Easy to Love

___________________

Also from the musical Born to Dance (1936):

• I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Easy to Love (Cole Porter) was one of two Porter standards introduced in the MGM film Born to Dance (1936), the other being I’ve Got You Under My Skin. It was sung by James Stewart and Eleanor Powell in a scene in which they stroll in Central Park. According to IMDb, Frances Langford later sings the song and she and Buddy Ebsen dance to it. I haven’t found a clip containing this second performance. Additionally, the song is reprised by the cast at the film’s end. – wikipedia, adapted

Born to Dance, directed for MGM by Roy Del Ruth, stars Eleanor Powell with co-star James Stewart as her love interest and Virginia Bruce as the film’s resident femme fatale and Powell’s rival. Powell’s Broadway Melody of 1936 co-stars Buddy Ebsen and Frances Langford return to provide comedy and musical support. The score was composed by Cole Porter. – wikipedia, adapted

Because of his weak singing voice, the studio was reluctant to give the part to Stewart. However, Cole Porter was reportedly adamant and “vociferous” in his advocacy of Stewart for the role. Here is a relevant excerpt from the book James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life by Lawrence J. Quirk. p. 66:

James Stewart and Eleanor Powell in the film Born to Dance (1936)

.

According to the 2011 biography Cole Porter, by William McBrien, p. 195,

Because of the censorship exercised by the Hayes office in the thirties the original lyric “So sweet to awaken with, / So nice to sit down to eggs and bacon with” had to be changed to “So worth the yearning for / So swell to keep ev’ry home fire burning for.”

The original, uncensored version

.

Frances Langford with Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra – 1936

.

Al Bowlly with Ray Noble and his Orchestra – 1936

.

Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra, vocal: Billie Holiday

Irving Randolph, t / Vido Musso, cl / Ben Webster, ts / Teddy Wilson, p / Allan Reuss, g / Milton Hinton, sb / Gene Krupa, d / Billie Holiday, v. New York, 21 Oct 1936

There may be a long delay, 5-10 seconds, before the player begins after prompting it.

.

Maxine Sullivan – 1937

.

Ella Fitzgerald – from the 1956 album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook.

.

Hank Mobley Sextet — recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, 21 April 1957— Donald Byrd (tp) John Jenkins (as) Hank Mobley (ts) Bobby Timmons (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Philly Joe Jones (d) — released as track 2 of Hank (Blue Note 1560)

.

Anita O’Day with Billy May & His Orchestra, 1959

.

Cannonball Addeley, Nippon Soul, recorded at Sankei Hall in Tokyo, Japan, 1963

Personnel (album):

• Cannonball Adderley – alto saxophone
• Nat Adderley – cornet
• Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, oboe
• Joe Zawinul – piano
• Sam Jones – bass
• Louis Hayes – drums

.

Ed Bickert Trio with Don Thompson

.