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1 – I DISCOVERED YOU
Vocal: John Meyer

I wrote this for a revue at Camp Tamiment in the Poconos. Each composing team was supposed to cover some aspect of the movies. I chose to do a Fred and Ginger pastiche, using the Gershwin’s They All Laughed as a model. The music is by Clay Boland Jr., son of the man who wrote Gypsy in My Soul. I was twenty-two.

2 – (I’D LIKE TO) HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING
Vocal: Judy Garland

I met Judy Garland in 1969.  This was the song I had for her. She led me a merry chase (detailed in my memoir, Heartbreaker). This recording –an aircheck- is our finest achievement. Note the false start and ballsy recovery. This is the first time this cut has been released. A revealing insight into Judy’s fearlessness as a performer.

3 – IT’S ALL FOR YOU
Vocal: Margaret Whiting

I wrote material for Margaret’s act in the 1970’s, constructing medleys of her recording hits. She introduced me to many of my songwriting idols, including Johnny Mercer. She’s generously said I improved her acting of lyrics. This rendition, however, is pure feeling.

4 – YOU BRING OUT THE BEAST IN ME, #1
Vocal John Meyer & Paul Bartel

From the film, Not for Publication. The boy and the girl, disguised as animals, infiltrate a sex club, The Bestiary,. When thrown onstage, they have to perform a number. Before the film’s release, director Paul Bartel and I did our own rendition, to Larry Hochman’s orchestration. We sent the disc as a Christmas card.

5 – YOU BRING OUT THE BEAST IN ME, #2
Vocal: John Gilbert

Never imagined the tune could swing. This Canadian vocalist proved me wrong with his arrangement.  Kind of a Chet Baker quality, don’t you think?

6 – WISH ME LUCK
Vocal: Janis Siegel

This song is not from any show, it’s one of the few I wrote as a pop piece. Janis is a founding member of The Manhattan Transfer vocal group, as is arranger/pianist Yaron Gershovsky.

7 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Vocal: Betty Rhodes

This idea was sparked by the lyrics Roger Edens added to Judy Garland’s renditions of San Francisco and Chicago. I thought it’d be a hoot to apply the same treatment to Happy Birthday. This is another aircheck. Betty had a long run in the Jacques Brel show at the Village Gate.

8 – WAIT AND SEE
Vocal: John Meyer

Claude Nougaro’s French lyric to this Portuguese song (by Chico Buarque) contains such striking images that I had to do an English translation. This lyric gives new meaning to the word obsession. The guitarist is Brazilian virtuoso Romero Lobambo.

9 – AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
Vocal: Anita Ellis

With her honeyed, viola-hued voice, Anita Ellis dubbed for Rita Hayworth in the 1940’s. I wooed her for my show, When do the Words Come True? –a stage version of Heartbreaker. She declined, but made this demo recording.

10 – FIRST THING ABOUT YOU
Vocal: John Meyer

I had Peggy Lee and Fever in mind when I wrote this, early in my writing days. Tex Arnold provides the jazz-tinged arrangement.

11 – SURVIVOR
Vocal: Rita Gardner

From my comic thriller Zazou, a play about a French music-hall lady who commits murder. With her back to the wall, Zazou vows to come out on top. Rita originated the role of Luisa in The Fantasticks, and is one of the theater’s finest singing actresses.

12 – GOIN’ FOR THE CHEESE, LOUISE
Vocal: Five By Design

This dazzling group I found by searching on the Internet. Based in Minneapolis, they follow in the tradition of The Four Freshmen and The Hi-Lo’s.