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.
Seventeen
Mel Tormé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cool and solid seventeen
Young enough to dance and sing
Old enough to get that swing
Past sixteen, done been kissed
Graduated and got that twist
Kind of love I can't resist
Now, sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans
Dirty shoes, by all means
Patch of blonde, peroxide hair
Jukebox baby ain't no square
Seventeen, hot rod queen
Cutest girl you've ever seen
Tell the world I'm really keen
On my hep-cat doll of seventeen
The song Seventeen by Mel Tormé is an ode to the young and carefree days of being a teenager. The first verse starts off with the line "Seventeen, seventeen", emphasising the age of the singer. The next line celebrates their youth and vibrancy by describing them as "cool and solid seventeen". The following lines describe the appeal of the age - they are young enough to dance and sing, yet old enough to have the confidence to pull off that swing. Essentially, it is a time of life where one still retains a childlike joy and energy, but has also started to mature into adulthood.
In the second verse, the song goes on to describe the specific style and look of the singer - a "hot rod queen" with blue jeans, dirty shoes, and peroxide hair. This is a nod to the fashion and culture of the era, which was centred around rock 'n' roll, hot rods, and rebellion. Despite the rough exterior, the singer is no square and is in fact quite attractive, as they have "got that twist" that is irresistible to others. The chorus repeats the sentiment of the first verse, declaring the singer's love for this "hep-cat doll of seventeen".
Overall, Seventeen is a fun and nostalgic song that captures the essence of youth and the rebellious spirit of the time. It paints a vivid picture of what it was like to be a teenager in the 1950s, with its distinctive fashion, music, and culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Seventeen, seventeen
The singer is talking about the age of seventeen.
Cool and solid seventeen
The singer thinks that seventeen is a cool age.
Young enough to dance and sing
At seventeen, one is still young enough to enjoy dancing and singing.
Old enough to get that swing
At seventeen, one is old enough to understand and enjoy swing music.
Past sixteen, done been kissed
The artist has already passed the age of sixteen and has already experienced kissing.
Graduated and got that twist
The singer has graduated and mastered the dance move 'the twist.'
Kind of love I can't resist
The singer is in love with someone they met at age seventeen and can't resist their charm.
At seventeen
Re-emphasis on the age being discussed.
Now, sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans
The artist is painting a picture of someone they find attractive, wearing a sloppy shirt and old blue jeans.
Dirty shoes, by all means
The person's shoes are also dirty, but that doesn't detract from their attractiveness.
Patch of blonde, peroxide hair
The person has a patch of blond peroxide-dyed hair.
Jukebox baby ain't no square
The person enjoys dancing to jukebox music and is not a boring person.
Seventeen, hot rod queen
The singer is now describing a girl at age seventeen who loves hot rods and is pretty.
Cutest girl you've ever seen
The singer thinks that she is the cutest girl they have ever seen.
Tell the world I'm really keen
The singer wants to tell the world that they are really interested in this girl.
On my hep-cat doll of seventeen
The artist describes the girl as being cool and fashionable, using slang 'hep-cat' and 'doll.'
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY F. CHAPIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind