In 1943, Torme made his movie debut in Frank Sinatra's first film, the musical "Higher and Higher." He went on to sing and act in a number of films and television episodes throughout his career, even hosting his own television show in 1951-52. His appearance in the 1947 film musical "Good News" made him a teen idol for a few years. In the last years of his career he toured and sang with the wonderful George Shearing Quartet, often sitting in at drums, for a number or two in a set. To hear two such accomplished jazz artists was an evening not to be forgotten.
In that year he also formed the vocal quintet "Mel Torme and His Mel-Tones," modeled after Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers. The Mel-Tones, which included Les Baxter and Ginny O'Connor, had several hits fronting Artie Shaw's band and on their own, including Cole Porter's "What is This Thing Called Love?" The Mel-Tones were among the first jazz-influenced vocal groups, blazing a path later followed by The Hi-Los, The Four Freshmen, and The Manhattan Transfer.
In 1947, Torme went solo. His singing at New York's Copacabana led a local DJ, Fred Robbins, to give him the nickname "The Velvet Fog", thinking to honor his high tenor and smooth vocal style, but Torme detested the nickname. As a solo singer, he recorded a number of romantic hits for Decca (1945), and with the Artie Shaw Orchestra on the Musicraft label (1946-48). In 1949, he moved to Capitol Records, where his first record, "Careless Hands," became his only number one hit. His versions of "Again" and "Blue Moon" became signature tunes. His composition "California Suite," prompted by the Gordon Jenkins's "Manhattan Tower," became Capitol's first 12 inch LP. Around this time, he helped pioneer cool jazz.
From 1955 to 1957, Torme recorded 7 jazz vocal albums with Red Clyde's Bethlehem Records, all with groups led by Marty Paich, most notably "Mel Torme with the Marty Paich Dektette." These recordings proved a creative peak for Torme and for Paich, a leading figure in the West coast jazz of the time.
When rock & roll music (which Torme called "three chord manure") came on the scene in the 1950s, commercial success became elusive. During the next two decades, Torme often recorded mediocre arrangements of the pop tunes of the day, never staying long with any particular label. He was sometimes forced to make his living by singing in obscure clubs. He had two minor hits, his 1956 recording of "Mountain Greenery," and his 1962 R&B song "Comin' Home, Baby," arranged by Claus Ogerman. The latter recording led the jazz and gospel singer Ethel Waters to say that "Torme is the only white man who sings with the soul of a black man." It was later covered instrumentally by Quincy Jones and Kai Winding.
In 1963–64, Torme wrote songs and musical arrangements for the The Judy Garland Show, and made two guest appearances on the show itself. A few years later, after Garland's death, his time with her show became the subject of his first book, "The Other Side of the Rainbow." Although the book was praised, it led to an unsuccessful lawsuit by Garland's family.
Torme continued to play jazz drums as an adult, and befriended drummer Buddy Rich, who became the subject of his book "Traps-The Drum Wonder-The Life of Buddy Rich." Torme also owned and played a drumset that renowned drummer Gene Krupa had used for many years.
Although a jazz and popular musician, Torme also respected classical music, especially that of Frederick Delius and Percy Grainger.
The resurgence of vocal jazz in the 1970s resulted in another artistically fertile period for Torme, whose live performances during the 1960s and 70s fueled a growing reputation as a jazz singer. He found himself performing as often as 200 times a year around the globe. In 1976, he won an Edison Award (the Dutch equivalent of the Grammy) for best male singer, and a Downbeat award for best male jazz singer. For a number of years around this time, his September appearances at Michael's Pub, on the Upper East Side would unofficially open New York's fall cabaret season.
Tormé viewed his 1977 Carnegie Hall concert with George Shearing and Gerry Mulligan as a turning point. Shearing later said:
"It is impossible to imagine a more compatible musical partner… I humbly put forth that Mel and I had the best musical marriage in many a year. We literally breathed together during our countless performances. As Mel put it, we were two bodies of one musical mind."
Starting in 1982, Torme recorded a number of albums with Concord Records, including:
* Five albums with pianist George Shearing;
* His big band work with Rob McConnell and his Boss Brass orchestra (see Mel Torme, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass);
* A reunion with Marty Paich, resulting in a live recording in Tokyo (In Concert Tokyo) and a studio album (Reunion).
In the 1980s, he often performed with pianist John Colianni. In the last years of his career he toured and sang with the wonderful George Shearing Quartet, often sitting in at drums, for a number or two in a set. To hear two such accomplished jazz artists was an evening not to be forgotten.
Torme made 9 guest appearances as himself on the 1980s sitcom Night Court whose main character, Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson), was depicted as an unabashed Tormé fan. In the mid-90s, Torme gained a following among Generation Xers by appearing in a series of Mountain Dew commercials and on an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld, in which he dedicates a song to the character Kramer (played by Michael Richards). Torme also recorded a version of Nat King Cole's "Straighten up and Fly Right" with his son, alternative/adult contemporary/jazz singer Steve March Torme.
In February 1999, Tormé was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On August 8, 1996, a stroke abruptly ended his 65-year singing career; another stroke in 1999 ended his life. In his eulogistic essay, John Andrews wrote about Tormé: "Tormé's style shared much with that of his idol, Ella Fitzgerald. Both were firmly rooted in the foundation of the swing era, but both seemed able to incorporate bebop innovations to keep their performances sounding fresh and contemporary. Like Sinatra, they sang with perfect diction and brought out the emotional content of the lyrics through subtle alterations of phrasing and harmony. Ballads were characterized by paraphrasing of the original melody which always seemed tasteful, appropriate and respectful to the vision of the songwriter. Unlike Sinatra, both Fitzgerald and Tormé were likely to cut loose during a swinging up-tempo number with several scat choruses, using their voices without words to improvise a solo like a brass or reed instrument."
Tormé wrote more than 250 songs, a number of which became jazz standards. He also often wrote the arrangements for the songs he sang. He often collaborated with Bob Wells, and the best known Tormé-Wells song is "The Christmas Song", often referred to by its opening line "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." First recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946, it has been a holiday favorite ever since. Tormé said that he wrote the music to the song in only 40 minutes, and that it was not one of his personal favorites.
All This and Heaven Too
Mel Tormé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your lips are so heavenly
Stars in the sky are all free
And they shine for me
So does the moon in the blue
All this is mine and heaven too
You give me your arms
Sweet to my ear is the song ev'ry bluebird sings
Each rosebud kissed by the dew,
All this is mine and heaven too.
I own each summer day
Each mountain capped with snow
The sentimental tree, the dreamy streams that flow,
Ev'ry country lane and ev'ry street of stone
Are highways of adventure made for me alone.
You give me your love
And your love is a melody,
Deep in my heart I will carry the song with me
You bring a love so divine
All this is mine and heaven too
In Mel Tormé's song "All This and Heaven Too," the lyrics describe the sensation of being in a blissful state where everything feels perfect. The first verse talks about the lips of the person the singer loves, how they are so heavenly that they are like stars in the sky shining only for them. The second verse describes the feeling of being embraced by those arms, how they are like angel wings, and how every bluebird song sounds sweet to the ears. The lyrics also mention how every rosebud kissed by the dew, every country lane, every street of stone, every mountain capped with snow, and every stream that flows is like a highway of adventure that is made for the singer alone.
The chorus of the song talks about the love the person has for their partner and how it is like a melody that they will carry with them forever. The love they share is so divine that it feels like they have everything they could ever want in life, including all of the natural beauty around them. The lyrics suggest that when someone is in love and has found their soulmate, they have everything they need to be happy and fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
You give me your lips
You give me your kisses
And your lips are so heavenly
Your kisses make me feel like I'm in heaven
Stars in the sky are all free
The stars sparkle and shine freely for all to enjoy
And they shine for me
The stars make me feel special
So does the moon in the blue
The moon looks beautiful against the blue night sky
All this is mine and heaven too
All of these beautiful things make me feel like I'm in heaven
You give me your arms
You embrace me with your loving arms
And your arms are like angel wings,
Your arms make me feel like I'm being held by an angel
Sweet to my ear is the song ev'ry bluebird sings
The songs of the bluebirds bring me joy
Each rosebud kissed by the dew,
The dew makes each rose look beautiful
All this is mine and heaven too.
All these beautiful things are mine to enjoy
I own each summer day
Each day of summer belongs to me
Each mountain capped with snow
The snow-capped mountains are mine to admire
The sentimental tree, the dreamy streams that flow,
The trees and streams make me feel sentimental and dreamy
Ev'ry country lane and ev'ry street of stone
Every country and urban road is a path for me to wander and explore
Are highways of adventure made for me alone.
All these paths are for me to explore and enjoy
You give me your love
You share your love with me
And your love is a melody,
Your love is a beautiful tune
Deep in my heart I will carry the song with me
I will always treasure your love in my heart
You bring a love so divine
Your love feels heavenly
All this is mine and heaven too
All these amazing things and your love make me feel like I'm in paradise
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: EDGAR EDDIE DELANGE, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind