Somebody Loves Me

Music, George Gershwin (1898–1937); words Ballard MacDonald (1882–1935) and Buddy DeSilva (1895–1950)

George Gershwin, of course, is a master of the 20^th century canon. I read a bio of him that suggested he had a devastatingly beautiful piece he never performed, except to women in his apartment. He would play it, setting up each woman to ask the name of the song.   He would reply with their name, whatever that was––a most canny seduction ploy.

Gershwin composed “Rhapsody In Blue”, which is the first record I ever bought. It was also the first record bought by my ex and longtime collaborator, Antonia. We were both twelve at the time, and it’s possible we bought it the same year. Kirby Pines, bassman for the Unholy Modal Rounders (my 1975/77 band) said his aunt was present at the world premiere of “Rhapsody In Blue”. Gershwin was my first Great American Songbook hero. He died of a brain tumor at the age of 38.

Ballard MacDonald, besides having one of the coolest names ever, started getting success with his lyrics around 1910, hooking up with Gershwin in the ‘20s. Buddy DiSilva wrote or co-wrote many pop songs, and along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs founded Capitol Records. DiSilva, working along with Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, produced a multitude of hits, like “Varsity Drag”, “Button Up Your Overcoat”, and “The Best Things In Life Are Free”. DiSilva also co-wrote “Look For The Silver Lining”, with Jerome Kern.  

Mark Bingham and I had recorded this song years ago, before each of us had heard the introduction, which I initially heard when Steve Espanola played me a 78 recording of it from the ‘20s. Like many intros of the early 20^th century, it transforms the song.