Great American Songbook

Who would’ve guessed that Willie Nelson would dip into Hoagy Carmichael’s song bag for one of his most beloved tunes (“Stardust”)? Or that Natalie Cole would team with her late father for a truly “Unforgettable” performance? No sir, you just can’t beat a great American tune: Ella’s languid cover of the Gershwins’ “Summertime” from Porgy & Bess is an absolute showstopper.

Get a load of Robbie Williams doing a spot of (German-American) Kurt Weill, then head for Next Steps.

Ah, the tunes that launched a thousand karaoke performances . . . in the last two weeks. Who could resist taking a shot at Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” or Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, ably covered here by Fred Astaire? These are the performances that made them hits. And it’s great to hear Jamie Cullum putting his own stamp on those prolific Gershwins’ “Fascinating Rhythm”.

Other Brits looking Stateside for inspiration here include Sting and Bryan Ferry . . . and you’ll find Martine McCutcheon in Deep Cuts.

The Great American Songbook has also launched a thousand debates: e.g. who — among Betty Carter, Al Bowlly, and Mel Tormé — does the best version of “Heart and Soul”? As you chew over the Tormé take, give “Pennies from Heaven” some thought: Frankie Vaughan has a fine crack at it here, but you may prefer Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, or Bing Crosby. There are no wrong answers: that just shows how great these songs are.

Some songs (think “Free Bird” or “Stairway to Heaven”) are rendered classic by an inimitable performance, while others seem to pop up again and again, with multiple definitive (or re-definitive) recordings. This latter category has been assembled into a canon loosely known as the Great American Songbook, a sobriquet popularized by Rod Stewart on his 2002 comeback album. While you probably know all these songs, some performances on our playlist may be new to you. Doff your cap to Uncle Sam and drink them all in.