Last Night When We Were Young
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"Last Night When We Were Young" is a 1935 popular song about nostalgia and young love [1] composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Arlen regarded it as a favourite of the songs that he had written.[2]
Lawrence Tibbett recorded the song on October 9, 1935.[2] It was cut from his film Metropolitan but performed instrumentally behind the credits.[3]
"Last Night When We Were Young" was highly regarded by Judy Garland, who recorded it twice, and frequently performed it.[2] Composer Alec Wilder called it a "most remarkable and beautiful song" that "goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music." Continuing, he stated that "[i]t is unlike any other Arlen song that I have heard. However, it is unmistakably his."[3] Harburg did not know where he acquired the title, saying, "the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy".[2] Singer Tony Bennett, aged 95, gave an "emotional" performance of the song at his final concerts, in 2021.[4]
Notable recordings
- Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (1955),[5] September of My Years (1965)[6]
- Carmen McRae - Torchy (1955)[7]
- The Hi-Lo's - On Hand (1956).
- Peggy Lee - Dream Street (1956)[8]
- Judy Garland - Judy (1956)
- Art Farmer - Last Night When We Were Young (1958)[9]
- Tony Bennett - To My Wonderful One (1960),[10] Perfectly Frank (1992)[11]
- Cal Tjader (arr. Clare Fischer) - Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen (recorded 1960, released 1962; reissued 2002 on CD as Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen and West Side Story)[12]
- Sarah Vaughan - Close to You (1960)[13]
- Vic Damone- Young and Lively (1962).
- Mel Tormé and George Shearing - An Elegant Evening (1985)[14]
- Carly Simon - Film Noir (1997)
- Keith Jarrett Trio - Tokyo '96 (released 1998)[15]
- Karin Krog / Jacob Young - Where Flamingos Fly (2002)
- Franck Amsallem - Gotham Goodbye (2019)