You Oughta Be in Pictures

By Dana Suesse and Edward Heyman
1934

An iconic anthem of show business in the same vein as "Hooray for Hollywood", this song was composed by prolific musical virtuoso Dana Suesse, one of the rare woman standouts of the songbook era, and a person referred to in the press of the time as "the girl Gershwin". She and accomplished lyricist Edward Heyman purportedly wrote the song for an unproduced Columbia Pictures film, New York Town, but it was instead introduced on record by the legendary Rudy Vallee, who made it an instant classic and one of the songs most evocative of the 1930s.

Lyrics:

You oughta be in pictures, 
You're wonderful to see, 
You oughta be in pictures, 
Oh what a hit you would be!

Your voice would thrill a nation, 
Your face would be adored, 
You'd make a great sensation 
With wealth and fame your reward;

And if you should kiss the way you kiss, 
When we're alone, 
You'd make ev'ry girl and man 
A fan worshiping at your throne.

You oughta shine as brightly 
As Jupiter and Mars; 
You oughta be in pictures, 
My star of stars.

Recorded By:

Doris Day
The Boswell Sisters
Al Bowlly
Connie Francis
Joel Grey

Say It Isn't So

By Irving Berlin
1932

This wonderful song was almost lost to the mists of time. Enduring a career downturn in the early 1930s, an unconfident Irving Berlin stuffed it away in a drawer, thinking it unworthy. Fortunately, one of his employees thought highly of it and brought it to the most established radio star in America, Rudy Vallee, who performed it on the air and made it an instant hit. The first studio recording was made by George Nelson and his Orchestra, and it soared to #1 on the charts. Ozzie Nelson would also have a top ten hit with it that same year. This song, along with "How Deep Is the Ocean", helped launch Berlin back to prominence.

Lyrics: 

Say it isn't so,

Say it isn't so,
Everyone is saying
You don't love me,
Say it isn't so.

Everywhere I go,
Everyone I know,Whispers that you're growing tired of me,
Say it isn't so.

People say that you,Found somebody new,
And it won't be long
Before you leave me,
Say it isn't true,

Say that everything is still okay,
That's all I want to know,

And what they're saying,

Say it isn't so.

Recorded By:

Connie Boswell
Joe Williams
Aretha Franklin
Stan Kenton
Dinah Washington

P.S. I Love You

By Gordon Jenkins & Johnny Mercer
1934

No, this is not the Beatles song. Years before the Fab Four were ever born, superb arranger/composer (and future Sinatra collaborator)
Jenkins and ingenious lyricist Mercer would team up to produce this utterly charming song about domestic bliss communicated over long distance. With a lyric that comprises a communication made to a significant other who is away from home, the number has a witty, quaint appeal that's easy to understand. It was introduced by none other than Rudy Vallee, but later enjoyed revivals in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Most recently, the Bobby Vinton version was featured in an episode of Mad Men.

Lyrics:

Dear, I thought I'd drop a line
The weather's cool, the folks are fine
I'm in bed each night at nine
P.S. I love you.

Yesterday we had some rain
But all in all, I can't complain
Was it dusty on the train?
P.S. I love you.

Write to the Browns just as soon as you're able
They came around to call
And I burned a hole in the dining room table
Now let me think, I guess that's all

Nothing else for me to say
And so I'll close, but by the way
Everybody's thinking of you
P.S. I love you.

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Frank Sinatra
Bing Crosby
The Vogues
Nancy LaMott

If I Had You

By James Campbell, Reginald Connelly & Ted Shapiro
1928

This song has special significance for me, because it was the song I sang to my newborn daughter the first time I held her in my arms. It's a beautiful, underrated English ballad, composed by the songwriting team of Campbell & Connelly under the combined pseudonym of "Irving King", and introduced by the great Rudy Vallee. In recent years, it was sung by actor Edward Norton in the Woody Allen film, Everyone Says I Love You.

Lyrics:

I could show the world how to smile,
I could be glad all of the while,
I could turn the gray skies to blue,
If I had you.

I could leave the old days behind,
Leave all my pals,
They'd never mind.
I could start my life anew,
If I had you.

I could climb a snow-capped mountain,
Sail the mighty ocean wide.
I could cross the burning desert,
If I had you by my side.

I could be a king, dear, uncrowned.
Humble or poor,
Rich or renowned.
There is nothing I couldn't do,
If I had you.

Recorded By:

Sarah Vaughan
Frank Sinatra
Judy Garland
Dinah Washington
Joe Williams

Nevertheless

By Harry Ruby & Bert Kalmar
1931

Upon its composition, this song was immediately snatched up by the two most popular vocalists of the day, Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby. It became a big hit for either of them, and the song has been part of the standard canon ever since. The Mills Brothers would also have a top 10 hit with it in 1950.

Lyrics:

I knew the time had to come
When I'd be held under your thumb.
I'm like a pawn in your hand,
Moved and compelled, at your command.
Whether it's for bad or for good,
I would never change it if I could.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe I'm weak, maybe I'm strong,
But nevertheless I'm in love with you.

Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose,
And maybe I'm in for cryin' the blues,
But nevertheless I'm in love with you.

Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking.
Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking.

Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
And maybe I'll give much more than I get,
But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

In spite of all I could do,
I went ahead falling for you.
So if I laugh or I cry,
I made my bed, that's where I'll lie.
For what happens, there's no excuse,
I put my own head in the noose.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Harry Nilsson
The Andrews Sisters
Kay Starr
Patti Page

S'posin'

By Paul Denniker & Andy Razaf
1929

A bit of a pop novelty from the Roaring '20s, this tune was one of several by the team of Denniker & Razaf, Tin Pan Alley regulars who also worked as song "demonstrators" for sheet music shops. Rudy Vallee was the first to make a hit of the infectious number, and despite being relatively lightweight--unkinder critics may say "shallow"--it became something of a jazz standard during the be-bop era.

Lyrics:

S'posin' I should fall in love with you,
Do you think that you could love me too?
S'posin' I should hold you and caress you,
Would it impress you?
Or, perhaps, distress you?

S'posin' I should say, "For you I yearn,"
Would ya think I'm speaking out of turn?
And s'posin' I declare it,
Would you take my love and share it?
I'm not s'posin'--I'm in love with you.

Recorded By:

Fats Waller
Frank Sinatra
Miles Davis
Dean Martin
Keely Smith