Your Songs
Your Songs | ||||
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![]() Cover to the Compact Disc edition of the album | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 25, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008–June 2009 | |||
Studio | The Music Shed, New Orleans; Capitol Studios, Hollywood | |||
Genre | Jazz, vocal jazz, pop, rock | |||
Length | 49:42 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Clive Davis (executive,) Tracey Freeman, Harry Connick Jr. | |||
Harry Connick Jr. chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Vinyl LP Album Cover | ||||
Singles from Your Songs | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Billboard | (favorable)[2] |
Daily Music Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Advocate | (favorable)[4] |
Your Songs is a studio album by American jazz singer Harry Connick Jr. that was released by Columbia. It was released first in the United States on a limited edition double vinyl LP on August 25, 2009,[5] then on CD on September 22.[6]
Background
Most of the songs were chosen by record producer Clive Davis, who aimed towards classic, familiar songs, as contemporary as possible. Davis had expressed an interest in working with Connick. Connick had an idea of bringing in a famous arranger for the album, but Davis suggested Connick do the arrangements himself.
The song "Bésame Mucho" was suggested by Connick's father, Harry Connick Sr., a former district attorney for the Parish of Orleans. They sang a duet on the album New Orleans...My Home Town (1998). Branford and Wynton Marsalis contribute to the album. Both are multiple Grammy winners. Both are childhood friends of Connick. Trumpeter Wayne Bergeron and guitarist Bryan Sutton also play on the album.
Connick said in a radio interview that "Smile" was dedicated to a girl named Nicola. She and her mother attended one of Connick's shows in Paris, France, several years before. Nicola was seven at the time, and Connick took her on a tour of Paris. They stood under the Eiffel Tower. Although she was blind, she knew where she was and had a smile on her face.[7]
Promotion
On August 4, 2009, Connick had an album listening party in New York City, hosted by Sony Music chief creative executive Clive Davis. Amongst those in attendance were Alan Cumming, Bernadette Peters, Brian Williams, Kelli O'Hara, Rachael Ray, Mario Cantone, Rosie Perez, and David Hyde Pierce.[8][9]
A number of public listening events were held, from August 24–30, 2009. Connick did not attend the exclusive vinyl listening events, which were held in cities such as Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York, Oakland, California, New Orleans, West Babylon, New York, and Los Angeles.[10]
He made a number of TV appearances in September and October 2009. In September he appeared on Oprah on the 25th, then on Today (28th), The View (29th), and Late Show with David Letterman and Imus in the Morning on September 30. In October, he was a guest on the Today on the 1st, Rachael Ray in the week of October 5, and he set out to a week-long promotional tour in Australia from October 2 through to 9th, which included a visit to Hey Hey It's Saturday, and an appearance as a guest judge on Australian Idol on October 11, 2009.[11]
Release
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Carla_Bruni-Sarkozy_%283%29.jpg/122px-Carla_Bruni-Sarkozy_%283%29.jpg)
The album was released first in the United States on a limited edition double vinyl LP on August 25, 2009.[5] The CD album was released on September 22.[6]
The first single of the album was Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(They Long to Be) Close to You", and it was released exclusively on Amazon.com on August 25, 2009.[12][13]
After the U.S. release, Connick was in Paris, France in September 2009, to record a song with French First Lady Carla Bruni. She and Connick's wife, Jill Goodacre, both former supermodels, are long time friends. The duet is a French and Italian version of "And I love her", written by Lennon–McCartney.[14] The duet is released as a bonus track on European editions of Your Songs.
As of 2013, the album has sold 396,000 copies in United States.[15]
Tour
A worldwide concert tour began in January 2010.[16]
Tour dates
Asia (2010)
- May 16 – Abu Dhabi Hall – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Europe (2010)
- May 18 – Istanbul Kongre Merkezi – Istanbul, Turkey
- May 21 – Mawazine Festival – Rabat, Morocco
North America (2010)
- June 9 – The View, New York
- June 10 – Late Show with David Letterman, New York
- June 11 – Fox Theatre, St. Louis
- June 12 – PNC Pavilion, Cincinnati
- June 13 – Charlottesville Pavilion, Charlottesville, Virginia
- June 15 – The Filene Center at Wolf Trap Vienna, Virginia
- June 16 – Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
- June 18 – Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Greenville, South Carolina
- June 19 – Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta
- June 21 – Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, Indiana
- June 22–23 – Chicago Theatre, Chicago
- June 25 – Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Aspen, Colorado
- June 27 – Toronto Jazz Festival – Canon Theatre, Toronto
Asia (2010)
- July 2 – USA Pavilion, National Day Gala Performance, Shanghai, China
North America (2010)
- July 15–31 Neil Simon Theatre, New York
- August 13–14 – Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California
- September 17 – Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort Reno, Nevada
- September 18 – The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, California
- September 19 – Monterey Jazz Festival – Jimmy Lyons Stage, Monterey, California
- September 21 – Wente Vineyards, Livermore, California
- September 22 – Britt Pavilion, Jacksonville, Oregon
- September 24 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC
- September 25 – Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, Washington
- September 26 – Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, Washington
- September 28 – Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon
- September 29 – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey
- September 30 – The Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|- North America (2011)
- March 25 – WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma
- March 26 – Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, Texas
- March 28 – River Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- March 29 – Jones Hall, Houston
- April 1 – IP Casino Resort & Spa, Biloxi, Mississippi
- April 2 – IP Casino Resort & Spa, Biloxi, Mississippi
- April 4 – Mahalia Jackson Theater, New Orleans
- April 7 – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, Florida
- April 8 – Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida
- April 9 – Mizner Park Amphitheater at Downtown Boca, Boca Raton, Florida
- April 10 – Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando, Florida
- April 11 – Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples, Florida
- April 20 – Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, New Jersey
- April 21 – Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, New Jersey
- April 22 – MGM Grand Theater at MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut
- 04/26/2011 – 04/30/2011 The Colonial Theatre, Boston[16]
Broadway
He held a series of concerts, called Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway, at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway, from July 15 to July 31, 2010.[19] The concerts on July 30 and 31 were filmed live,[20] and aired on PBS on March 2, 2011 for a "Great Performances" special on the concerts.[21] These were also released on video, CD/DVD and album in March 2011, as Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway.[22]
Harry Connick Jr. won an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Music Direction for Harry Connick Jr. In Concert on Broadway.[23]
The In Concert on Broadway album is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "All the Way (featuring Branford Marsalis)" | Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn | 3:33 |
2. | "Just the Way You Are" | Billy Joel | 3:48 |
3. | "Can't Help Falling in Love With You (featuring Wynton Marsalis)" | George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore | 3:15 |
4. | "And I Love Her" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 3:12 |
5. | "(They Long to Be) Close to You (featuring Leroy Jones)" | Burt Bacharach, Hal David | 3:16 |
6. | "Bésame Mucho" | Consuelo Velázquez | 4:11 |
7. | "The Way You Look Tonight" | Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields | 3:45 |
8. | "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | Ewan MacColl | 3:23 |
9. | "Your Song" | Elton John, Bernie Taupin | 3:35 |
10. | "Some Enchanted Evening" | Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers | 4:07 |
11. | "And I Love You So" | Don McLean | 3:30 |
12. | "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" | Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | 3:52 |
13. | "Smile" | Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons | 3:11 |
14. | "Mona Lisa" | Jay Livingston, Ray Evans | 3:08 |
Barnes & Noble Exclusive Version
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "Killing Me Softly" | Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel | 03:24 |
iTunes
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "All the Way music video" | Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn |
European Editions
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "And I Love Her (featuring Carla Bruni)" | Lennon–McCartney |
Japan Edition
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "Killing Me Softly" | Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel | 03:24 |
16. | "Who's Sorry Now" | Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby | |
17. | "Answer Me My Love" | Gerhard Winkler, Fred Rauch, Carl Sigman |
Deluxe Limited Edition CD/DVD package
- US only. Available through hconnickjr.com.
- DVD includes behind the scenes footage, and the "(They Long To Be) Close To You" music video
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "Who's Sorry Now" | Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby | |
16. | "Answer Me My Love" | Gerhard Winkler, Fred Rauch, Carl Sigman |
Personnel
- Harry Connick Jr. – vocals, piano
- Branford Marsalis – saxophone (track #1)
- Wynton Marsalis – trumpet (track #3)
- Leroy Jones – trumpet (track #5)
- Bryan Sutton – guitar[26][27]
- Roger Ingram – trumpet[28]
- Wayne Bergeron – trumpet
- John Fumo – trumpet
- Warren Lunning – trumpet[13]
Release history
Country | Date | Label | Format |
---|---|---|---|
United States | August 25, 2009 | Columbia | LP |
September 22, 2009 | CD, digital download | ||
Canada | September 22, 2009 | Sony | |
Australia[29] | September 25, 2009 | ||
United Kingdom | October 26, 2009 | Columbia | |
Denmark[30] | October 26, 2009 | Sony | |
France | October 26, 2009 | Columbia, Sony | |
Norway[31] | October 26, 2009 | Sony | |
Finland[32] | October 28, 2009 | ||
Netherlands[33] | October 28, 2009 | ||
Germany | October 30, 2009 | ||
Japan[34] | November 11, 2009 | Sony Music Japan | CD |
Chart positions
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart[35] | 9 |
Belgian Wallonia Chart[36] | 71 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[37] | 11 |
French Albums Chart [38] | 51 |
Irish Albums Chart [38] | 40 |
New Zealand Top Albums [38] | 10 |
UK Albums Chart[38] | 28 |
US Billboard 200[39] | 8 |
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[40] | 1 |
Awards and nominations
Your Songs was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the category Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. This was announced on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. The 52nd Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles.[41] The award went to Michael Bublé for his Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.
References
- ^ Collar, Matt. Your Songs at AllMusic
- ^ "Billboard CD reviews: Jay-Z, Harry Connick, Pearl Jam". Billboard. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
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ignored (help) - ^ Salvo, Natalie. Your Songs Album Review.
- ^ CD reviews for Oct. 2, 2009, The Advocate, October 2, 2009
- ^ a b Harry Connick Jr. – Your Songs, previewnewmusic.com
- ^ a b On the Radar: Harry Connick Jr., directcurrentmusic.com, July 27, 2009
- ^ Radio interview: Harry Connick Jr. Album tracks played (mp3 & download) at JAZZ.FM91
- ^ Harry Connick Jr. "Your Songs" Listening Event With Clive Davis, Getty Images, August 4, 2009
- ^ Harry Connick Jr. "Your Songs" Listening Event With Clive Davis, Wireimage, August 4, 2009
- ^ Music >> All Shows for Harry Connick Jr., Harry Connick Jr.'s Official MySpace site, August 20, 2009
- ^ Idol: Harry Connick Jr., tvtonight.com, September 25, 2009
- ^ (They Long To Be) Close To You: Harry Connick Jr.: MP3 Downloads, Amazon.com
- ^ a b Harry Connick Jr. collaborated with Clive Davis on forthcoming album of standards, The Times Picayune, July 30, 2009
- ^ Le duo de Carla et Harry Connick Jr (French), parismatch.com, September 26, 2009
- ^ "Upcoming Releases 2013". Hits Daily Double. January 25, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Tour". The Official Harry Connick Jr. Site. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ Harry Connick Jr to tour NZ, stuff.co.nz, January 21, 2010
- ^ Harry Connick Jr Touring in March, undercover.com.au, January 21, 2010
- ^ [1], Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Harry Connick Jr. In Concert on Broadway Ends Limited Run July 31, Playbill.com, July 31, 2010
- ^ PBS 'Great Performances' to feature Harry Connick Jr., The Times-Picayune, December 3, 2010
- ^ Harry Connick Jr store, Sony Music
- ^ Primetime Emmy Music Nominations Announced, filmmusicsociety.org, July 14, 2011
- ^ Harry Connick Jr. takes on Elvis and the Beatles, CNN: The Marquee Blog, July 30, 2009
- ^ Your Songs Barnes & Noble Exclusive, AllMusic
- ^ New Harry Connick will be released on vinyl first, blogs.knoxnews.com, July 29, 2009
- ^ His guitar speaks many languages, newsobserver.com, May 8, 2009
- ^ News: Harry Connick Jr. – April 3, 2009, fumosonic.com, August 2, 2009
- ^ Harry Connick Jr is back with a new album "Your Songs", Koffee, September 8, 2009
- ^ Connick Harry Jr: Your songs (Danish), Sony Columbia France on MySpace
- ^ Kommende utgivelser fra Sony Music (Norwegian), Sony Music Norway
- ^ Sony Music Entertainment Finland – Uudet julkaisut (Finnish, Sony Music Entertainment Finland
- ^ Your Songs, Connick, Harry -Jr-, bol.com
- ^ Harry Connick Jr – 恋人たちのラブソング (Japanese), sonymusicshop.jp
- ^ Top 50 Albums Chart – australian-charts.com. ARIACharts.com. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
- ^ Your Songs – Harry Connick Jr., ultratop.be
- ^ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ a b c d "Harry Connick Jr. – Your Songs – Music Charts". aCharts. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ Hair, Harry Connick Jr., Liza Minnelli, et al. Nominated for Grammy Awards, theatermania, December 2, 2009