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Music

The Great American Song Book

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG BOOK

First of all, you need to know that this is my favourite genre.   I have researched the eligibility of songs exhaustively and the list is pretty impressive!

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My aim is to gradually record more songs with my own arrangements or to include some I have done in collaboration with others.

 

People often refer to The Great American Songbook as if it’s a physical book with a list of songs. But there’s no such thing. It’s just a construction that you can find quite a few versions of.

People always debate which songs should earn a place in the “book.”

The list below – and the Spotify playlist tied to it – includes the songs that most agree should be in there.

In total, there are 275 tracks and 14 hours of music.

The Great American Songbook is said to represent the best, most influential composers from the 20th century and their songs.

Surprisingly, though, there are no songs from the latter part of the century. When rock’n’roll was born, the book closed for some reason.

Instead, the focus is Broadway musicals, Hollywood films and theater stages. Big names among the composers are Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers/Hammerstein and George/Ira Gershwin and we hear the songs performed by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billie Holliday, Judy Garland, Ray Charles, Bessie Smith and many others.

The Great American Songbook is not only a piece of American history and music heritage, it’s also packed with great, great songs.

So drop your guard.

Deep down inside you love this, don’t you?


 

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG BOOK

All instrumental arrangements by Susie Drage

Vocals with accompanists

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Baby, It's Cold Outside (Vocal Duet)

Boy from Ipanema (Vocal) arranged by Susie

Broadway Melody

Chattanooga Choo Choo

Cheek to Cheek

Cry Me a River (Vocal)

Embraceable You (Vocal)

Every Time We Say Goodbye

Fly Me to the Moon

Georgia on my Mind (Vocal)

How Insensitive (Vocal)

I Have Grown Accustomed to Your Face

I Only Have Eyes for You

I'll Be Seeing You

I'm in the Mood for Love (Vocal)

I've Got You Under My Skin

Long Ago and Far Away (Vocal)

Love is a Many Splendoured Thing

Loved Walked In (Vocal)

Making Whoopee (Vocal)

Manhattan (Vocal)

Meditation (Vocal)

Misty (Vocal)

Moonlight in Vermont (Susie arrangement & Vocal)

Moonlight in Vermont (Vocal)

More

My Funny Valentine (CVP809 2021)

Oh, Lady Be Good

On a Slow Boat to China

On the Street Where You Live

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Over the Rainbow

Paper Moon, It;s Only

People (Vocal)

S'Wonderful

Satin Doll

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

So in Love

Someone to Watch Over Me (Instrumental)

Someone to Watch Over Me (Vocal)

Summertime

Take the A Train

Taking a Chance on Love

Tea for Two

That's All

That's Entertainment

The Lady is a Tramp

The Nearness of You

The Shadow of Your Smile (Vocal)

They Can't Take That Away FromMe

They Say It's Wonderful (Vocal)

Three Coins in the Fountain

Time After Time

Way You Look Tonight on Bosendorfer

We Kiss in a Shadow (Vocal)

What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life (Vocal)

Where Are You (Vocal)

Where or When (Vocal)

White Christmas (Vocal)

Witchcraft

Young at Heart

Younger Than Springtime

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