This Year's Kisses
"This Year's Kisses" is a popular song written in 1936 by Irving Berlin for the musical film On the Avenue (1937) and introduced by Alice Faye.Bergreen, Laurence, As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, Da Capo Press, New York, 1996. {{ISBN|0306806754}} Popular recordings in 1937 were by Benny Goodman, Hal Kemp, Shep Fields and by Teddy Wilson with Billie Holiday.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 |date=1986 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-083-0 |page=595}}
Billie Holiday recording
Billie Holiday recorded the song on January 25, 1937, accompanied by Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra (Brunswick 7824), an historic session that marked her first collaboration with tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Benny Goodman (clarinet) also performed on the recording, along with several members of the Count Basie Orchestra, including Buck Clayton on trumpet, Freddie Green on guitar, Walter Page on double bass, and Jo Jones on drums.{{Cite web|url=http://www.billieholidaysongs.com/recording-sessions/1937-sessions/|title=1937 sessions |website=Billieholidaysongs.com|access-date=May 31, 2021}} Jazz critic Gary Giddins, writes that the song "inaugurated the uncanny bond between Billie and Lester Young, whose tenor saxophone--borrowed from Hammond's favorite orchestra, the Basie band--invariably complements, echoes, spurs, and inspires her in one of the most gratifying, unusual, and far too brief musical collaborations of the past century."Giddins, Gary, Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century, Oxford University Press, Oxford; New York, 2004. {{ISBN|0195304497}}
Other recorded versions
- Benny Goodman & His Orchestra (vocal by Margaret McCrae) recorded the song on December 30, 1936 (Victor 25505).{{Cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/vic25500.html|title=VICTOR 78rpm numerical listing discography: 25500 - 26000|website=78discography.com|access-date=May 31, 2021}}
- Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra recorded the song on December 28, 1936 for Bluebird Records (no. 6757).{{cite web |title=The Online Discographical Project |url=http://78discography.com/BB6500.htm |website=78discography.com |access-date=March 30, 2020}}
- Hal Kemp & His Orchestra (1937)
- Hildegarde w/ Carroll Gibbons and His Boy Friends (1937)
- Lester Young recorded the song again on January 12, 1956, with several musicians from the original 1937 Holiday session, including Teddy Wilson, Freddie Green and Jo Jones, for the album The Jazz Giants '56 on Verve Records.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-jazz-giants-56-mw0000192693|title=The Jazz Giants '56 - Lester Young | Songs, Reviews, Credits|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
- June Christy - The Misty Miss Christy (1956){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-misty-miss-christy-mw0000075795|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=April 16, 2024}}
- Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! (1961){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/clap-hands-here-comes-charlie%21-mw0000200769|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=April 17, 2024}}
- Nina Simone - Let It All Out (1966){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/let-it-all-out-mw0000319564|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=April 15, 2024}}