Softly, As I Leave You
Moderators: FECC-Moderator, Moderator5, Moderator3, Site Mechanic
-
Topic author - Posts: 7583
- Registered for: 12 years 7 months
- Has thanked: 2477 times
- Been thanked: 6858 times
Softly, As I Leave You
.
The Italian song "Piano" ("Softly") was written by Antonio De Vita (10 February 1932 – 14 January 1998) and Giorgio Calabrese (28 November 1929 – 31 March 2016).
Antonio De Vita was an Italian composer, conductor, arranger and pianist.
Born in Milan, De Vita graduated at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in his hometown. He started his career as a pianist, accompanying artists such as Johnny Dorelli and Betty Curtis. In 1963 he debuted on television as the conductor in the variety show La fiera dei sogni, and from then he appeared in dozens of popular shows, including Senza rete, Fantastico and Domenica in.
De Vita composed over five hundred songs and musical scores.
Giorgio Calabrese was an Italian songwriter and frequent collaborator with French singer Charles Aznavour.
Calabrese also wrote the Italian version of Aznavour's famous song, "She", titled "Lei". He also wrote the Italian lyrics for the song, "E se domani", composed by Carlo Rossi. It was entered in the 1964 Sanremo Music Festival.
The song "Piano" was originally an Italian success by Italian singer Mina, at the 1960 Sanremo Music Festival. Mina published a recording of the song first as a single in 1960 and later as well on an EP and on three LPs:
..
South African songwriter Hal Shaper (Muizenberg, July 18, 1931 - Kaapstad, January 8, 2004) noticed the song and in November 1961 wrote English lyrics to the melody, calling it "Softly, as I Leave You."
Hal Shaper
The first version of "Softly, As I Leave You" was released in January 1962, and was performed by Matt Monro:
..
This version reached #10 on the British charts in 1962.
Frank Sinatra reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Easy Listening chart in 1964:
..
The Sinatra family announced Frank's death on May 14, 1998 by placing an announcement on their website that was accompanied by a recording of the singer's version of the song.
Elvis' version was released on single on February 27, 1978, as B-side to "Unchained Melody". It was recorded on December 13, 1975:
..
"When he performed the song live in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley prefaced with a story about the origins of the song. Presley said the song originated when a man was dying and his wife was sitting by his bedside. As she began to doze off, he felt himself beginning to die and he wrote the words to the song on a notepad. However, Elvis insiders claim that his explanation for the song was merely an example of Presley's flair for storytelling, so his explanation is most likely apocryphal. Elvis said he heard the story "from some people in Florida.""
Just a few other versions
The Fleetwoods - 1964
..
Bobby Darin - 1965
..
Shirley Bassey - 1968
..
Cliff Richard with The London Philharmonic Orchestra - 1983
..
Michael Bublé - 2006
..
SOURCES
http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list8.html#S1450
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softly,_as_I_Leave_You_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_De_Vita
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Shaper
.
The Italian song "Piano" ("Softly") was written by Antonio De Vita (10 February 1932 – 14 January 1998) and Giorgio Calabrese (28 November 1929 – 31 March 2016).
Antonio De Vita was an Italian composer, conductor, arranger and pianist.
Born in Milan, De Vita graduated at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in his hometown. He started his career as a pianist, accompanying artists such as Johnny Dorelli and Betty Curtis. In 1963 he debuted on television as the conductor in the variety show La fiera dei sogni, and from then he appeared in dozens of popular shows, including Senza rete, Fantastico and Domenica in.
De Vita composed over five hundred songs and musical scores.
Giorgio Calabrese was an Italian songwriter and frequent collaborator with French singer Charles Aznavour.
Calabrese also wrote the Italian version of Aznavour's famous song, "She", titled "Lei". He also wrote the Italian lyrics for the song, "E se domani", composed by Carlo Rossi. It was entered in the 1964 Sanremo Music Festival.
The song "Piano" was originally an Italian success by Italian singer Mina, at the 1960 Sanremo Music Festival. Mina published a recording of the song first as a single in 1960 and later as well on an EP and on three LPs:
..
South African songwriter Hal Shaper (Muizenberg, July 18, 1931 - Kaapstad, January 8, 2004) noticed the song and in November 1961 wrote English lyrics to the melody, calling it "Softly, as I Leave You."
Hal Shaper
The first version of "Softly, As I Leave You" was released in January 1962, and was performed by Matt Monro:
..
This version reached #10 on the British charts in 1962.
Frank Sinatra reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Easy Listening chart in 1964:
..
The Sinatra family announced Frank's death on May 14, 1998 by placing an announcement on their website that was accompanied by a recording of the singer's version of the song.
Elvis' version was released on single on February 27, 1978, as B-side to "Unchained Melody". It was recorded on December 13, 1975:
..
"When he performed the song live in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley prefaced with a story about the origins of the song. Presley said the song originated when a man was dying and his wife was sitting by his bedside. As she began to doze off, he felt himself beginning to die and he wrote the words to the song on a notepad. However, Elvis insiders claim that his explanation for the song was merely an example of Presley's flair for storytelling, so his explanation is most likely apocryphal. Elvis said he heard the story "from some people in Florida.""
Just a few other versions
The Fleetwoods - 1964
..
Bobby Darin - 1965
..
Shirley Bassey - 1968
..
Cliff Richard with The London Philharmonic Orchestra - 1983
..
Michael Bublé - 2006
..
SOURCES
http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list8.html#S1450
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softly,_as_I_Leave_You_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_De_Vita
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Shaper
.
Mike
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
-
- Posts: 17680
- Registered for: 16 years 5 months
- Has thanked: 191 times
- Been thanked: 4123 times
-
- Posts: 1382
- Registered for: 13 years 2 months
- Has thanked: 463 times
- Been thanked: 500 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Although I've long grown tired of the introduction (which struck me as cheesy even from the first listen), I actually quite like the way Elvis did the song. I think it's very effective, and certainly unique in his canon.
-
- Posts: 365
- Registered for: 10 years 2 months
- Has thanked: 112 times
- Been thanked: 34 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
It was more Sherrill Nielsen with Elvis monologue.brian wrote:I have always liked Elvis' version.
-
- Posts: 3048
- Registered for: 21 years 7 months
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Has thanked: 157 times
- Been thanked: 659 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Number 2 on my dislike list, right behind Old Shep. Elvis barely sings in this song anyway. If I never hear SAILY again it will be ok.
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Never liked this one iota. Elvis, really? I'll take Frank's record which is a perfect pop record.
-
Topic author - Posts: 7583
- Registered for: 12 years 7 months
- Has thanked: 2477 times
- Been thanked: 6858 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
.
Elvis solo:
..
.
Elvis solo:
..
.
Mike
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
-
- Posts: 17680
- Registered for: 16 years 5 months
- Has thanked: 191 times
- Been thanked: 4123 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
I liked that it was something different.acapulco1922 wrote:It was more Sherrill Nielsen with Elvis monologue.brian wrote:I have always liked Elvis' version.
-
Topic author - Posts: 7583
- Registered for: 12 years 7 months
- Has thanked: 2477 times
- Been thanked: 6858 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
O yes:acapulco1922 wrote: Prefer the white vinyl version.
..
.
Mike
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...
.
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
I've never liked the song sung by anyone - and that includes Darin and Sinatra. To give Elvis credit where it's due, whether you like or loathe his version, at least he was trying something new and different within his show, and it did at least provide a break from the big sound of the rest of the show. The story is, of course, pure nonsense - but we have to believe it because Elvis said it repeatedly on stage, so it must be true!
-
- Posts: 365
- Registered for: 10 years 2 months
- Has thanked: 112 times
- Been thanked: 34 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Not even Matt Monro?poormadpeter2 wrote:I've never liked the song sung by anyone - and that includes Darin and Sinatra.
-
- Posts: 1382
- Registered for: 13 years 2 months
- Has thanked: 463 times
- Been thanked: 500 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
My thoughts exactly! I think Monro's version is definitive, and a lovely pop record.acapulco1922 wrote:Not even Matt Monro?poormadpeter2 wrote:I've never liked the song sung by anyone - and that includes Darin and Sinatra.
-
- Posts: 7397
- Registered for: 21 years 6 months
- Has thanked: 766 times
- Been thanked: 1419 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Was that solo version from the closing show, summer 1973? It is cringe worthy.
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Nope. Just don't like the song.acapulco1922 wrote:Not even Matt Monro?poormadpeter2 wrote:I've never liked the song sung by anyone - and that includes Darin and Sinatra.
-
- Posts: 5396
- Registered for: 20 years 7 months
- Location: The province of Scotland
- Has thanked: 417 times
- Been thanked: 1164 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Sober,I can't stand it.Cheesy pathos of the highest order.Pished, it's the sadest deepest song in the universe that makes me cry like a drunken baby.
norrie
norrie
-
- Posts: 365
- Registered for: 10 years 2 months
- Has thanked: 112 times
- Been thanked: 34 times
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
If it's sung properly as in the Matt Monro version then I have no issues with the song itself.
-
- Posts: 1030
- Registered for: 8 years 9 months
- Has thanked: 553 times
- Been thanked: 966 times
- Age: 57
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
I do like Elvis' version. Timbre between Elvis and Sherrill is pure and in harmony. Maybe because it was my very first 45 record.
http://www.theelvisfiles.com Robert van Beek
Re: Softly, As I Leave You
Thanks for the thread. Very interesting. Never liked the song and didn't buy the story even before I knew it was fake. Not convincing Elvis for me. I like the last 10 seconds when Elvis finishes the song.