Angel Eyes + 1 Bonus Track - Vinyl

Following the model of the well known Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson (among others) song book albums reuniting the work of great American song composers, Dave Brubeck prepared ANGEL EYES (Columbia CL2348/CS9148), which was dedicated to the music of Matt Dennis. Born in Seattle, Washington, on February 11, 1914 (he died on June 21, 2002), Dennis' mother was a violinist and his father a singer. The family was in vaudeville, so he was exposed to music at an early age. In 1933 he joined Horace Heidt's orchestra as a vocalist and pianist. Later on, he formed his own band, with Dick Haymes as vocalist. He became vocal coach, arranger, and accompanist for Martha Tilton, and worked with a new vocal group, the Stafford Sisters. Jo Stafford, one of the sisters, joined the Tommy Dorsey band in 1940 and persuaded Dorsey to hire Dennis as arranger and composer. Dennis wrote prolifically, with fourteen of his songs recorded by the Dorsey band in one year alone, including 'Everything Happens to Me', an early hit for Frank Sinatra. After three and a half years in the United States Air Force in World War II, Dennis returned to music writing and arranging, getting a boost from his old friend Dick Haymes, who hired him to be the music director for his radio program. With lyricist Tom Adair he wrote songs for Haymes' program. Dennis made six albums, most of which are now out of print; however his 1953 song Angel Eyes (with lyricist Earl Brent) has become a frequently recorded jazz standard. Although it was less frequently recorded, his tune Will You Still Be Mine? was cut by the likes of Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. Other songs by Dennis which also became jazz standards include Everything Happens to Me, The Night We Called It a Day, and Violets for Your Furs. All five of the aforementioned numbers were present on Brubeck's LP (the pianist wouldn't record any of these songs again).

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1. Angel Eyes
2. Violets for Your Furs
3. Let's Get Away from It All
4. Will You Still Be Mine
5. Everything Happens to Me
6. Little Man with a Candy Cigar
7. The Night We Called It a Day

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