tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post5064839555159096859..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: Songwriter Jack Lawrence: What Will I Tell My Heart?The Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-2812019048366409142012-06-25T21:55:42.887-07:002012-06-25T21:55:42.887-07:00'Gypsy, I felt like I'd found a gold mine ...'Gypsy, I felt like I'd found a gold mine when I "discovered" Jack Lawrence's website as I researched "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair." Of course, the website is all about Lawrence's songwriting so it wasn't until I read his memoir that I learned anything at all about his personal life. I was very touched by what he told of his struggle and eventual acceptance of his sexuality and hope that is reflected in what I've said about that aspect of his story. I also came away with admiration for the combination of dignity and joie de vivre with which Jack Lawrence seemed to approach living. To quote him quoting Gershwin, "Who could ask for anything more?"The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-29582801734132716862012-06-25T13:59:38.059-07:002012-06-25T13:59:38.059-07:00Eve, I seem to be posting like mad these days, and...Eve, I seem to be posting like mad these days, and I have fallen behind on my reading. Your post reminds how often I take the music of film for granted, and equally as often overlook the career and life behind the name. Each of these songs is familiar, but I cannot remember being aware of Jack Lawrence by name. I have seen “The Lady Eve” numerous times, but I didn’t remember “The Wind and The Rain in Your Hair” was the tune that conveyed the romance. I did not know Lawrence had written “If I Didn’t Care” and “Tenderly”, the versions by The Ink Spots and Nat “King” Cole are my favorite. The connection between Lawrence and Linda (Eastman) McCartney is equally fascinating. An excellent tribute to a man who wrote many of the songs found on the soundtrack of the mid-twentieth century, and a sensitive discussion of his emotional and personal life.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-37208592412083649702012-06-23T21:21:23.098-07:002012-06-23T21:21:23.098-07:00FlickChick, You've turned on so many light bul...FlickChick, You've turned on so many light bulbs for me I'm just happy to return the favor every so often...The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-91839447056938547182012-06-23T08:08:34.044-07:002012-06-23T08:08:34.044-07:00Lady Eve - sorry so late to the party, but my blog...Lady Eve - sorry so late to the party, but my blogger list got scrambled. Thanks for such a fascinating post on a fascinating subject. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the composers of Jack Lawrence's era, but I know nothing of him. Oh well, more fun research coming up! Thank you turning on the light bulb!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-24831158451338250592012-06-22T22:42:42.614-07:002012-06-22T22:42:42.614-07:00Lê, It's very nice to hear from you. I tend to...Lê, It's very nice to hear from you. I tend to notice film soundtracks and when something enchants my ear, well, as you can see, I explore. So glad you enjoyed my post on the very talented Jack Lawrence.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-4176241555073148722012-06-22T19:57:55.947-07:002012-06-22T19:57:55.947-07:00I don't tend to pay a lot of attention in musi...I don't tend to pay a lot of attention in music in film, that's why I'm not very familiar with some compositors. Very nice to show us the life and career of Jack Lawrence, who was responsible for lovely pieces such as "Beyond the Sea" and "Tenderly". It was very informative!<br />Greetings,<br />LeLêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-40191580571943636832012-06-22T16:08:20.294-07:002012-06-22T16:08:20.294-07:00Thanks, Page, very happy to introduce you to Jack ...Thanks, Page, very happy to introduce you to Jack Lawrence. I should probably have included a clip of Bobby Darin singing "Beyond the Sea," I just didn't find one on YouTube that I liked that much.<br /><br />I'm recovering from the end of "Mad Men" Season 5 and would love to get together on the season and the finale one of these days.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-56326241254722924572012-06-22T14:24:17.489-07:002012-06-22T14:24:17.489-07:00LE,
I have to admit that I'm not familiar wi...LE, <br /><br />I have to admit that I'm not familiar with any of Mr. Lawrence's early work that you mention here. So glad you included some of his work in video for us (Still trying to get over Joan in that awful flip hairstyle and harsh eyebrows though). That's such a touching story you included about Paul and Linda. It's hard to believe that she's been gone so long now. <br /><br />Another interesting read on yet another composer I knew nothing about. I have seen a lot of the Hit Parade pieces though and Play, Fiddle Play sounds very familiar to me.<br /><br />I'm sure he would be proud of your very tasteful and thoughtful tribute here. A fine addition to the Blogathon. <br /><br />OH, I've been dying to pick your brain, get your opinion on the Mad Men finale but we can meet up on that a bit later.<br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-28250394011769306422012-06-20T11:01:44.125-07:002012-06-20T11:01:44.125-07:00Hi Dawn, I don't think Lawrence can take credi...Hi Dawn, I don't think Lawrence can take credit for "Star Dust" and "Rhapsody in Blue," but "All or Nothing at All" was his and he was very proud of it. Rightfully so.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-90323043632962375562012-06-20T10:55:37.625-07:002012-06-20T10:55:37.625-07:00Thanks, Caroline, and congratulations on another g...Thanks, Caroline, and congratulations on another great blogathon!The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-65551920072672094262012-06-20T08:29:26.251-07:002012-06-20T08:29:26.251-07:00Wonderful, article on Jack Lawrence! Some of my fa...Wonderful, article on Jack Lawrence! Some of my favorite songs of his are: Star Dust, Rhapsody In Blue and All or Nothing At All. I have to admit.. I really did not know much about him.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-54339469269306825812012-06-19T23:22:47.791-07:002012-06-19T23:22:47.791-07:00I simply adore this post, Eve! One of the most int...I simply adore this post, Eve! One of the most interesting and insightful I've read for the blogathon so far, and I especially love that it's about a lesser-known figure whose name we may not have heard before (but we certainly know his music). Thank you so much for contributing this! I am honored to have it as part of the Queer Film Blogathon. :)Carolinehttp://garbolaughs.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-90652899067510457442012-06-19T23:01:29.653-07:002012-06-19T23:01:29.653-07:00Joseph, It's not hard to understand why "...Joseph, It's not hard to understand why "Tenderly" became Rosemary's theme song, is it?The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-43000416978885894892012-06-19T22:22:03.921-07:002012-06-19T22:22:03.921-07:00I should put this song on repeat when I'm shiv...I should put this song on repeat when I'm shivering in the air-conditioned draft of my cubicle. Listening to Rosemary's rendition, I can feel its breeze and mist envelop me, which I attribute to the complementary music and lyrics.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04970797639620201166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-55897941276971742242012-06-19T20:24:16.716-07:002012-06-19T20:24:16.716-07:00Silverscreenings, Jack Lawrence certainly deserves...Silverscreenings, Jack Lawrence certainly deserves to be better known than he is and it's been my pleasure to do what I can to give him a bit more recognition. As you might've noticed in my replies to comments above, there's more to his story than I covered in my post. I hope some will check out his website, www.jacklawrencesongwriter.com (which he launched at age 93) and his autobiography.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-28373444949932200412012-06-19T17:16:46.492-07:002012-06-19T17:16:46.492-07:00Wow! Great info in this post. I have to admit I...Wow! Great info in this post. I have to admit I've never heard of Jack Lawrence, but I know his music! (Who doesn't?) Thanks for filling us in on his life and career.Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-6674456972726075862012-06-19T12:17:17.690-07:002012-06-19T12:17:17.690-07:00Yvette, Jack Lawrence led quite a life. Out of hig...Yvette, Jack Lawrence led quite a life. Out of high school he was, at his parents' urging, trained and licensed as a podiatrist - but he never practiced. At age 20 he was the youngest member of ASCAP. Over his lifetime he amassed an amazing collection of art of all kinds from around the world. While in the U.S. Maritime Service during WWII he wrote the official song of the Martime Service and Merchant Marine. He was even a Broadway producer - his productions included "Lena Horne, the Lady and Her Music," and the play, "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" in which Kathy Bates made her Broadway debut.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-14240308794297204772012-06-19T10:02:40.904-07:002012-06-19T10:02:40.904-07:00Wow, I had never heard of this man. My loss. What ...Wow, I had never heard of this man. My loss. What a talent. Certainly I'd heard the songs and loved them. And what a good long life he lived, he must have been so gratified to learn that some of his songs have become enduring classics. I'm thinking his life might make for a wonderful, eye-opening movie.<br /><br />Thanks for a great Blogathon post, Eve.<br /><br />P.S. The story of the song written for Linda Eastman is very touching.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-77403189369924312162012-06-18T23:56:51.013-07:002012-06-18T23:56:51.013-07:00Christian, I didn't realize I'd implied th...Christian, I didn't realize I'd implied that Jack Lawrence wrote "A Wonderful World." What I meant to say is that he very much liked the CD of that title by Tony Bennett and k.d. lang - I don't think any of his songs were on it, but he was happy that a CD of standards was so popular - and with newer audiences. He was also happy about Diana Krall's recording of "All or Nothing at All" and that more recent films (including some directed by Martin Scorsese and by Woody Allen) included his songs.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-57439082516658803602012-06-18T23:47:37.357-07:002012-06-18T23:47:37.357-07:00R.D. - Actually, Lawrence wrote the lyrics for &qu...R.D. - Actually, Lawrence wrote the lyrics for "All or Nothing at All," the music was by Arthur Altman. He did write "Linda," "If I Didn't Care" and "Yes, My Darling Daughter" (and others) on his own. It seems that on his first published song, co-written with Altman, he contributed the lyrics but also some of the music. His lyrics for "Beyond the Sea" were entirely his own, not a translation of the original French song. Lawrence enjoyed collecting sheet music - which is how he came upon "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair." He didn't think the song's lyrics fit its melody which consisted of only 16 bars. So he re-wrote it by changing the lyrics and adding a middle section and a verse. He then sought out the original composer and publisher of the song to see if a deal could be made (it could). So, as you see, he worked in a variety of ways.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-66500011752976505512012-06-18T22:46:33.877-07:002012-06-18T22:46:33.877-07:00Lady Eve, A very sympathetic and warm post on this...Lady Eve, A very sympathetic and warm post on this less than well-known but important songwriter. "A Wonderful World" is one of my most favorite songs and "If I Didn't Care" is a song that comes up beautifully from the recesses of my youth. Thank you for telling us about the man behind the songs.Christian Esquevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442827724576856379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-55235275665956984702012-06-18T22:22:51.757-07:002012-06-18T22:22:51.757-07:00Eve, what a fantastic choice for a profile, and a ...Eve, what a fantastic choice for a profile, and a great job too. I'm familiar with practically every song you mentioned, yet I had never heard of Jack Lawrence until reading your post! Some of the information in your post was a real eye-opener, for example, that "Linda" was written for the future Linda McCartney, or that Lawrence wrote the English lyrics to Charles Trenet's "La Mer." Loved your photo collage at the top of the post. You wrote that he composed "All or Nothing at All" by himself, by which I assume you mean both music and lyrics. However, one thing I was unclear about is whether Lawrence often wrote the music to those great songs or if he was primarily a lyricist.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-5504560500719332042012-06-18T16:12:39.969-07:002012-06-18T16:12:39.969-07:00I've loved "Beyond the Sea" since th...I've loved "Beyond the Sea" since the first time I heard it sung by Bobby Darin. Here's a link to "the story behind the song" at Jack Lawrence's website:<br /><br />http://www.jacklawrencesongwriter.com/songs/beyond_the_sea.htmlThe Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-27872320656862027992012-06-18T15:43:17.830-07:002012-06-18T15:43:17.830-07:00He wrote "Beyond the Sea?" I ADORE that ...He wrote "Beyond the Sea?" I ADORE that song!<br /><br />And this is why classic film bloggers are awesome--they teach you something new every day! ;)Brandiehttp://trueclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-29624220837341365932012-06-18T14:19:11.110-07:002012-06-18T14:19:11.110-07:00MCB, To tell you the truth, I'd never heard of...MCB, To tell you the truth, I'd never heard of Jack Lawrence until I started researching "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair." For a moment I thought he'd been a one hit wonder - and then I saw the titles of his other songs, some of them signature tunes for the likes of Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Dinah Shore, The Ink Spots, Bobby Darin, Harry James...etc.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.com