Mam'selle

"Mam'selle" is a bittersweet song about a rendez-vous with a "mam'selle" (mademoiselle) in a small café. The music was written by Edmund Goulding, the lyrics by Mack Gordon.

The song originally appeared in the movie, The Razor's Edge, with Tyrone Power in 1947.

Five versions of the song became top ten hits in 1947: by Art Lund,[1] by Dick Haymes, by Frank Sinatra, by Dennis Day, and by The Pied Pipers. Frankie Laine had a hit jazz version, renowned for its vibe solo by Lou Singer.

The Art Lund recording was recorded on February 20, 1947 and released by MGM Records as catalog number 10011. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 11, 1947 and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.[2]

The Dick Haymes recording was recorded on March 6, 1947 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 23861. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 25, 1947 and lasted 8 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4.[2]

The Frank Sinatra recording was recorded on March 11, 1947 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 37343. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 10, 1947 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6 on the Best Seller chart, and #1 on the Jockey chart.[2]

The Dennis Day recording was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2211. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 25, 1947 and lasted 5 weeks on the chart, peaking at #8.[2]

The Pied Pipers recording was recorded on March 14, 1947 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 396. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 2, 1947 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9.[2]

The Frankie Laine recording was recorded on March 28, 1947 and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5048.

The R&B vocal group The Ravens released Mam'selle as the "A" side their 1952 OKeh single, catalog number 6888.[3][4]

In the 1953 film Pickup on South Street, Moe (played by Thelma Ritter) plays the song on her phonograph in her one-room apartment.

Andy Williams released a version on his 1960 album, Under Paris Skies.

Barbershop Harmony Society 2006 quartet champion Vocal Spectrum recorded Tom Sando's arrangement of the song on their first CD.[5]

Other Notable Recordings

References
  1. Gilliland, John. (2020-03-23). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #19 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  3. "The Ravens - Mam'selle (Shellac, 10", 78 RPM)". Discogs. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  4. "45cat - The Ravens - Mam'selle / Calypso Song - OKeh - USA - 4-6888". 45cat. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  5. Mack Gordon; Edmund Goulding; Tom Sando (2008). Mam'selle. Barbershop Harmony Society. BHSno202220.



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