been cowritten by a U. S. Vice President.
The song has become a pop standard, with cover versions recorded by dozens of major artists, some of which have been minor hit singles themselves. Traditional pop or Classic pop or Standards music denotes in general Western (and particularly American popular music that either wholly predates the advent of In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released
Contents |
Melody in A Major
Dawes, a Chicago bank president and amateur pianist and flautist, composed the tune in 1911[1] in a single sitting at his lakeshore home in Evanston. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra A flautist, flutist, or flute player is a Musician who plays the Flute. Evanston Illinois is an affluent suburban Chicago Municipality on Lake Michigan on the North Shore in Cook County, Illinois directly He modestly played it for a friend, the professional violinist Francis MacMillan, who was so impressed that he secretly took Dawes's sheet music to a publisher. The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century Dawes, who was already well known for his federal appointments and a Senate candidacy, was surprised to find a portrait of himself in a State Street shop window with copies of the tune for sale. State Street is a major north-south thoroughfare in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dawes quipped at the time, "I know that I will be the target of my punster friends. They will say that if all the notes in my bank are as bad as my musical ones, they are not worth the paper they were written on. " The tune, often dubbed "Dawes's Melody", followed him into politics, and he grew to detest hearing it played wherever he appeared. [2] It was a favorite of violinist Fritz Kreisler, who used it as his closing number for many years, and in the 1940s it was picked up again by swing musicians such as Tommy Dorsey. Fritz Kreisler ( February 2, 1875 &ndash January 29, 1962) was an Austria -born American Violinist and Tommy Dorsey ( November 19 1905 &ndash November 26 1956) was an American Jazz Trombonist, Trumpeter [3]
It's All in the Game
In the summer of 1951, the noted songwriter Carl Sigman had an idea for a song, and Dawes's "Melody" struck him as an appropriate base for his sentimental lyrics. Carl Sigman ( September 24, 1909 &ndash September 26, 2000) was a major American songwriter (Dawes himself had died in April of that year. ) It was recorded that year by Dinah Shore, Sammy Kaye, Carmen Cavallaro and Edwards. Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore February 29, 1916 - February 24, 1994) was an American Singer, Actress Sammy Kaye (born Samuel Zarnocay Jr 13 March 1910, Lakewood, Ohio &mdash died 2 June 1987, Ridgewood Carmen Cavallaro ( May 6, 1913 – October 12, 1989) was an American pianist born in New York [3] The Edwards version had the most success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4] The wide range of the classical melody would have been "difficult to sing", so required rearrangement. [5] A noted jazz arrangement was recorded by Louis Armstrong (vocals) and arranger Gordon Jenkins, with "some of Armstrong's most honey-tinged singing". Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Gordon Hill Jenkins ( 12 May 1910 – 1 May 1984) was an American Arranger who was an influential figure in popular music Jenkins would in 1956 produce a version with Nat King Cole along the same lines. Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician [6]
In 1958, Edwards was having difficulties, and had only one session left on his MGM contract. Stereo recording was just becoming commercially viable, and it was decided to cut a new, stereo version of "Game" with a rock and roll arrangement. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African The single was a hit, reaching #1 for six straight weeks beginning September 29, 1958. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In November, the song hit #1 in Britain to boot. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Its success encouraged several other artists to create rock-tinged cover versions of pop hits. The single helped Edwards revive his career for another two years of hits. [4]
Recordings
"It's All in the Game" has been recorded by many different artists to varying degrees of success. Notable versions include those by these artists:
- Tommy Edwards topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in 1958. Tommy Edwards ( 15 October 1922 — 22 October 1969) was an African American Singer. The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry
- Andy Williams recorded it for his 1959 album Lonely Street. Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams (born December 3 1927 in Wall Lake Iowa) is an American pop singer Lonely Street was Andy Williams ' sixth Cadence 12" long-play album recorded and originally released in 1959
- Robert Goulet released his version on his 1961 album Always You. Robert Gerard Goulet ( November 26 1933 – October 30 2007) was a Canadian Grammy - and Tony Award - winning
- Cliff Richard had a number-two hit in the United Kingdom in 1963 and a number-25 hit on the Hot 100 in 1964. Sir Cliff Richard, OBE, (born Harry Roger Webb on 14 October 1940 is an English Singer, Actor and Businessman. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
- Also in 1964, The Lettermen included a version on their album She Cried. The Lettermen are an American Pop music vocal group. The Lettermen's trademark is close- Harmony pop Songs with
- Jackie DeShannon recorded a version for her 1968 album What the World Needs Now Is Love. Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers, August 21 1944, Hazel, Kentucky) is an American Singer-songwriter
- The Four Tops had a number-five hit in the United Kingdom and a number-24 Hot 100 hit with their version in 1970. The Four Tops are an American vocal Quartet, whose repertoire has included Doo-wop, Jazz, Soul music, R&B, Disco
- Van Morrison included his version in the Side 2 song cycle from his 1979 album Into the Music. George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, Into the Music is the eleventh studio Album by Northern Irish Singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1979 Morrison's cover of the song was voted #813 on Dave Marsh's list of 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made and it became a concert favorite with Morrison's fans over the years. Dave Marsh (born March 1, 1950 Detroit Michigan) is an American Music critic who briefly attended Wayne State University His 2006 Limited edition album, Live at Austin City Limits Festival and the 1994 double live album A Night in San Francisco both included this song. Live at Austin City Limits Festival by Northern Irish Singer-songwriter Van Morrison is a limited edition live album recorded from the A Night in San Francisco is a Live album by Northern Irish Singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1994 [7]
- Neil Sedaka recorded a version for his 1984 album Come See About Me. Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn New York) is an American pop Singer, Pianist, and Songwriter
- Keith Jarrett performed a solo jazz piano arrangement of it in 2001 at the State Opera House in Munich, later released on his 2004 live album The Out-of-Towners. Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown Pennsylvania) is an American Pianist and Composer. Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany.
- Barry Manilow covered the song for his 2006 album The Greatest Songs of the Fifties
Notes
- ^ Publication date is 1912. Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American Singer-songwriter, Musician, arranger, producer and conductor The Greatest Songs of the Fifties is an album by veteran American singer Barry Manilow, released in the United States on January 31
- ^ Bill Kauffman. "The Melodious Veep", The American Enterprise, June 2004. The American Enterprise was a public policy magazine published by the American Enterprise Institute in Washington Retrieved on 2006-08-10. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
- ^ a b "Veep's Waltz", TIME Magazine, December 17, 1951. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Retrieved on 2006-08-21. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.
- ^ a b Fred Bronson (2003 (3rd ed. )). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books.
- ^ Carl Sigman's Legacy... (interview with his son). Pianoforte Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-08-21. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.
- ^ Will Friedwald. "The Old Songster", The Village Voice, June 6, 2001. This article is about a New York newspaper For the Ottawa Hills Ohio magazine see The Village Voice of Ottawa Hills. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2006-08-21. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.
- ^ The 1001 Greatest Singles
| Preceded by "Stupid Cupid" by Connie Francis |
UK number one single (Tommy Edwards version) 1958 |
Succeeded by "Hoots Mon" by Lord Rockingham's XI |
| Preceded by "Little Star" by The Elegants |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Tommy Edwards version) September 29, 1958 - November 9, 1958 |
Succeeded by "It's Only Make Believe" by Conway Twitty |
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