Johnny Mercer - Sings Just for Fun

On this 29 track album you will hear songs, some well- known and some rare gems, performed by Oscar-winning lyricist and founder of Capitol Records, Johnny Mercer, sung in his inimitable and genial style, recorded over four decades from the 1940s to the 1970s. From the 1940s are five fun songs appearing on CD for the first time and from the 1950s are songs Mercer recorded with the Paul Smith Trio, and appearing in stereo for the first time. Also included are nine demo songs Mercer composed with Hoagy Carmichael for an aborted film project, "The Keystone Girl" to star Betty Hutton. These demos with Mercer performing and Carmichael accompanying on piano are appearing on CD for the first time and include the first ever recorded version of the Oscar-winning "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening". The final four tracks are demos from the Mercer/Andre Previn West End stage musical "The Good Companions" starring Judi Dench. One of the four tracks, "Little Lost Dream" got rejected from the final production and how wonderful to hear it being sung here by the lyricist with piano accompaniment by the composer Andre Previn.