Category Archives: Ballads – Old Standards

Ballads and music from 1920’s through the 1960’s. Great cocktail music.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Can’t Help Falling In Love. Love at first squeeze with Mr. Dino. Dino Baffetti that is. No, he is not replacing Mr. Roland. But, it is nice to play an acoustic accordion and feel the depth of the base and vibration of the sound. He is my new, slightly used, accordion. Trading Mr. Weiltmeister for him. Wanted an accordion with more quality sound and range. Just another instument than the Roland. Thought this was an appropriate song since I am sure the accordionship will go a long way. I have to get use to playing smoothly again. Great fun and pleasure to play Mr. Dino. His bass C button has a rhinestone in it instead of a cup. After 70 years of bass C with a dent, a bump sure is different. Will get use to it. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and published by Gladys Music, Inc. The melody is based on “Plaisir d’amour”, a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini.… Read the rest

Sealed With A Kiss

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Sealed With A Kiss. A very interesting song. I was playing thru my 50′-60’s book and came across it. I believe I remember it. It was done faster, but I felt like a slow beat worked. A little different than I usually do. Love the Sax, Clarinet and Organ sounds on the Roland. “Sealed with a Kiss” is a song written and composed by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It first became a hit in 1962 for Brian Hyland. The original recording of “Sealed with a Kiss” was by the Four Voices which was released as a single in May 1960 without becoming a hit. The lyrics are from the point of view of one of two lovers who have had to part ways over the summer. The narrator promises the lover who has had to leave that he will send his love and dreams in daily letters “sealed with a kiss”. The two also bind each other to a pledge, under seal of a kiss, that they will reunite in September.… Read the rest

All I Have To Do Is Dream

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Another favorite from Junior High School time. We all dreamed then – big dreams! We all had or wish we had our sweethearts! The old songs from that era play so easy and are so much fun to do. Memories! “All I Have to Do Is Dream” is a song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by Boudleaux Bryant of the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1958.… Read the rest

My Special Angel

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

My Special Angel is another great song from 1957. Being in Junior High School at that time, I remember so many of the older songs from the 50’s and 60’s. This is from my Fake Book called “The Gold Hits of the Fabulous Golden 50’s and 60’s.” A fun book to play from. There are over 300 songs, so I guess I will have something to keep me busy all winter playing and remembering the songs from the good old days. I used all organ since I thought it would make a good orchestration. I don’t use the great organ sounds on the Roland enough. I hope you enjoy it. “My Special Angel” is a popular song by Jimmy Duncan, published in 1957.… Read the rest

Come Softly To Me

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Come Softly To Me. I remember this song from junior high school. I was walking down the hall and could hear a small group singing it acapello. It sounded very nice and I wished that I could sing like that. Strange what memories we associate with music. I have 2 good eyes now, having my 2nd catarac surgery Tuesday, and thought I would play a song. I did it very simply since that was how it was recorded. I could imagine it being done with big string sounds and orchestra sounds, but thought I would go the simple route using some sounds I haven’t used before. “Come Softly to Me” is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, the three of whom also wrote it in 1959.… Read the rest

A Walk In The Black Forest

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

A Walk In The Black Forest is a fun song. I remember it well when I was in College. I had fun playing it and putting the video together. I hope it makes you want to walk or at least tap your foot. Horst Jankowski composed A Walk In The Black Forest in 1965. It was an Instrumental. The original German title is ‘Eine Schwartzwaldfahrt’, though nothing appears to have been released before the Mercury record with that title.… Read the rest

A Lover’s Concerto

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

A Lover’s Concerto. Just playing songs and listening to the wonderful sounds of the Roland. Got stuck on A Lover’s Concerto. Such a pretty piece. I decided to make a video where I could spend a few minutes away from the world using the pretty Roland sounds. Sorta a spur of the moment video. “A Lover’s Concerto” is a pop song written by American songwriters Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, and recorded in 1965 by the Toys.… Read the rest

Twilight Time

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Twilight Time. Another favorite of mine. Such a pretty song. I decided to go with accordion for this song. After I finished it, I thought I could hear pretty voices singing behind the lead and even a tenor sax filling in. So I decided to make a second part. Invited my twin sister back to play second. LOL The biggest problem is the lead player constantly ad libs, adds notes, measures and rests. She is old and can’t remember how she practiced it! That really makes it difficult for the second player. She did her best under the circumstances. LOL “Twilight Time” is a popular song with lyrics by Buck Ram and music by the Three Suns. Les Brown’s version of “Twilight Time” was recorded in November 1944 and released in early 1945 as the B-side of “Sentimental Journey,” the first recording of that song.… Read the rest

Tennessee Waltz

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Tennessee Waltz for my friend Jeanie. She requested it a long time ago but I hadn’t played it since she wanted me to sing it. HUM Surprisingly for such a simple song it has a bit more range in it than I have. I gave it a try and I realize that I am not a singer, but will entertain when I can. So for the sake of entertaining my friend, I did Tennessee Waltz for her. It is a very pretty song and very sad! “Tennessee Waltz” is a popular country music song with lyrics by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King written in 1946 and first released in January 1948. The song became a multimillion seller via a 1950 recording – as “The Tennessee Waltz” – by Patti Page.… Read the rest

I Only Have Eyes for You

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

I Only Have Eyes For You is a favorite and several of the eye songs I pulled out to go with my cataract surgery. It went well and I am amazed that my tennis shoes are white, my Corel dishes are white and I can’t believer how white my hair is!!! I can’t wait to get the other eye done. My eye was a little gritty the first day, but since then is great. I gave thought to how I could illustrate the song, but couldn’t come up with anything interesting. Then I thought the only people that ever had eyes for me were my wonderful dogs. We had over 14 dogs in the early ’80s since our shelter was very, very high kill. I did their website and worked for them one summer. I could not stand to watch dog after dog being taken to the back room to be put to sleep. I had many more that we were able to get to rescue. My last little girl, Sweetie, who was 20 years old died a few months ago along with Nikki. So I adopted Chloe from the shelter so Peanut would have a buddy to play with. Almost all the dogs in the video are gone. Great memories for me. “I Only Have Eyes for You” is a romantic love song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the film Dames in 1934.… Read the rest

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Another interesting, old song from the ’60’s when I was growing up. Easy to hum and easy to dance to. Thank You to the very talented artists at pixaby for the wonderful free graphics. They make the presentation very nice. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. It was recorded as a single by Frankie Valli.… Read the rest

Midnight in Moscow

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Midnight in Moscow. I remember hearing this played in the old days. I always liked it and had it on my pile of music to play for quite awhile. I went to You Tube to hear it and all I found were big serious, Russian versions. Then – I found the 1961 version. That’s the way I wanted to play it. Did not need to be serious. Had fun with all the sounds and graphics which were free. Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen played Midnight In Moscow in 1961. Midnight in Moscow, also known as Moscow Nights (Подмосковные вечера), is a Russian song, and one of those best known outside its homeland. Created as “Leningradskie Vechera” (“Leningrad Nights”) by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi and poet Mikhail Matusovsky in 1955 (when both had well-established careers), but at the request of the Soviet Ministry of Culture, the version… Read the rest