Your Songs

Your Songs
Harry Connick Jr. in a black jacket and black shirt, white background, black text
Cover to the Compact Disc edition of the album
Studio album by Harry Connick Jr.
Released Vinyl: August 25, 2009
CD:September 22, 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
What a Night! A Christmas Album
(2008)What a Night! A Christmas Album2008		 Your Songs
(2009)		 In Concert on Broadway
(2011)In Concert on Broadway2011
Alternative cover
Black cover with white text
Vinyl LP Album Cover
Singles from Your Songs
  1. "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
    Released: August 25, 2009
  2. "Just the Way You Are"
    Released: September 22, 2009
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboard(favorable)[2]
Daily Music Guide[3]
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

French First Lady Carla Bruni

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.

Tour

A worldwide concert tour began in January 2010.[15]

Tour dates

North America (2010)

[16] New Zealand (2010)

[17] Australia (2010)

Europe (2010)

Asia (2010)

Europe (2010)

North America (2010)

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[15]

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.[18] The concerts on July 30 and 31 were filmed live,[19] and aired on PBS on March 2, 2011 for a "Great Performances" special on the concerts.[20] These were also released on video, CD/DVD and album in March 2011, as Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway.[21]

Harry Connick Jr. won an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Music Direction for Harry Connick Jr. In Concert on Broadway.[22]

The In Concert on Broadway album is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Track listing

[23][24]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All the Way
(featuring Branford Marsalis)"		Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn3:33
2."Just the Way You Are"Billy Joel3:48
3."Can't Help Falling in Love With You
(featuring Wynton Marsalis)"		George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore3:15
4."And I Love Her"Lennon–McCartney3:12
5."(They Long to Be) Close to You
(featuring Leroy Jones)"		Burt Bacharach, Hal David3:16
6."Bésame Mucho"Consuelo Velázquez4:11
7."The Way You Look Tonight"Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields3:45
8."First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"Ewan MacColl3:23
9."Your Song"Elton John, Bernie Taupin3:35
10."Some Enchanted Evening"Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers4:07
11."And I Love You So"Don McLean3:30
12."Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)"Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley3:52
13."Smile"Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons3:11
14."Mona Lisa"Jay Livingston, Ray Evans3:08

Barnes & Noble Exclusive Version

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Killing Me Softly"Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel03:24

iTunes

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."All the Way music video"Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn 

European Editions

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."And I Love Her
(featuring Carla Bruni)"		Lennon–McCartney 

Japan Edition

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Killing Me Softly"Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel03:24
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.TitleWriter(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

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[28] September 25, 2009
United Kingdom October 26, 2009 Columbia
Denmark[29] October 26, 2009 Sony
France October 26, 2009 Columbia, Sony
Norway[30] October 26, 2009 Sony
Finland[31] October 28, 2009
Netherlands[32] October 28, 2009
Germany October 30, 2009
Japan[33] November 11, 2009 Sony Music Japan CD

Chart positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[34] 9
Belgian Wallonia Chart[35] 71
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[36] 11
French Albums Chart [37] 51
Irish Albums Chart [37] 40
New Zealand Top Albums [37] 10
UK Albums Chart[37] 28
US Billboard 200[38] 8
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[39] 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.[40] The award went to Michael Bublé for his Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.

References

  1. ↑ Collar, Matt. Your Songs at AllMusic
  2. ↑ "Billboard CD reviews: Jay-Z, Harry Connick, Pearl Jam". Billboard. Reuters, & Yahoo!7 News. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  3. ↑ Salvo, Natalie. Your Songs Album Review.
  4. ↑ CD reviews for Oct. 2, 2009, The Advocate, October 2, 2009
  5. 1 2 Harry Connick Jr. – Your Songs, previewnewmusic.com
  6. 1 2 On the Radar: Harry Connick Jr., directcurrentmusic.com, July 27, 2009
  7. ↑ Radio interview: Harry Connick Jr. Album tracks played (mp3 & download) at JAZZ.FM91
  8. ↑ Harry Connick Jr. "Your Songs" Listening Event With Clive Davis, Getty Images, August 4, 2009
  9. ↑ Harry Connick Jr. "Your Songs" Listening Event With Clive Davis, Wireimage, August 4, 2009
  10. ↑ Music >> All Shows for Harry Connick Jr., Harry Connick Jr.'s Official MySpace site, August 20, 2009
  11. ↑ Idol: Harry Connick Jr., tvtonight.com, September 25, 2009
  12. ↑ (They Long To Be) Close To You: Harry Connick Jr.: MP3 Downloads, Amazon.com
  13. 1 2 Harry Connick Jr. collaborated with Clive Davis on forthcoming album of standards, The Times Picayune, July 30, 2009
  14. ↑ Le duo de Carla et Harry Connick Jr (French), parismatch.com, September 26, 2009
  15. 1 2 "Tour". The Official Harry Connick Jr. Site. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  16. ↑ Harry Connick Jr to tour NZ, stuff.co.nz, January 21, 2010
  17. ↑ Harry Connick Jr Touring in March, undercover.com.au, January 21, 2010
  18. ↑ , Internet Broadway Database
  19. ↑ Harry Connick Jr. In Concert on Broadway Ends Limited Run July 31, Playbill.com, July 31, 2010
  20. ↑ PBS 'Great Performances' to feature Harry Connick Jr., The Times-Picayune, December 3, 2010
  21. ↑ Harry Connick Jr store, Sony Music
  22. ↑ Primetime Emmy Music Nominations Announced, filmmusicsociety.org, July 14, 2011
  23. ↑ Harry Connick Jr. takes on Elvis and the Beatles, CNN: The Marquee Blog, July 30, 2009
  24. ↑ Your Songs Barnes & Noble Exclusive, AllMusic
  25. ↑ New Harry Connick will be released on vinyl first, blogs.knoxnews.com, July 29, 2009
  26. ↑ His guitar speaks many languages, newsobserver.com, May 8, 2009
  27. ↑ News: Harry Connick Jr. – April 3, 2009, fumosonic.com, August 2, 2009
  28. ↑ Harry Connick Jr is back with a new album "Your Songs", Koffee, September 8, 2009
  29. ↑ Connick Harry Jr: Your songs (Danish), Sony Columbia France on MySpace
  30. ↑ Kommende utgivelser fra Sony Music (Norwegian), Sony Music Norway
  31. ↑ Sony Music Entertainment Finland – Uudet julkaisut (Finnish, Sony Music Entertainment Finland
  32. ↑ Your Songs, Connick, Harry -Jr-, bol.com
  33. ↑ Harry Connick Jr – 恋人たちのラブソング (Japanese), sonymusicshop.jp
  34. ↑ Top 50 Albums Chart – australian-charts.com. ARIACharts.com. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
  35. ↑ Your Songs – Harry Connick Jr., ultratop.be
  36. ↑ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "Harry Connick Jr. – Your Songs – Music Charts". aCharts. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  38. ↑ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  39. ↑ "Harry Connick, Jr. Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard.
  40. ↑ Hair, Harry Connick Jr., Liza Minnelli, et al. Nominated for Grammy Awards, theatermania, December 2, 2009
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