Take Two

Nancy With The Laughing Face

I have to thank pianist Gareth Williams for reminding us of the origins of this song. It is mostly associated with Frank Sinatra singing it about his first wife Nancy Barbato (or is it?). They met in 1934 at a summer resort in Long Branch, New Jersey, when she was 17 and Frank was 19 and they remained married until 1951. They had three children - Nancy (born in 1940), Frank Jr and Tina. Nancy Barbato passed away in 2018 at the age of 101. Here is a video of Frank singing the song in 1971.

If I don't see her each day, I miss her
Gee, what a thrill each time I kiss her
Believe me, I've got a case
On Nancy with the laughin' face

Originally recorded by Sinatra in 1944, Wikipedia says of the song: "Many, perhaps most, people - including, for a time, Sinatra himself - wrongly assume or assumed the song was composed specifically for Sinatra's wife or daughter, each named Nancy; the adjustment in name indeed was inspired by Sinatra's daughter." - but the song was actually written in1942 by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Phil Silvers and was originally called "Bessie (With The Laughing Face)", as Gareth points out, we mainly remember Phil Silvers as the actor who played 'Sergeant Bilko' in the 1950s TV series.

For our Take Two feature, we have tried to take two different videos of the song that you might have not come across before.

Our first jazz take on the song, which has now pretty much become a jazz standard, is from a 1976 television show. The picture and the sound are not perfect, but there is some fine playing here from trombonist Bill Watrous and pianist Chick Corea with Ron Carter at the double bass and Billy Cobham, drums.

Returning to the story in Wikipedia, apparently former broadcast executive and music historian Rick Busciglio tells this version:

"In 1979, I was working with songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen on a TV special with Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope that was never produced. Jimmy told me that one day (circa 1942), he and his lyricist Johnny Burke were working at 20th Century-Fox composing for a film. While Burke was out of their writer's bungalow, Phil Silvers, the comedian, a friend to both, entered and suggested to Jimmy that they write a song for Johnny's wife, Bessie, who was soon to celebrate a birthday. Silvers provided the lyrics, later revised by Van Heusen and Burke. At the party they sang "Bessie ... with the laughing face." It was such a hit that they used it at other female birthday events. When they sang it as "Nancy ... with the laughing face" at little Nancy Sinatra's birthday party, Frank broke down and cried, thinking it had been written especially for his daughter; the trio wisely didn't correct him. Jimmy assigned his royalties to Nancy after Frank recorded it for Columbia in 1944. "

Whatever the back story, Nancy With The Laughing Face remains a lovely song. Our second take introduces saxophonist Noah Preminger, here with pianist Frank Kimbrough. The sound reflects that it was recorded in a church, but we share it here for Noah's playing.

And now I have a problem. Scrolling through versions of the song I came across this video. I had intended to share it as our second take for Marcus Lee's vocal presentation, his timing and his voice, but right at the end of the video a girl staggers on to the stage clutching her stomach, presumably in labour. It comes as a shock, totally out of the blue. I can find out very little about the band (?Exdee) who are performing at a club named 'Raffles Jazz'. In links to other videos Exdee do not seem to be a jazz band. To share it, or not to share it? If you want to take a chance, the video is here, but be prepared for the ending. Perhaps someone can tell us more about the band?

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