Willow Weep for Me explained

Willow Weep for Me
Cover:"Willow Weep for Me".jpg
Published:1932
Genre:Pop
Willow Weep for Me
Cover:Willow_Weep_for_Me_-_Chad_&Jeremy.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Chad & Jeremy
Album:Yesterday's Gone
Released:November 1964
B-Side:If She Was Mine
Genre:Pop
Length:2:33
Label:World Artists
Prev Title:A Summer Song
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:If I Loved You
Next Year:1965

"Willow Weep for Me" is a popular song composed in 1932 by Ann Ronell, who also wrote the lyrics. The song form is AABA, written in time,[1] although occasionally adapted for waltz time.

One account of the inspiration for the song is that, during her time at Radcliffe College, Ronell "had been struck by the loveliness of the willow trees on campus, and this simple observation became the subject of an intricate song."[2]

The song was rejected by publishers for several reasons. First, the song is dedicated to George Gershwin. A dedication to another writer was disapproved of at the time, so the first person presented with the song for publication, Saul Bornstein, passed it to Irving Berlin, who accepted it. Other reasons stated for its slow acceptance are that it was written by a woman and that its construction was unusually complex for a composition that was targeted at a commercial audience (i.e., radio broadcast, record sales and sheet music sales). An implied tempo change in the fifth bar, a result of a switch from the two eighth notes and an eighth-note triplet opening in each of the first four bars to just four eighth notes opening the fifth, then back to two eighth notes and an eighth-note triplet opening the sixth bar, which then has a more offset longer note than any of the previous bars, was one cause of Bornstein's concern.[3]

Versions

It is mostly known as a jazz standard, having been recorded first by Ted Fio Rito (with vocal by Muzzy Marcellino, who was also a master whistler and recorded a whistling version of the song in 1958) in October 1932 and by Paul Whiteman (with vocal by Irene Taylor) the following month. Both were hits in December 1932.Notable recordings continued into the 1950s, starting with Stan Kenton's version with June Christy.

Some -time versions are on recordings by Phil Woods (Musique du Bois, 1974) and Dr. Lonnie Smith (Jungle Soul, 2006).

It was a major hit for the British duo Chad & Jeremy. In January 1965, it reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100,[4] and went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[5] It was included on their Yesterday's Gone album and many subsequent compilations.

Other versions

Chart history

Paul Whiteman
Ted Fio Rito
Chad & Jeremy
Chart (1964–65)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[13] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 15
US Billboard Adult Contemporary1
US Cash Box Top 10022
Carmel cover

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Zimmers, Tighe, E. (2009). Tin Pan Alley Girl: A Biography of Ann Ronell. McFarland. pp. 19-22.
  2. Book: Gioia. Ted. The Jazz Standards. 2012. Oxford University Press. Oxford . 978-0-19-993739-4. 460–462.
  3. The New Real Book (1988). Sher Music. p. 406.
  4. Hot 100: Chad & Jeremy . 2017 . . 5 December 2018.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 51.
  6. Web site: Greta Keller Collection 1929-1939 . Internet Archive . popularjazzarchive.blogspot.com . 2020-08-08.
  7. Web site: One by One. Poet. J.. AllMusic. 9 May 2018.
  8. Web site: Mr. Soul - Sam Cooke Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. en-us. 2019-04-13.
  9. Web site: Clark After Dark. Dryden. Ken. AllMusic. 19 Aug 2019.
  10. Web site: Born 2B Blue. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. AllMusic. 9 May 2018.
  11. Web site: Pearls. Yanow. Scott. AllMusic. 9 May 2018.
  12. Web site: Zac . Johnson . The Rodeo Eroded - Tin Hat Trio | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 2002-09-10 . 2020-08-08.
  13. Web site: RPM Top 40&5 - December 21, 1964.
  14. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 -