Standards to Love: A Haunting Refrain

It’s All Hallow’s Eve, and while we’ve never been big celebrators of Halloween here, I’ll admit that my little man is wearing a costume (I’ll post a photo of it on the Whiskers on Kittens Blog Facebook and Instagram pages for your enjoyment).

As reading has taken a back burner for me (my little man is an Olympian crawler and he’s curious about EVERYTHING, so my focus is on everything BUT the written word…), I’ve been listening to more music. And since it is the time of year for ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and all other sorts of hocus pocus, I thought it would be the perfect time to compile a playlist straight out of the Great American Songbook. These songs all revolve around magic, enchantment, even a little witchcraft.

There’s something fitting about starting a Halloween Standards to Love post with a song written by Johnny Mercer. I always hope you find these post diverting and fun and nothing says both those attributes likes a Mercer lyric.

That Old Black Magic is a collaborative affair between the lyrics of Johnny Mercer and the music of Harold Arlen. While Johnny Mercer may be a more famous name, Harold Arlen has some big muscle when it comes to American Popular Standards. After all, he wrote the music to the 20th Century’s #1 song, which (according to votes) is Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

While we tend to think of black magic as nefarious, intent on rendering harm to a body, Johnny Mercer correlates black magic with love in this 1942 standard. By harnessing the chilling factors that often go hand in hand with the dark arts, i.e. those icy fingers up and down my spine, etc, Johnny Mercer weaves a web of lyrics that thoroughly ensnare the listener into his spell-binding theory that That Old Black Magic is Love.

What makes this song particularly excellent is how the weft of lyrics weaves into the woof of music to create a haunting, almost frightening perspective on love. While this song won’t have you biting your nails or gripping your seat cushions in fear, the building crescendo in the music eloquently speaks to the lyrics and vice versa.

There are innumerable versions of this song, and I’ve included several on the YouTube playlist I’ve compiled, but the one that I want to showcase here is actually not a very good rendition of the song. However, it stands out in my mind so clearly that I have to share it with you. It’s from the film Bus Stop starring Don Murray and Marilyn Monroe, and is song by Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was actually quite a competent singer, but in this movie, she plays a chanteuse who’s not very good at her job. But, she does love to sing, whether she’s good or not. And she sings That Old Black Magic with remarkably innocent flare. I hope her version stays with you as much as it stayed with me. (And, please, check out the other versions on the playlist.)

Witchcraft may be a bit on the nose, but I don’t think a Halloween playlist from the Great American Songbook is complete without this number.

Composed in 1957, Witchcraft was a huge hit for the songwriting duo of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Both Coleman and Leigh have several huge hits cataloged in the Great American Songbook, most notably The Best is Yet to Come (a tune you should play daily to encourage yourself- check out this blog post devoted to music that encourages you, a must for 2020).

Witchcraft also holds the prestige of being nominated for Song of the Year and Album of the Year at the first Grammy Awards. Frank Sinatra, who sung the song, was also nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance that year as well. It would appear that the song really cast a spell (I know, that wasn’t very punny).

That’s a lot of accolades. But at the end of the day, this is quite a song. It’s been recorded by a bevy of people, but I think Frank Sinatra’s version is still my favorite. Although the duet that Sinatra did with Elvis where they switched off of their greatest hits does present a fun rendition of Witchcraft (that’s included on the playlist). I’m a big Elvis fan (see post here), but I think Sinatra sings it better.

Why do I delight in Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered so much? Perhaps because I have a very soft place in my heart for sublime alliterations. I love them almost as I love allusions (see posts here and here).

Rodgers and Hart were a truly dynamic duo. Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered come from the musical Pal Joey, which also features several more fantastic songs. This song holds a particular distinction apart from many other American Popular Standards because of its length. So many standards are shorter by nature. This one, when the full version is sung, over seven minutes long.

The first person to record the song outside of the show where all the lyrics were sung was Ella Fitzgerald. Given her ordinarily shy nature, the risqué quality of these lyrics might had dissuaded her. I’m glad they didn’t. In fact, her manner of delivery is spot on.

A version I’ve come to really appreciate recently is done by the Benny Goodman orchestra with Hellen Forest singing. I happen to really enjoy Hellen Forest’s voice. Couple it with a fantastic arrangement that simply begs you to put on your dancing shoes, and you have a grand old song. I’ve included this version on the Halloween playlist.

Jeepers Creepers gets in simply because there was a rather bad, solid B horror film called Jeepers Creepers that showcased this song. I saw wins ago, but have not forgotten it. (And apparently it was so popular that it boasts a sequel, several in fact- will wonders never cease...)

I suppose it works well on a Halloween playlist, what with Creepers being in the title, too.

The playful lyrics of Jeepers Creepers were written by Johnny Mercer. After all, he was a playful fellow in his writing. It’s only fitting that he have two songs on this playlist. Truly, while writing this post, I’ve caught myself wondering what he’d chose as his costume today. Any thoughts on that one?

The music was composed by Harry Warren. If you’re not familiar with his name, I guarantee you you’re familiar with his music. He composed the music to Busby Berkley’s iconic musical 42nd Street, which was turned into a Broadway musical that, I may be wrong on this, is still on Broadway.

Like Carole King, Johnny Mercer liked to sing his own compositions. So, since he infuses his performances with joy, here’s his Jeepers Creepers.

What a frightful prospect! Dancing in the Dark! Really now. And while the lyrics sing out a far more poetic allegory than actually cavorting in the pitch black of night, this song does seem to fit into today’s theme rather well. Henceforth it shall be included. And what a grand inclusion it is.

While there are many notable recordings of this gem of a track, my personal favorite is by Fred Astaire. This preference was solidified by his performance of it in the film Bandwagon, where he not only sings Arthur Schwartz and Harold Dietz’s great song, but he dances with Cyd Charisse (one of my all time favorite dancers).

And while I do have vivid memories of my father dancing with me in his arms to this tune sung by Fred Astaire, I decided to pick Jane Monheit’s version as it seems to be a little more spooky.

Composed in 1946 by several notables in the Great American Songbook, I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance is a great number to put on the playlist.

Bing Crosby lent his writing know how to this one. Collaborating with Ned Washington (of Give a Little Whistle, When You Wish Upon a Star, and Baby Mine fame- see post here) and Victor Young , the three composed this song. And while Ned Washington had a prolific career at Disney, this is a beautiful example of how well versed he was at his craft. There’s nothing childish about this song. In fact, it is deeply poignant and sad, too. My favorite version is sung by Diana Krall.

Devil, embodiment of everything evil and nefarious to walk upon this green earth. Moon, signifying night and darkness and, perhaps, the odd howling in the distance. Old, adjective that embodies images of antiquated things that might be covered in cobwebs and creepy crawlers. I’d say the title of this song demanded inclusion on the Halloween playlist, don’t you?

Written for the Broadway show Finnian’s Rainbow, Old Devil Moon is a collaborative effort from Yip Harburg and Burton Lane. Yip Harburg is credited with writing the lyrics to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Burton Lane has many notables, one of which is On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Together they crafted this beautiful standard. I believe Nancy Lamott has the best version of this one, but it’s really a hard pick as, like with so many standards, there’s a lot of fantastic performances to draw from.

Yes, I am well aware that I’ve Got You Under My Skin is a fantastic love song, but if you are in a ghoulish sort of mind, this song title is positively horrid! So, I’m putting it on the playlist.

No Standards to Love post is complete without a Cole Porter song. He’s up there with Irving Berlin (who isn’t included today- a truly horrifying thing!). Like so many others, this song was popularized by Frank Sinatra. However, while I do include his version on the playlist, the one I elected to put here is sung by Diana Krall. I particularly like the mood of this one. It seems to go well with the Fall.

I didn’t know whether to start or end with Haunted Heart. I elected to end with it as it is one of my all time favorite songs. And, it’s the perfect conclusion for such a post as this one.

Like Dancing in the Dark, this song was composed by the dynamic Schwartz and Dietz team. And, oddly enough, it has a similar feel. Dare I call it haunting? Of all the songs on the playlist today, this one I feel fits the bill perfectly. The melody is truly haunting, and when it’s sung like Jane Monheit sings it, you’re left with an atmospheric soul-stirring standard.

I’ve included a couple of other songs not listed here on the Halloween playlist. And, of course, there are several offerings for each one of these songs. I’d love to know which ones are your favorites. Please drop a comment in the section below. I’d also love to hear your thoughts on songs that haunt you.

Have a happy and safe Halloween, dear readers. (And, if you dressed up, please post a picture or tag Whiskers on Kittens blog via Instagram so we can see.)