Sheet Music Original Versions Part 3

 Here we have Are You Lonesome Tonight written in 1926 with 3 versus and a spoken bridge. Which was printed on the inside of the back cover. The Sheet music also comes with out the bridge printing. I have both.  First recorded  by Charles Hart in 1927..Also in 1927 Vaughn De Leath. both sang 3 verses but no bridge. Henry Burr in 1927 dropped the 3rd verse and no bridge. Then finally in 1928  Stanley Kirkby drop 3rd verse but sang the bridge "Yes you seemed to change you acted strange.......That 3rd verse added so much context. Thats why these early versions just are better. Its funny how the song changes in just a short period of time from the writers original intention.  Again as I've said before the original intention is usually the best.

 

Many others recorded the song through  the years. Above we have the Sheet Music for Elvis Presley's Version from April 1960. Initially he sang this in the studio with the lights out  with his band and the Jordinaires including the bridge. Initially he didn't like how he sang it. but agreed to one more take and that became the master.