Angel Eyes (1946 song)

"Angel Eyes" is a 1946 popular song composed by Matt Dennis, with lyrics by Earl Brent. It was introduced in the 1953 film Jennifer, where Matt Dennis sings the song and accompanies himself on piano, while Ida Lupino and Howard Duff among others are dancing to it.[1] First edition by Dorsey Bros Music a Div. of Music Sales Corp (ASCAP) 1946 (Renewed).

Composition

"Angel Eyes" is a jazz standard which has inspired many interpretations. Many singers have recorded versions of the song, including Nat King Cole (already in 1953), Frank Sinatra, June Christy with Stan Kenton, Chet Baker, Shirley Bassey, Neil Sedaka, Willie Nelson with Ray Charles, and Sting. Ella Fitzgerald, who recorded "Angel Eyes" at least four times, named it her favorite song.[2] Instrumental versions were recorded not as often as vocal takes, by the likes of Benny Carter, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Dave Brubeck, Kenny Burrell, Joe Albany, and more recently by McCoy Tyner, Gary Thomas and Joe Lovano.

Selected recorded versions
PerformerAlbumYearSource
Karrin AllysonIn Blue2002[3]
Gene AmmonsAngel Eyes1960[4]
Ernestine AndersonErnestine Anderson Swings the Penthouse2015[5]
Chet Baker with Len Mercer and His OrchestraChet Baker with Fifty Italian Strings1960[6]
Shirley BasseyShirley Bassey1961[7]
Cheryl Bentyne and Rob WassermanDuets1988[8]
James BookerClassified1982[9]
Dee Dee BridgewaterKeeping Tradition1993
The Dave Brubeck QuartetAngel Eyes1966[10]
Ray BryantRay Bryant Trio1957
Kenny BurrellBlues - The Common Ground1968
Royce CampbellTrioing2002
Benny CarterCosmopolite1954[3]
June ChristyImpromptu1977
Nat King Cole with Billy May and His Orchestrasingle1953[11]
Chris ConnorChris in Person1959[12]
Hank CrawfordMore Soul1961[13]
Sonny CrissSaturday Morning1975[3]
Matt DennisMatt Dennis Plays and Sings Matt Dennis1954[3]
Paul DesmondGlad to Be Unhappy1965
Ray Draper with John ColtraneA Tuba Jazz1959[14]
Kat EdmonsonTake to the Sky2009
Eliane EliasLove Stories2019[15]
Ella FitzgeraldElla in Rome: The Birthday Concert1958[3]
Roberta FlackRoberta1994
FonsecaSinfónico2014
The Four FreshmenFour Freshmen and 5 Trombones1955[16]
Earl GrantBeyond the Reef1962
Jim HallJim Hall Live!1975
Jack JonesWives and Lovers1959[17]
Stan Kenton and June ChristyRoad Show1959
Moe KoffmanDevil's Brew1996
k.d. langWe All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song2007
Joe LovanoRush Hour1994[3]
Barry ManilowManilow Sings Sinatra1998
Wynton Marsalis with Art Blakey & The Jazz MessengersWynton Marsalis' First Recordings1980[18]
Johnny MathisJohnny Mathis1956
Mina MazziniMina1964
Carmen McRaeBook of Ballads1960
Helen Merrill with Gary Peacock TrioSposin'1971[19]
The Modern Jazz QuartetFontessa1956[20]
Mark MurphyRah!1961
Willie Nelson with Ray CharlesAngel Eyes1984[21]
Phineas Newborn Jr.Phineas' Rainbow1957[22]
Anita O'DayWaiter, Make Mine Blues1960[23]
Duke PearsonAngel Eyes1968[24]
Oscar PetersonPastel Moods1956[25]
Sue RaneyBreathless!1997
Jimmy ScottAll the Way1992[26]
Neil SedakaCirculate1961
George ShearingFavorite Things1997[27]
Frank SinatraFrank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely1958[3]
Kandace Springs with Norah JonesThe Women Who Raised Me2020[28]
StingLeaving Las Vegas1995[29]
Gary ThomasTill We Have Faces1992
Bob ThompsonJust for Kicks1959[30]
Rebecka TörnqvistA Night Like This1993
McCoy TynerThe Turning Point1991[3]
Nancy WilsonWelcome to My Love1968

References
  1. The song already fades in during the previous sequence, before the actual ballroom scene: at 55:22 of the film uploaded on YouTube
  2. "Angel Eyes" – Steyn's Song of the Week, February 9, 2014.
  3. Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.
  4. Yanow, Scott. "Angel Eyes - Gene Ammons". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. Anderson, Ernestine (primary artist, vocals) (2015) [Recorded 7 February 1962]. Ernestine Anderson Swings the Penthouse (CD). United States: HighNote Records. HCD 7273.
  6. Chet Baker with Fifty Italian Strings at Discogs (list of releases)
  7. Eder, Bruce. "Shirley Bassey - Shirley Bassey". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  8. Wynn, Ron. "Duets - Rob Wasserman". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  9. Classified at Discogs
  10. Yanow, Scott. "Angel Eyes - Dave Brubeck". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  11. "Angel Eyes" at Discogs
  12. Chris in Person at Discogs (list of releases)
  13. More Soul at Discogs (list of releases)
  14. A Tuba Jazz at Discogs
  15. Collar, Matt. "Love Stories - Eliane Elias | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  16. Unterberger, Richie. "Four Freshmen and Five Trombones". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  17. Wives and Lovers at Discogs (list of releases)
  18. Wynton Marsalis' First Recordings at Discogs. One of the several unofficial releases in 1983.
  19. Sposin' at Discogs (list of releases)
  20. Fontessa at Discogs (list of releases)
  21. Chrispell, James. "Angel Eyes - Willie Nelson". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  22. Phineas' Rainbow at Discogs (list of releases)
  23. Ankeny, Jason. "Waiter, Make Mine Blues - Anita O'Day". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  24. Angel Eyes at Discogs (list of releases)
  25. Pastel Moods at Discogs
  26. All the Way at Discogs (list of releases)
  27. Favorite Things at Discogs (list of releases)
  28. The Women Who Raised Me at Discogs (list of releases)
  29. Ruhlmann, William. "Leaving Las Vegas". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  30. Just for Kicks at Discogs (list of releases)
  • "Angel Eyes" – Steyn's Song of the Week, February 9, 2014.
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