Teach Me Tonight

"Teach Me Tonight" is a popular song that has become a jazz standard. The music was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn.^[1] The song was published in 1953.

Early recordings edit

Five versions charted in 1954 and 1955:^[2]

Janet Brace was apparently first, making the Billboard chart on October 23, 1954, and eventually reaching No. 23. First recording from 1953
Jo Stafford – No. 15 in 1954
Dinah Washington – a No. 4 R&B/Hip-Hop Songs hit in 1954,^[3] inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999
Helen Grayco – No. 29 in 1954
The DeCastro Sisters ("It's Love" / "Teach Me Tonight", Abbott Record Co. 3001)^[4] – No. 2 in 1955. In addition, a 1959 re-recording titled "Teach Me Tonight Cha Cha" went to No. 76 on the Hot 100.^[5]

Ann-Margret recorded a version on her 1961 debut album, And Here She Is ... Ann-Margret and again on her 2023 album Born to Be Wild as a duet with Pat Boone.
In 1962, actor and singer George Maharis recorded his version of the song and included it on his album George Maharis Sings! The song released as a single reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.^[6]
A country version appeared on Phoebe Snow's 1976 album It Looks Like Snow and was later released as a single, but failed to chart.
In 1982, Al Jarreau included his version on "Breakin' Away" In the US, this version went to No. 70 on the Hot 100 and No. 51 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.^[7] In addition, it went to No. 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[8]
A 2004 live recording appears on the deluxe version of the album Frank by Amy Winehouse.
A version appeared on the 2014 album Classics by She & Him.
A 2020 version appears on James Taylor's American Standards album.

^ "Teach Me Tonight - Jazz Standards", JazzStandards.com
^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 590. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 612.
^ "The De Castro Sisters - It's Love / Teach Me Tonight". Discogs. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 226.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012 (14th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 292.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 125.

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