Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Summer Knows {Summer of
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And unashamed, she sheds her clothes
The summer smooths the restless sky
And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie
The summer knows, the summer's wise
She sees the doubts within your eyes
And so she takes her summer time
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Lets you see the wonder of her arm?
And if you've learned your lesson well
There's little more for her to tell
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
The summer knows, the summer's wise
She sees the doubts within your eyes
And so she takes her summer time
Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Lets you see the wonder of her arms?
And if you've learned your lesson well
There's little more for her to tell
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
The James Last song "Summer Knows" opens with a peaceful and tranquil guitar melody that is later accompanied by the orchestral section. The lyrics are simple yet profound, describing the wisdom and beauty that the season of summer holds. The chorus, "The summer knows, the summer's wise, she sees the doubts within your eyes" emphasizes how summer brings clarity to our thoughts and emotions, showing us what we truly want and need.
Summer is personified as a sensual and unashamed force in this song. The lyrics "And unashamed, she sheds her clothes" convey the carefree nature of summer, as it brings about liberation from the cold and dreary winters. The chorus seems to suggest that summer has the power to heal us, to remove our doubts and fears, and impart wisdom. The verses focus on the way that summer transforms the world around us, like "smoothing the restless sky" and "warming the sand on which you lie", bringing a sense of comfort and peace to our surroundings.
The final verse hints at the inevitability of change and the passing of time, as the season of summer must inevitably come to an end. "One last caress, it's time to dress for fall" reminds us to cherish those fleeting moments of joy and beauty in life, as they will soon come to an end. Overall, "Summer Knows" is a song that speaks to the soul and reminds us of the incredible power of nature to bring us peace and wisdom.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer smiles, the summer knows
The season of summer is full of cheer and understands the meaning behind everything.
And unashamed, she sheds her clothes
The warmth and vibrancy of summer is unapologetic and confidently strips away everything to showcase its true nature.
The summer smooths the restless sky
The calmness of summer eases the turbulence of the skies, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie
Summer affectionately heats up the sand that you lounge upon, providing comfort and relaxation.
The summer knows, the summer's wise
Summer is intelligent and intuitive, understanding the emotions and thoughts of those experiencing it.
She sees the doubts within your eyes
Summer can perceive the hesitations and uncertainties that are visible in your eyes.
And so she takes her summer time
Summer utilizes its wise perspective and takes the time it has to offer its benefits.
Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger
Summer has enough influence to extend the days, holding back the moon and prolonging the sun.
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Summer has the power to alter and control the world, bending it to its will.
Lets you see the wonder of her arms?
Summer offers its beauty for us to experience and appreciate.
And if you've learned your lesson well
If you've taken the time to learn the ways of summer, its teachings will stick with you.
There's little more for her to tell
Once you've learned what summer has to offer, there is not much else to be taught.
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
Summer gives us one more intimate moment before departing, signaling the arrival of autumn.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michel Jean Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
confiando em deus
Como sempre impecável este James Last. Orlando Stabe
Terence Heslop
The LP an absolute Stunner.James at his immaculate best.THeslop. UK.
lj036226
For eternity ...