I Could Write a Book

"I Could Write a Book" is a show tune from the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey,[1] where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. It is considered a standard.

"I Could Write a Book"
Song
Published1940
Songwriter(s)Lorenz Hart
Composer(s)Richard Rodgers

Critical reception

An uncredited critic reviewing "New Plays in Manhattan" for Time said of Pal Joey that the musical contains "all the dancing anyone could want and at least three more great Richard Rodgers tunes: 'I Could Write a Book' (sweet), 'Love Is My Friend' (torchy), 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' (catchy)."[2]

Cover versions

The song has been covered by such artists as Anita O'Day 1960, Frank D'Rone,[3] Vince Guaraldi,[4] Frank Sinatra,[5] Harry Connick Jr.,[6] and Dinah Washington.[7]

Harry Connick Jr.'s version of "I Could Write a Book" was used in the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally..., appearing on the film's soundtrack, and also appears on the soundtrack of the 1997 film Deconstructing Harry.[6] Dinah Washington's version of "I Could Write a Book", from her 1955 album For Those in Love, was used in the ninth episode of the first season of the television series Ash vs Evil Dead.[7]

gollark: "Give nearby people free food" generally scales better, I think, since it's cheaper than land in a lot of places.
gollark: No.
gollark: *How* does it actually do that?
gollark: It serves as a subsidy for whoever happens to rent the thing first, and does not fix any underlying problem or provide people with choices.
gollark: No, my issue is that it isn't very good charity.

References
  1. Banfield, Stephen (1998). "Popular Song and Popular Music on Stage and Film". In Nicholls, David (ed.). The Cambridge History of American Music. Cambridge University Press. pp. 329–330. ISBN 978-0-521-45429-2.
  2. (No author.) "New plays in Manhattan," Time, 37:1, 6 January 1941.
  3. Wright, Matthew (June 15, 2019). "Frank D'Rone: Sings / After The Ball". Jazz Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD: The Navy Swings". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. Rickert, David (January 12, 2008). "Frank Sinatra: A Voice In Time (1939-1952)". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  6. Hischak 2007, p. 123.
  7. Wade, Chris (December 26, 2015). "Ash vs. Evil Dead Recap: 'Hey Evil, Why Don't You Eat My Butt!'". Vulture. Retrieved September 1, 2019.

Sources
  • Hischak, Thomas S. (2007). The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0313341403.


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