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.
Anything Goes
Mel Tormé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we've ofter rewound the clock
Since the puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
'stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Plymouth rock would land on them.
Was looked on as something shocking
But now God knows
Anything goes
Good authors to
Who once knew better words
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
If driving fast cars you like
If low bars you like
If old hymns you like
If bare limbs you like
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like
Why nobody will oppose
When every night
The set thats smart
Is intruding on nudist parties
In studios
Anything goes
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Than I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockefeller still can hoard
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And days night today
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once owned several chateaux
When folks
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Lack baby clo'es
Anything goes
When Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Than Anna shows
Anything goes
When you hear that
Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up
On her toes
Anything goes
Just think of those shocks you've got
And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got
From those news you've got
And those pains you've got
(if any brains you've got)
From those little radios
So Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
The lyrics of Mel Tormé's song "Anything Goes" satirize the moral looseness of the 1930s by comparing that era with the stringent Puritanism of the Pilgrim Fathers. In the first paragraph, the lyrics point out how the New World colonizers would be shocked to see how the world has progressed. The line "Plymouth Rock would land on them" is a pun meaning that the American colonizers would be accused of creating a shock and social uproar just as they blamed the originators of everything new for stirring up controversy.
In the second paragraph, the lyrics suggest that anything can be accepted or disregarded in this era. The form of writing had changed, and the lyrics point out how the current authors use only four-letter words in their writing. The tone is sarcastic when it declares, "Now only use four-letter words writing prose, Anything goes."
The third paragraph gives an insight to the 1930s Hollywood lifestyle by depicting how nudity was becoming a norm in Hollywood Studio parties. The lyrics satirize the social behaviors of the era, suggesting that "Anything Goes" in Hollywood. The satirical tone carries over to the fourth paragraph, wherein the lyrics suggest that the world has gone topsy-turvy.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed,
The world is constantly evolving.
And we've ofter rewound the clock
We often try to go back in time.
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans were surprised.
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they first arrived in Plymouth.
If today any shock they might try to stem
If anyone tries to stop a shock today.
'stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of arriving in Plymouth.
Plymouth rock would land on them.
They would be surprised instead.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the past, glimpses of stocking were seen as scandalous.
Was looked on as something shocking
People were very shocked by this sight.
But now God knows
Nowadays, who knows what is shocking or not.
Anything goes
It seems like anything is acceptable now.
Good authors to
Good writers who used to.
Who once knew better words
Who had a more extensive vocabulary.
Now only use four letter words
Now only use swear words.
Writing prose
In order to express themselves.
Anything goes
Anything is allowed when it comes to writing.
If driving fast cars you like
If driving fast cars is your thing.
If low bars you like
If you prefer dive bars.
If old hymns you like
If you prefer old religious songs.
If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing people show skin.
If Mae West you like
If you appreciate Mae West's style.
Or me undressed you like
If you want to see me naked.
Why nobody will oppose
No one will object to your preferences.
When every night
Each night.
The set that's smart
The highest social class.
Is intruding on nudist parties
Is participating in nudist events.
In studios
In film and television productions.
Anything goes
Nothing is too scandalous anymore.
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Mrs. Ned McClean is quite something!
Can get Russian reds to yes her
She can convince Russians to agree with her.
Than I suppose
Then I guess.
Anything goes
Nothing is impossible anymore.
When Rockefeller still can hoard
When Rockefeller can still hoard his riches.
Enough money to let Max Gordon
So much money that he can finance Max Gordon's productions.
Produce his shows
Produce the performances he wants to see.
Anything goes
Everything is possible financially.
The world has gone mad today
The world seems insane right now.
And good's bad today
Even what was once considered good is now bad.
And black's white today
People are confused about what's right and what's wrong.
And days night today
It's hard to make sense of things right now.
And that gent today
And that gentleman today.
You gave a cent today
To whom you gave money today.
Once owned several chateaux
Once owned many castles in Europe.
When folks
When people.
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who are still able to ride in jitneys (a type of old vehicle).
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover the Vanderbilts and Whitneys (wealthy socialites).
Lack baby clo'es
Don't have enough baby clothes.
Anything goes
Anything is allowed, even when it comes to fashion.
When Sam Goldwyn
When Sam Goldwyn (Hollywood producer).
Can with great conviction
Can very persuasively.
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Anna Sten how to speak properly.
Than Anna shows
And Anna demonstrates.
Anything goes
Anything is possible when it comes to language.
When you hear that
When you hear about the fact that.
Lady Mendl standing up
Lady Mendl (famous interior decorator) getting up.
Now turns a handspring landing up
Now doing an acrobatic move, landing on her feet.
On her toes
On her tiptoes.
Anything goes
People can express themselves however they want now.
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think about all the surprising things you've experienced.
And those knocks you've got
And all the challenges you've faced.
And those blues you've got
And all the sadness you've felt.
From those news you've got
From all the news you've received.
And those pains you've got
And all the physical pains you're feeling.
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any brains at all)
From those little radios
From all the information you get from the radio.
So Mrs. R.
So Mrs. R. (most likely referring to a wealthy socialite).
With all her trimmin's
With all her accessories and jewelry.
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed made by the Simmon's company.
Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin Roosevelt (US president at the time) is aware of everything.
Anything goes
Anything is possible, even in terms of advertising.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind