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I'll Close My Eyes (song)

March 01, 2023

"I'll Close My Eyes", first published in 1945, is a song written and composed by the English songwriter and bandleader Billy Reid.[1] This song is usually performed with altered lyrics by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye. The song has become a jazz standard.

Composition and recordings

The original version of the song had both music and lyrics written by Billy Reid.[1] In this original version, the song is a song of regret, with a verse introducing the theme in words which include: "Love was mine, you gave me a chance; But my heart was not content and I lost my romance.." The main song refrain then begins (as it does in the later version) "I'll close my eyes" but continues "and make believe it's you".[1] The song then continues on the theme that the singer has foolishly lost his love and can now only close his eyes and imagine her in his loneliness. It was recorded with the original Billy Reid words by the English singer Dorothy Squires, who had a close association with Billy Reid.[2]

Soon after its release, new words were written for the Billy Reid tune by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye.[3] The new words make the song more upbeat.[4] The initial phrase of the song remains "I'll close my eyes" but now it continues "...to everyone but you". The song then continues on the theme that the singer will always be faithful, will "lock my heart to any other caress" and will close his eyes to see his love "through the years" in "those moments when we're apart".[3] It thus becomes, not a song of loss, but a commitment to fidelity in a relationship which is expected to last. In this form, it was taken up by a number of singers. It was broadcast by Frances Langford with the new words as early as 1947, in a Maxwell House Radio Show.[5]

The Jazz standard "I'll Close My Eyes" (with Buddy Kaye lyrics) has been covered by 50+ recording artists, including the Dinah Washington (and Quincy Jones Orchestra) recording that is licensed for soundtrack use in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (film) and Lee Daniels’ THE BUTLER (film).

List of recordings

Performers who have recorded the song in vocal or instrumental versions include:

References

  1. ^ a b c Billy Reid. The Forties. International Music Publications Ltd. p. 43.
  2. ^ a b Squires, Dorothy. "I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b "I'll Close My Eyes (lyrics, both versions)". International Lyrics Playground. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  4. ^ See e.g. the performance of the new lyrics by the Sliding Hammers (2008). "Sliding Hammers - I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. ^ Langford, Frances. "I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  6. ^ William Ruhlmann: Connie Francis 1955–1959, supplement to 5 CD Boxed Set White Sox, Pink Lipstick... and Stupid Cupid, Bear Family Records BCD 16 616 EI, Hambergen (Germany) 1993

March 01, 2023
close, eyes, song, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, close, eyes, song, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources I ll Close My Eyes song news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message I ll Close My Eyes first published in 1945 is a song written and composed by the English songwriter and bandleader Billy Reid 1 This song is usually performed with altered lyrics by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye The song has become a jazz standard Composition and recordings EditThe original version of the song had both music and lyrics written by Billy Reid 1 In this original version the song is a song of regret with a verse introducing the theme in words which include Love was mine you gave me a chance But my heart was not content and I lost my romance The main song refrain then begins as it does in the later version I ll close my eyes but continues and make believe it s you 1 The song then continues on the theme that the singer has foolishly lost his love and can now only close his eyes and imagine her in his loneliness It was recorded with the original Billy Reid words by the English singer Dorothy Squires who had a close association with Billy Reid 2 Soon after its release new words were written for the Billy Reid tune by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye 3 The new words make the song more upbeat 4 The initial phrase of the song remains I ll close my eyes but now it continues to everyone but you The song then continues on the theme that the singer will always be faithful will lock my heart to any other caress and will close his eyes to see his love through the years in those moments when we re apart 3 It thus becomes not a song of loss but a commitment to fidelity in a relationship which is expected to last In this form it was taken up by a number of singers It was broadcast by Frances Langford with the new words as early as 1947 in a Maxwell House Radio Show 5 The Jazz standard I ll Close My Eyes with Buddy Kaye lyrics has been covered by 50 recording artists including the Dinah Washington and Quincy Jones Orchestra recording that is licensed for soundtrack use in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY film and Lee Daniels THE BUTLER film List of recordings EditPerformers who have recorded the song in vocal or instrumental versions include Dorothy Squires with Billy Reid s original words 1945 2 Andy Russell 1947 Mildred Bailey 1947 Vic Damone 1947 Sarah Vaughan 1957 Dinah Washington 1957 Connie Francis In 1959 Francis recorded both versions of the lyrics with the same orchestral arrangement The 1959 album released from this session was called My Thanks To You and included only the original version of the lyrics the recording with the later version of the lyrics was not released until 1993 6 Blue Mitchell 1960 Marilyn Michaels 1965 Joan Regan Dinah Shore Joanie Sommers Peggy Lee Cannonball Adderley and his orchestra Gene Ammons Ray Anthony Betty Scott Jimmy Beaumont Big Maybelle Bob Montgomery Donna Fuller Kenny Burrell Hank Crawford Barrett Deems Joan Griffith Johnny Desmond Anita Ellis Percy Faith George Shearing Von Freeman The Skyliners original words Renato Sellani Keith Jarrett Louis Smith Russell Gunn Ken McIntyre Peter Marshall Claire Martin Ken McIntyre Ted Heath Andreas Petterson Don Lusher Tony Monaco Buddy Morrow Little Jimmy Scott Dakota Staton Mark Murphy Tommy Newsom Diane Schuur Doug Raney Dizzy Reece Frank Sinatra Humphrey Lyttelton and his band KC and The Sunshine Band Eddie FisherReferences Edit a b c Billy Reid The Forties International Music Publications Ltd p 43 a b Squires Dorothy I ll Close My Eyes YouTube Retrieved 26 April 2014 a b I ll Close My Eyes lyrics both versions International Lyrics Playground Retrieved 26 April 2014 See e g the performance of the new lyrics by the Sliding Hammers 2008 Sliding Hammers I ll Close My Eyes YouTube Retrieved 1 October 2014 Langford Frances I ll Close My Eyes YouTube Retrieved 26 April 2014 William Ruhlmann Connie Francis 1955 1959 supplement to 5 CD Boxed Set White Sox Pink Lipstick and Stupid Cupid Bear Family Records BCD 16 616 EI Hambergen Germany 1993 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title I 27ll Close My Eyes song amp oldid 1124205705, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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