All of Me

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All of Me (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons)

“All of Me” is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.

First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting,^[1] it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson in 1941, the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan (for the 1957 album, Swingin’ Easy), Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine in 1947, Dinah Washington at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, Shirley Bassey in 1962, The Blue Diamonds, Della Reese, Johnnie Ray,^[2] Django Reinhardt, Erroll Garner, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dove, Jean Frye Sidwell, João Gilberto [Brazilian lyric version “Disse Alguém,” words by Haroldo Barbosa], Michael Bublé… [read more]

Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, vocal: Mildred Bailey — recorded on 1 December 1931; issued on Victor 22879, as the B-side of “By the Sycamore Tree” (m. Pete Wendling, w. Haven Gillespie)

Ruth Etting — recorded on 11 December 1931; issued on Oriole 2391, b/w “Home” — also issued on Perfect 12771 and Banner 32336

Russ Columbo — recorded on 29 December 1931; however, it was issued in 1940, according to 78discography.com, on Bluebird B-10859, as the B-side of “Just Friends”

Louis Armstrong – recorded in Chicago, on 27 January 1932

Personnel (from Jazz.com):

Musicians: Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals), Zilner Randolph (trumpet), Preston Jackson (trombone), Lester Boone (clarinet, alto sax), George James (clarinet, soprano & alto saxes), Al Washington (clarinet, tenor sax), Charlie Alexander (piano, speech), Big Mike McKendrick (banjo), John Lindsay (bass), Tubby Hall (drums). Arranged by Zilner Randolph

A review by Rico Detroit, published 21 May 2009 at the website Three Perfect Minutes:

Armstrong’s rendition of “All Of Me” was one of the top hits of 1932 and remains one of the best interpretations of this standard. It is a lovely song with bittersweet lyrics of unrequited love: “You took the part that once was my heart / oh, why not take all of me?” The words occasionally get muddled as Armstrong twists them into a mumble, but musically the effect of this is sublime and the emotional weight of the lyrics is undiminished. Likewise, Armstrong’s trumpet playing is mostly subdued but still striking. Subtly informed by Armstrong’s genius jazz instincts, this pop gem becomes utterly irresistible.

Benny Goodman and his Orchestra – recorded in New York, 23 September 1937

Billie Holiday with Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra — recorded in New York City on 21 March 1941; issued on the single OKeh 6214, b/w “Romance in the Dark”

Shad Collins (tp) Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield (as) Lester Young (ts) Eddie Heywood (p) John Collins (g) Ted Sturgis (b) Kenny Clarke (d) Billie Holiday (v)

Johnnie Ray – 1952

Frank Sinatra – recorded 19 April 54, with arrangement of the studio orchestra by Nelson Riddle, released on the album Songs for Young Lovers.

Lester Young and Teddy Wilson – recorded on 13 January 1956; issued in April 1959 on album Pres and Teddy, Verve MGV-8205

Sarah Vaughn – from the second session of two which yielded the tracks of her 1957 album Swingin’ Easy. Recorded in New York on 14 Feb 1957 with a trio: pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Roy Haynes.