The Things We Did Last Summer

On this day (January 15) in 1993, musician and songwriter Sammy Cahn passed away. Cahn wrote the song that I’m covering today – “The Things We Did Last Summer”, which debuted in 1946. His songs won 4 Academy Awards including one for “Three Coins in a Fountain.” This time I’m trying to let my “inner trumpet” out.

I’ve always loved this melancholy and romantic song, and for me the classic version is sung by Sinatra. This was only one of many songs that Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen wrote for Frank Sinatra. They were almost considered to be his personal songwriters – producing such songs as “All the Way”, “Come Fly With Me”, “High Hopes”, “Call Me Irresponsible”, “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is…)” and “Love and Marriage.”

With composer Jule Styne he is remembered for hits such as “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”, “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry”, and this song, “The Things We Did Last Summer”. He also wrote the lyrics to “Teach Me Tonight”, “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” and even “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” from the 1953 film classic Peter Pan! and many, many others.

What a busy guy!! He will live forever every time we listen to one of the tender lyrics to one of his songs. Thanks, Sammy.

Enjoy,

Dr. Weiss

Bosendorfer piano sound – For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones! It sounds better than any piano I’ve ever owned!!