The Story Behind The Song
Shortly after Quincy Jones, who was the Artists and Repertoire man for Mercury Records had recorded the original cast album of "I Had A Ball" which I had written with Stan Freeman, Quincy and I who had become good friends, found ourselves together in St. Thomas for a few weeks in 1965. Quincy had done a wonderful background score for a dynamic film called "The Pawnbroker" and he regretted that he hadn't taken the opportunity to add a popular song to his score. He suggested that he put together excerpts of music from his score and that I write a lyric.
I was friendly with the Governor of the Virgin Islands and his wife at that time and they gave us the use of the grand piano in the official mansion. It took us a couple days to complete this song. Quincy told me in advance that I didn't have to use the word pawnbroker'since it really didn't belong in a pop song. But I always loved a challenge and proceeded to use it in the imagery of the lyric. Quincy was able to get a few good records at the time from artists like Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett. Even so many years later, whenever I hear Tony's rendition and he hits that dynamic climax:
"Or old dreams... I'll never use...
Love songs... I'd love to lose."
A chill goes up and down my spine!
