To My Readers, Part 2:
The response to my trip down Memory Lane has inspired me to continue. However, due to the vagaries of Medium, Part 2 follows Part I, but it makes no difference which part is read first: Onward:
So, Part 2 that follows Part 1: I begin with Chris Connor’s reinvention of Lush Life, turning 19-year-old Billy Strayhorn’s lament into an anthem (thanks to an old pal for the reminder). And onward to:
Moonlight In Vermont, and Stella by Starlight--Chris Connor
Don’t Get Around Much Any More, Duke Ellington
Summertime, Louis Armstrong
It Never Entered My Mind, Sarah Vaughn
Fare Thee Well: Dink’s Blues, the Simon Sisters
The Way We Were, Barbra Streisand
Sophisticated Lady, Ella Fitzgerald
Almost Like Being In Love, Gene K elly
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin
Help Me Make It Through the Night, Kris Kristofferson
All or Nothing at All, Sinatra and Holliday
The Nearness of You, Sarah Vaughn
Unknown Legend, Neil Young
Wimoweh and Guantanamera, Pete Seeger
All My Trials, Joan Baez
I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash
Come Rain or Come Shine, Judy Garland
What a Wonderful World, Stevie Wonder
Tonight I’ll Be Staying’ Here With You, Bob Dylan
Begin The Beguine, Artie Shaw.
Cheek to Cheek, Fred Astaire
Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell
Stormy Weather, Lena Horne/Frances Langford
Save the Last Dance for Me, The Drifters
Petite Fleur, Chris Barber
Someone to Watch Over Me, Roberta Flack
Leaving on a Jet Plane, Peter Paul and Mary
’Til there was you, Judy Collins
Across the Great Divide, Nanci Griffith
Can’t Help Loving You, Elvis Presley
Moonlight Becomes You, Bing Crosby
Proud Mary, Tina Turner
Don’t Think Twice , Dylan
Shoals of Herring, Ewan McColl
Plaisirs d’Amour, Nana Mouskara
Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
Old Man River, Paul Robeson
And finally: Pavarotti’s earth-shattering tenor-version
of Nessun Dorma: Sleep No More: Go For it!
Philip Green 1 min read
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Aug 14, 2026
After creating 400 blogs over a 10-year period, I’ve come to a creative end spelling out the horrors that have been rained down on us in our own names. But in a last creative act, I have put together a lover’s list of beautiful popular music that soothes the beaten senses. Most available on U-Tube or something similar. I hope you find them so.
Bridge Over Troubled Water — Simon and Garfunkel
Every Time We Say Goodbye–Cole Porter
White Christmas–Bing Crosby
You Go To My Head-Sinatra
Broad Majestic Shannon–The Pogues
That’s For Me–Vivian Blaine
Because The Night–Patti, Smith
The Street Where You live–Vic Damone
This Is all I Ask–Tony Bennett
Never gonna dance–Ben Paxton, written by Dorothy Fields
La Mer–Charles Trenet, written & sung by
How deep Is The Ocean–Sanatra
St. James Infirmary Blues–Louis Armstrong
There’s No You–Sinatra
Different Drum–Linda Ronstadt
Wild Mountain Thyme–Joan Baez
Hymne a L’Amour — Edith Piaf
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Marlene Dietrich–also in German , Wohin Aus De Blumin Sind
The Tracks Of My Tears–The Miracles
I Only Have eyes For You –The Flamingos
Who Knows Where The Time Goes?
Judy Collins
September Song–Walter Huston
Stormy Weather–Lena Horne
You Go To My Head–Billy Holiday
As Tears Go By–Rolling stones
I Could Have Danced All Night-Julie Andrews
Sweet Caroline–Neil Young
It Was a Very Good Year–Sinatra
Speak Low–Ute Lemper
Dancing in the dark:–Cyd Charisse and Fred
Astaire
Written by Philip Green
Emeritus Professor of Gov’t, Smith College, 40 years Editorial Board, The Nation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Green_(author)
Responses (1)
land
blue Bayou, Linda Ronstadt
