Songs For Sinatra Lovers: Steven Maglio Shares The Story Behind His Cover of “Put Your Dreams Away”
Steven Maglio Singing Sinatra
A late starter, Steven Maglio‘s professional career began in his Forties as lead vocalist for Joe Battaglia’s New York Big Band, playing numerous dates at New York City’s “Tavern On The Green” and “Rainbow Room.” Steven is not an impersonator, but rather a singer who recreates the classic repertoire of Frank Sinatra in his own voice and style.
I’ve been a fan for quite a few years, and enjoy hearing Steven perform live delivering a bit of the swagger of the Chairman of the Board coupled with the swingin’ sounds of the Great American Songbook. Obviously Sinatra is not only a legendary icon regarded as history’s greatest vocalist, but perhaps he also performed more covers during his career than any other artist — many of which became regarded as the definitive versions of those compositions. We’ve asked Steven to share his thoughts on these classic covers over the course of a few weekly columns called Frank Friday.
One last note, if you find yourself in NYC on a Saturday night, Steven has a standing gig at the Carnegie Club in midtown. One of the last smoky bastions to the decades of the past, the Carnegie Club features Steven with the Stan Rubin Orchestra performing actual charts used back in the heyday. Order a martini and swing-a-ding-ding… And now, on to Steven’s latest, and final, guest post. For now. Special thanks to Steven for sharing! — Michael K.
“Put Your Dreams Away” from the CD, “Songs For Sinatra Lovers”
by Steven Maglio
“Put Your Dreams Away” was written by Ruth Lowe, Paul Mann, and Stephen Weiss in 1945. Frank Sinatra recorded it many times, and would adopt it as his theme song, using it to close his radio and television shows. The first studio recording was on May1, 1945 for Columbia Records, and then re-recorded for Capitol on December 11, 1957. On April 30, 1963, Sinatra made another studio cut that would have a spoken introduction, added at a later date, so it could be used as the opening song of the 1965 album, “Sinatra: A Man And His Music,” which was the album that got me interested in Mr. Sinatra at the ripe old age of seven years old.
This song was also part of a series of recordings that were called “V-discs,” which were recorded with the sole purpose of being distributed to U.S. service men during World War II. All the big musical stars of the time made V-disc recordings, not only to benefit the troops, but because they were the only recordings that were permitted by the musician’s union to be made with live musicians during their strike that was going on at the time. The V-disc collection was only recently released for sale to the general public, as were many new-found old recordings, with the introduction of CDs.
“Songs For Sinatra Lovers” is a CD that was meant to be just that, for “Sinatra Lovers,” so “Put Your Dreams Away” had to be included. So many Sinatra tribute albums, unfortunately, pass over this song. I used it as my closing number, as Frank Sinatra used to do, so as to pay a little tribute within the tribute.
I was lucky to have an arrangement written by Billy VerPlanck, who used to play trombone and write arrangements for The Dorsey Brothers Band, when Tommy and Jimmy reunited in 1950s. Billy, who passed away in June 2009, was the husband of singer Marlene VerPlanck, who was the Dorsey Brothers last female vocalist.
Since “Put Your Dreams Away” was the last song on “Songs For Sinatra Lovers,” that means that this is the last installment of the “Frank Friday” blog. I’ve enjoyed writing these notes and would like to say, THANK YOU to Michael Kauffman, RightsFlow, and Limelight for giving me the forum. I’ll say “THANK YOU” to all the readers too with Frank Sinatra’s most common toast, “I wish you everything you want in life for you and your families. Lots of huggin’ and kissin’, and sweet dreams.”
“I’ll Be Seeing You,”
Steven
Be sure to follow Steven Maglio on Facebook and check out his website! In case you missed them, you can also check out previous blog entries from Steven’s “Frank Friday” series on the Limelight blog.
Songs For Sinatra Lovers: Steven Maglio Shares The Story Behind His “Too Marvelous For Words” Cover
Steven Maglio Singing Sinatra
A late starter, Steven Maglio‘s professional career began in his Forties as lead vocalist for Joe Battaglia’s New York Big Band, playing numerous dates at New York City’s “Tavern On The Green” and “Rainbow Room.” Steven is not an impersonator, but rather a singer who recreates the classic repertoire of Frank Sinatra in his own voice and style.
I’ve been a fan for quite a few years, and enjoy hearing Steven perform live delivering a bit of the swagger of the Chairman of the Board coupled with the swingin’ sounds of the Great American Songbook. Obviously Sinatra is not only a legendary icon regarded as history’s greatest vocalist, but perhaps he also performed more covers during his career than any other artist — many of which became regarded as the definitive versions of those compositions. We’ve asked Steven to share his thoughts on these classic covers over the course of a few weekly columns called Frank Friday.
One last note, if you find yourself in NYC on a Saturday night, Steven has a standing gig at the Carnegie Club in midtown. One of the last smoky bastions to the decades of the past, the Carnegie Club features Steven with the Stan Rubin Orchestra performing actual charts used back in the heyday. Order a martini and swing-a-ding-ding… And now, on to Steven’s latest guest post. — Michael K.
“Too Marvelous For Words” from the CD, “Songs For Sinatra Lovers”
by Steven Maglio
“Too Marvelous For Words,” has lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music composed by Richard Whiting. It’s considered to be one of those songs that put the “pop” in the expression, “Popular Song.” It’s been recorded and/or sung live by just about every singer of any worth, and I’m proud to be a member of that club.
Written in 1937, Frank Sinatra sang it many times live, and on television and radio, but his only studio recording of it was done on January 16, 1956. It was included on the album, “Songs For Swingin’ Lovers,” which with arrangements by Nelson Riddle, is considered by many to be Frank’s best swing album, and the album that changed the way swing albums would be made in the future. To use an analogy the baby boomers will understand, “Songs For Swingin’ Lovers” did for swing music, what The Beatles’ “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” did for rock & roll.
When I made my CD, “Songs For Sinatra Lovers,” I used the same color background and the same style lettering as “Songs For Swingin’ Lovers,” as well as making a play on words with the title. I didn’t want to copy the cover completely, but I wanted everyone to see the cover and immediately feel comfortable with it. If you want to accuse me of shameless subliminal advertising, OK, I’ll admit it. I’m guilty.
“Too Marvelous For Words” is the only song I’ve included on the CD “Songs For Sinatra Lovers,” that is also part of my weekly show at The Carnegie Club in New York City. During that show I sing all of Sinatra’s biggest hits (New York, NY, My Way, Fly Me To The Moon, That’s Life, etc), so on the CD , I wanted to do all different songs. I didn’t want people to feel as though they were buying The Carnegie Club show, I wanted to give them an entirely new show to bring home. I made the exception with “Too Marvelous For Words” because it’s a dedication to the audience. I can’t be an entertainer if I don’t have an audience, and I will never be a truly successful entertainer without an appreciative audience.
After my shows, people come up and pay me some of the most wonderful compliments. I’d be too embarrassed to repeat most of them in this blog, as they actually are “Too Marvelous For Words.” So I use the song to say Thank You to everyone who has been supportive to me in my short career. It will be 10 years in June.
Next week, we’ll talk about track eleven, “Put Your Dreams Away.”
“I’ll Be Seeing You,”
Steven
Be sure to follow Steven Maglio on Facebook and check out his website! In case you missed them, you can also check out previous blog entries from Steven’s “Frank Friday” series on the Limelight blog.
Artist Spotlight: Gary Roadarmel
Gary Roadarmel is one of Nashville’s hidden treasures. As the fiery guitarist and co-frontman for country-punk band Porter Hall Tennessee, Roadarmel spent the past decade delivering a ferocious blend of honky-tonk and punk rock music to audiences worldwide. He’s part of a dying breed of guitarists who embrace unhinged fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants rock ‘n’ roll, where every show is different from the last and every show could be, well…your last.
Roadarmel grew up in Hagerstown, MD. His grandfather taught him the rudiments of traditional country and primitive gospel music, and as a child Roadarmel performed countless old gospel songs alongside his grandfather in church. Many of these songs re-emerged on PHT’s third record entitled Satan on the Run (2009). During an on-air interview with Roadarmel, WSM 650′s famous DJ, Bill Cody, mused with pleasure, “the gospel songs came to you honest.” To be sure, Roadarmel’s catalog of primitive gospel songs, alone (the origins of which are largely unknown), makes him a national treasure.
As a teenager, 60s and 70s-era garage punk crept into his soul and, to this day, remains a strong influence in Roadarmel’s performances. The Holy Trinity for Roadarmel is Jesus, Jones, and Johnny Thunders–and each member of this holy trinity inhabits Roadarmel’s creative drive–each figure emerges in one way or another during every performance. This entirely unique blend of traditional honky-tonk, punk, and primitive gospel merges in unpredictable ways. Once in Raleigh, NC during a PHT show in front of an audience of approximately 200 people, Roadarmel introduced “a Jesus song,” as he often does. When an audience member booed, Roadarmel reacted fiercely, “You don’t like Jesus? Well, then fuck you,” immediately launching into the song “Satan on the Run.” Roadarmel’s unpredictable blend of honky-tonk swagger, holy-roller praise, and punk-rock destructiveness onstage continues to compel both fans and critics alike.
NPR’s David Greenberger described PHT’s debut record Welcome to Porter Hall Tennessee (2002) this way: “The songs on Welcome to Porter Hall Tennessee revisit the common themes of fractured relationships and dashed hopes as well as an unshakeable need for home and connection. Occasionally dark but always grippingly real, it is the mark of a strong songwriter to recast the familiar and make it seem honest and new. Porter Hall Tennessee has two such songwriters: Gary Roadarmel and Molly Conley.”
Roadarmel’s punked-up cover of Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died” landed on Bloodshot Records’ double-disc compilation record For A Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records,
and remains the benchmark version that has compelled so many bands since to cover the song.
Roadarmel is currently gearing up for several solo acoustic tours. He is hitting the road with his grandfather’s Martin and performing wherever he finds an audience. Check out his Reverbnation page to hear a handful of acoustic tracks recorded live, in one sitting, at his home studio. What you hear is what you get, and these recordings prove that what you get is not just a Nashville treasure, but a national treasure.
Name: Gary Roadarmel
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Influences: George Jones, David Allan Coe, Rodger Miller, Hank Williams Sr, Hank Williams III, Johnny Thunders
Cover Song Licensed: Spotlight
Story Behind the Cover: Gary was already planning to do his first solo recording while he was recording fellow songwriter Eddie Holly. Late one night after a recording session they were strumming guitars around a campfire and Eddie began playing an old David Allan Coe song “Spotlight” that he had heard Coe play one time in a little place in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. The song was just perfect with the time period. Nashville had been recording all slicked up production and Gary wanted to do something simple. That sound of a guitar and vocals around the campfire that night was just the sound he was looking for. The lyrics to this unknown David Allan Coe song “Spotlight” was perfect addition to that type of recording. Later that month with one microphone and one guitar Gary recorded a 12 song CD “Yesterday Bitter Forgotten” . Simple straight to the point no fancy production . Just as the song says “Spotlights ain’t nothing but jive”
Check out Gary Roadarmel at www.reverbnation.com/#!/garyroadarmel
Frank Friday: Cover Songs For Sinatra Lovers With Steven Maglio
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- Steven Maglio Singing Sinatra
A late starter, Steven Maglio‘s professional career began in his Forties as lead vocalist for Joe Battaglia’s New York Big Band, playing numerous dates at New York City’s “Tavern On The Green” and “Rainbow Room.” Steven is not an impersonator, but rather a singer who recreates the classic repertoire of Frank Sinatra in his own voice and style.
I’ve been a fan for quite a few years, and enjoy hearing Steven perform live delivering a bit of the swagger of the Chairman of the Board coupled with the swingin’ sounds of the Great American Songbook. Obviously Sinatra is not only a legendary icon regarded as history’s greatest vocalist, but perhaps he also performed more covers during his career than any other artist — many of which became regarded as the definitive versions of those compositions.
We’ve asked Steven to share his thoughts on these classic covers over the course of a few weekly columns called Frank Friday.
“CYCLES”
from the CD, “Songs For Sinatra Lovers” by Steven Maglio
“Cycles” was written by Judith Caldwell and recorded by Frank Sinatra in New York on July 24, 1968. The song featured an arrangement by Don Costa and was released as a single, and also on an album of the same title.
During the late 1960s, Sinatra did some experimenting with different styles in order to keep up with the way music was changing. The old big band singer and Rat Pack swinger now had to compete with The Beatles and The British Invasion, Motown, the California groups like Mamas & Papas and The Beach Boys, the east coasters like The Four Seasons and Jay & The Americans, as well as an assortment of rock, folk, pop and R&B single performers and groups. The competition was tough, but during that period Sinatra released some of his biggest selling singles. With songs like “Strangers In The Night,” “Summer Wind,” “That’s Life,” “Somethin’ Stupid,” and “My Way,” Frank gave the youngsters a good run for their money.
It is said that Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra, was the one who convinced him that country music was going to be the wave of the future, and that he should try moving in that direction. On the “Cycles” album, Frank sang Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” the O.C. Smith hit, “Little Green Apples,” and two Glen Campbell classics, “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” and “Gentle On My Mind,” as well as some lesser known country/folk tunes. But, “Cycles” was his own. And even though it charted well, most people look puzzled when you mention the title to them. It’s only after you say the first line, “So I’m down, and so I’m out, but so are many others,” that you see the look of happy recognition on their faces, and they’ll usually say that they haven’t heard that song in a long time. That’s why I wanted to cover it.
The critics, and most Sinatra know-it-alls, will say that Frank should have stayed away from country songs and stuck to what he knew. I disagree. I think he did a great job with these songs and should have done more. Frank exposed these songs to people who might never have paid much attention to them. During the late 1960s, it was usually after Sinatra recorded a popular song, that all the other singers of standards would also start sing it. The most prominent example of this was when Sinatra said that he thought George Harrison’s “Something,” was the greatest love song ever written. Not long after, “Something” was covered by everyone from Tony Bennett to James Brown, and from Shirley Bassey to Elvis. If Sinatra didn’t stretch his creative muscles, he would have just been another singer, instead of being “Sinatra.”
I think “Cycles” is a terrific song and should be covered by more singers of all styles. It proves that the “saloon singer” could also be a “honky tonk bar” singer. Thank You Nancy Sinatra for pushing your dad into give us this classic.
Next week, we’ll talk about track ten, “Too Marvelous For Words.”
“I’ll Be Seeing You,”
Steven
Be sure to follow Steven Maglio on Facebook and check out his website! In case you missed them, you can also check out previous blog entries from Steven’s “Frank Friday” series on the Limelight blog.