The Drifters hit 1964 pop-soul song Under The Boardwalk was written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick. It’s been covered by many bands and artists since then, including Bette Midler, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.

Under the Boardwalk

Acoustic piano interpretation of Norwegian Wood, The Beatles' landmark 1965 song written by John Lennon

Norwegian Wood

The Beatles 1965 hit song “Yesterday,” written and sung by Paul McCartney

Yesterday

Theme song from the 1960 movie Days of Wine and Roses composed by Henry Mancini.

Days of Wine and Roses

“The Midnight Special” originated in the early 1900’s among African Americans jailed in southern states. The title refers to a train that would carry them to freedom. The legendary Lead Belly recorded it in 1934. Creedence Clearwater Revival popularized it in 1969.

The Midnight Special

George Gershwin wrote the haunting, iconic aria “Summertime” for the 1935 folk opera Porgy and Bess. It became a jazz standard and it’s one of the most recorded songs of all time. Notable recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armsrtong, Miles Davis and Willie Nelson.

Summertime

Description: “Summertime Summertime” is a joyful song recorded in 1958 by “The Jamies,” a one-hit singing group formed by Boston University student Tom Jameson and his sister Serena.

Summertime Summertime

Two enduring slow jazz standards: Tenderly, written by Walter Gross with lyrics by Jack Lawrence in 1946, and Moonlight in Vermont written by John Blackburn with lyrics by Karl Suessdorf in 1943.

Tenderly and Moonlight in Vermont

Instrumental of two great songs by two great female vocalists: Roberta Flack’s “Killing me Softly” and Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” 

Killing Me Softly With His Song and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Description: Instrumental medley of songs from the 1957 musical West Side Story: Somewhere, One Hand One Heart, Tonight and Maria. Jerome Robbins conceived the show with a 20th century story line inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The masterpiece music was composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Steven Sondheim

West Side Story Medley

Swing Low Sweet Chariot, an enduring African American spiritual and Christian hymn originating in the 1860s. It was recorded first by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1909 and by many others of over the years, including Johnny Cash, Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Singer-songwriter Roger Miller’s 1964 funky, honky-tonk country hit song “King of the Road.” It’s about a vagabond (“a man of means by no means") who relishes his freedom. Playing on the dual meaning of the word “means,” he humorously calls himself "king of the road."

King of the Road

Elvis Presley's hit song Can’t Help Falling in Love from his 1961 album Blue Hawaii and the soundtrack of the movie by the same name. Recorded by many other artists, including Perry Como, Doris Day Andy Williams, Marty Robbins, Bob Dylan, Shirley Bassey and Engelbert Humperdinck.  

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right was written and recorded by the great musician-poet Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) in 1962 and further popularized later by Peter, Paul & Mary and other artists.

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Legendary singer-songwriter Sam Cooke’s 1957 hit song “You Send Me” recorded on my clunky old practice piano. It was #1 on Billboard’s R&B and Hot 100 charts.

You Send Me

Love is Blue, my favorite 1960’s instrumental recording. Written in '67 by French composers André Popp and Pierre Cour. Popularized by the Paul Mauriat Orchestra and rose to #1 on the US Billboard charts.

Love Is Blue

“As Tears Go By” is an evocative rock ballad written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. It was recorded by vocalist Marianne Faithfull in 1964 and released as a single in the United Kingdom. The Stones recorded their own version for their 1965 American album December’s Children (and Everyone’s).

As Tears Go By

Bring It On Home To Me was written and recorded by prolific soul and pop artist Sam Cooke in 1962. It is widely considered the best of the more than 100 songs he wrote.

Bring It On Home To Me

The hit country rock ballad Always on My Mind was recorded in 1972 by Brenda Lee and Elvis Pressley and in 1982 by Willie Nelson.

Always on My Mind

Georgia on My Mind was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell and recorded by Carmichael in 1930. It was popularized in 1960 by Georgia native Ray Charles.

Georigia on My Mind

Brazilian bossa nova composed in 1962 by Antônio Carlos Jobim (Portuguese lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes, English lyrics by Norman Gimbel.) The recording by Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim won the 1965 Grammy record of the year.

The Girl From Ipanema

You Are Too Beautiful, slow jazz standard composed by Rodgers & Hart for the 1933 movie “Hallelujah I’m a Bum” and sung by Al Jolson. Recorded over the years by many artists, including Frank Sinatra, Thelonious Monk, Earl Hines, Sarah Vaughan and John Coltrane with a vocal by Johnny Hartman.

You Are Too Beautiful

Instrumental of two nice contemporary songs in three-quarter time: Moon River, composed by Henry Mancini (lyrics by Johnny Mercer) for the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Try to Remember, composed by Harvey Schmidt (lyrics by Tom Jones) for the 1960 musical The Fantasticks.

Moon River and Try to Remember

Put a Little Love in Your Heart was recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1969. She composed it with her brother Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday. The recording reached #4 on Billboard’s Top 100 and #1 on South Africa’s Springbok 65 Hit Parade.

Put a Little Love in Your Heart

The 1972 Eagles hit song “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” written by Southern California folk singer Jack Tempchin. It was the third single from the band's 1972 debut album.

Peaceful Easy Feeling

Two enduring “Roaring ‘20s” sing-along songs – Heart of My Heart and Side by Side. Popular recordings of the first one by The Four Aces and Bing Crosby and the second one by Kay Star. 

Heart of My Heart and Side By Side

Two popular long-ago songs that have withstood the test of time. Pennies From Heaven was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film by the same name and also recorded that year by Billie Holiday. April Showers was performed by the legendary singer/songwriter Al Jolson in the 1921 Broadway musical “Bombo”. 

Pennies From Heaven and April Showers

The hit song Dream Lover was written and recorded by Bobby Darin in 1959 with Neil Sedaka on piano. A few months later, Sedaka released his own recording of the song.

Dream Lover.mp4

Dream Lover

The folk and children’s sing along song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” was derived either from a late 19th century African American spiritual or an old Irish hymn, according to the nonprofit educational group Ballad of America.

I've Been Working on the Railroad

Roger Miller’s 1964 honky-tonk country hit song “King of the Road.” It’s about a vagabond who relishes his freedom to roam. And despite being “a man of means by no means,” he considers himself to be “king of the road.” His recording won 5 Grammy Awards.

Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan’s classic song Mr. Tambourine Man. He performed it at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival and recorded it in 1965. 

The Byrds also recorded it in 1965, launching the folk-rock genre by using electric instruments. They changed the time signature from 2/4 to 4/4, making it suitable for dancing. Both recordings received Grammy Hall Fame Awards. My recording is in Dylan’s groove with the abridged lyrics the Byrds used. 


Mr. Tambourine Man

The enduring change-of-season tune “September Song.” It was composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson for 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday.

September Song

Over the Rainbow, my all-time favorite enduring standard song. It was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg for the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Judy Garland sang it in her starring role, and it became her signature song. Musicians of all stripes have been singing and playing it ever since then.

Over the Rainbow

Instrumental of two vintage movie theme songs that fit together nicely: “The God Father”, composed by Nino Rota, for the 1972 film by the same name, and “Charade”, composed by Henry Mancini, for the 1963 movie by the same name.

The Godfather and Charade

The haunting "The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional Appalachian folk song from the 1930’s said to have its roots in an old English folk song. It became a number one hit in the U.S., Canada and the UK when the British rock band The Animals recorded it in 1964.

The House of the Rising Sun

The Everly Brothers, Don and Phil, recorded their hit pop-rock song All I Have to Do Is Dream in 1958 with Chet Atkins on guitar. Glenn Campbell and Bobbie Gentry recorded a duet cover in 1969.

All I Have to Do is Dream

Instrumental medley of Calypso tunes to brighten a rainy, dreary day: Banana Boat Song, Matilda, Yellow Bird and Stir It Up.

Some Calypso Tunes

Two 1965 hit Beatles songs – Yesterday and Michelle – re-imagined in a slow jazz-classical style on my Baldwin baby grand piano.

David_rosen

Popular tracks