Artist: Fred Astaire
Author: Cole Porter
Label: Victor
Year: 1932
In Broadway musical The Gay Divorce with dance partner Claire Luce and first cut with Leo Reisman's Orchestra. Title changed in The Gay Divorcee under censors' pressure. They couldn't imagine a divorce could be gay. In the 1934 film version, Fred sang it again coupled with Ginger Rogers. Unconventional tune structure inspired by a trip through Morocco (just as in What Is This Thing Called Love). There's an oriental touch to the melody (see also: Begin The Beguine).
Covers:
Comedian Harmonists [also in German (as Tag und Nacht) and French (Tout le jour, toute la nuit)]
Damia [as Tout le jour, toute la nuit in French version of same film]
Frank Sinatra [his first solo success, shortly after coming out of his contract with Tommy Dorsey (with a little help from the mob?); also in film Reveille With Beverly, triggering unseen excitement among his fast growing female fan crowd]
Cary Grant & Alexis Smith [in film Night And Day]
Mano Negra [first vocal lines of their big hit King Kong Five]
Tony Bennett [and in '21 in duet with Lady Gaga]
Patrick Bruel [with Kahimi Kari as Tout le jour, toute la nuit]
Kevin Kline & John Barrowman [in film De-Lovely]
Cole Porter requested Fred Astaire would cut it first. Fred's limited singing range was no excuse. It's written for poor voices. Anyone can sing it.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)