Won't You Play A Simple Melody

Album: Great American Composers (1914)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this song has no question mark, and its punchline is that it is anything but a simple melody. When Barry Manilow presented a programme about Irving Berlin for BBC Radio in 2011 - part of a series on American songwriters - he said this piece, which Berlin wrote in 1914, was the first of his famous double songs, i.e. it is in counterpoint like "You're Just In Love," which he wrote three-and-a-half decades later.
  • Also known as "Play A Simple Melody," the song was written in 4/4 time, was published by Berlin himself, and appeared in Watch Your Step, Berlin's first musical. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Walter Van Brunt and Mary Carson recorded a popular version in 1915, followed by Elsie Baker (aka Edna Brown) and Billy Murray the following year.
  • This was resurrected in 1950 with a string of hit covers. Gary Crosby peaked at #2 when he recorded a version with his dad, Bing. Jo Stafford landed at #18, followed by Georgia Gibbs & Bob Crosby at #25, and Phil Harris at #30.
  • Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey sang this in the 1954 tribute film to Irving Berlin, There's No Business Like Show Business.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?