Cry Me A River-Nancy Harms

Piece Description

Arthur Hamilton is one of those American songwriters whose successful works are more noteworthy by their quality than their quantity. When actor-producer Jack Webb was putting his 1955 film “Pete Kelly’s Blues” together, he turned to Hamilton for some original songs to give to co-stars Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald to sing. Two songs, “Sing A Rainbow” and “He Needs Me”, became successful, and stayed in Peggy Lee’s repertoire for many years. A third song, was cut from the film, however…. One of those inexplicable Hollywood decisions, as Arthur Hamilton’s anthem of sweet revenge, the glorious “Cry Me A River”, was the most enduring song Hamilton would ever write. It would take Julie London’s hit record to make the world realize this fact, but once they heard it, they would never forget.  A wildly careening train-ride of an arrangement by Leon Russell and sung by Joe Cocker in 1970 would also make for a big hit record, and the song goes on & on.  Here’s Minnesota’s Voice Nancy Harms, who’s made it quite a specialty.