How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
1982 song by Michel Legrand
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"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" is a duet composed by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the 1982 film Best Friends, where it was introduced by James Ingram and Patti Austin.[1] The Austin/Ingram version became a single in 1983 and reached #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 55th Academy Awards.
| "How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (Short Version)" | |
|---|---|
| Single by James Ingram and Patti Austin | |
| from the album It's Your Night | |
| B-side | "How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (Long Version)" |
| Released | April 1983 |
| Recorded | 1982 |
| Genre | R&B, pop, adult contemporary |
| Length | 4:00 |
| Label | Qwest |
| Songwriters | Michel Legrand, Alan and Marilyn Bergman |
| Producers | Quincy Jones and Johnny Mandel |
Personnel
- James Ingram, Patti Austin – vocals
- David Paich – synthesizers
- David Foster – acoustic piano
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizer programming
- Paul Jackson Jr., George Doering – guitars
- Nathan East – bass
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
Music arrangements
- Quincy Jones, David Foster, Johnny Mandel – arrangements
Notable versions
- Susannah McCorkle — How Do You Keep the Music Playing (1985)
- Frankie Laine — Place in Time (1985) and Wheels of a Dream (1998)
- Andy Williams — Close Enough for Love (1986)
- Tony Bennett — The Art of Excellence (1986), Duets: An American Classic (with George Michael) (2006) and Duets II (with Aretha Franklin) (2011)
- George Benson with the Count Basie Orchestra (with Carmen Bradford) — Big Boss Band (1990)
- Shirley Bassey — Keep the Music Playing (1991)
- Former Ladies of the Supremes — included in several compilation albums, including Baby Love and Live, Live, Live (1991)
- Steve Smith & Buddy's Buddies — Steve Smith & Buddy's Buddies
- Johnny Mathis — How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (1993)
- Pieces of a Dream — In Flight (1993)[2]
- Frank Sinatra — L.A. Is My Lady (1984), Duets II (with Lorrie Morgan) (1994)
- Vocal Majority — How Do You Keep the Music Playing (1996)
- Carl Anderson — Why We Are Here! (1997)
- Maureen McGovern — The Music Never Ends: The Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman (1997)
- The SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama recorded the song on the CD, UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis (2001) Arranged and sung by Ray Reach.
- Barbra Streisand — The Movie Album (2003)
- Rigmor Gustafsson — On My Way to You (2006)
- Salena Jones — Salena sings pop favorites (orchestra and sax) (2009)
- Martin Nievera (Featuring Kyla) — As Always (2010)
- Celine Dion — Loved Me Back to Life (deluxe edition) (2013)
- Bradley Walsh — Chasing Dreams (2016)
- The Tierney Sutton Band — ScreenPlay (featuring Alan Bergman) (2019)
Live versions
- Shirley Bassey — performed live on the Bruce Forsyth Easter Show (1991)
- Thomas Anders — Live Concert (1997)
- Michel Legrand and Kuh Ledesma — performed live at the PICC Plenary Hall in Manila (2002)
- Celine Dion — Celine — a holographic duet with herself (2011)
- Brian McKnight and Kyla — performed live at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila (2012)
- Tony Bennett — performed live on the PBS special "Cheek to Cheek Live!" and NBC special "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90" (2016)
- Lea Salonga — Blurred Lines — performed live in Feinstein's/54 Below (2016)
