Billie Holiday—”I Only Have Eyes For You” (1952)

One of the major American composers of the last 100 years is New Yorker Salvatore Antonio Guaragna (1893-1981). His more than 800 compositions include such songs as ”At Last” and “That’s Amore.” Under the name Harry Warren, he also wrote the song that became the first gold record in history: “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” as well as one of the 25 most performed songs of the 20th century: “I Only Have Eyes For You.”

This was 36-year old Billie Holiday’s recording debut for Norman Grantz’ Mercury label. Collaborating expertly with the inimitable Billie are Canadian Oscar Peterson’s piano, Flip Phillips’ tenor sax, Charlie Shavers’ trumpet, Barney Kessel’s guitar, Ray Brown’s bass, and Alvin Stoller’s drums. They recorded it at the Radio Recorders, Inc. Studio at 7000 Santa Monica boulevard in Hollywood, CA., on March 26, 1952.

The lyrics for this 1934 song for the Warner Bros movie “Dames,” were written by Warren’s Tin Pan Alley songwriting partner Alexander Dubin (1891-1945). Harry Warren and the Swiss-born Al Dubin began their collaboration in 1932, when they wrote the score for the first block buster musical film “42nd Street.” In 1935 they won the American Academy Award for Best Song for “Lullaby Of Broadway.”