The Styrous® Viewfinder: Half a Photograph

July 21, 2020

45 RPMs 47: Kay Starr ~ Allez-Vous-En & Half a Photograph

Kay Starr ~ Allez-Vous-En

45 RPM, side 1

Allez-Vous-En is one of dozens of songs by Kay Starr that I loved listening to in the mid fifties. It was written by Cole Porter and was published in 1953. The phrase Allez-vous-en is a French phrase meaning Go away directed to one or more persons with whom one is not familiar. Its more familiar translation is va t´en. The phrases are formed using the reflexive conjugated form of the verb aller which means to go, and the object pronoun en.

Kay Starr ~ Allez-Vous-En

45 RPM detail, side 1

photo by Styrous®

The song was featured in the original production of the musical Can-Can when it was introduced by the French actress Lilo who was born in 1921. Her married name was Lilo Jourdan de la Passardière. Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle and Bing Crosby covered the song but Starr's version was the biggest hit. Ferrante & Teicher did an instrumental version of the song as well.

Kay Starr ~ Allez-Vous-En

45 RPM record, side 1

photo by Styrous®

The recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2464. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 27, 1953, and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #13.

Kay Starr ~ Allez-Vous-En

45 RPM record label, side 1

photo by Styrous®

The "B" side of the 45 has the song Half a Photograph which was a waltz. I loved it even more than the "A" side.

Kay Starr ~ Half a Photograph

45 RPM, side 2

photo by Styrous®

The song was covered by Guy Lombardo but the biggest hit version was recorded by Starr, both in 1953.

Kay Starr ~ Half a Photograph

45 RPM detail, side 2

photo by Styrous®

The music was written by Harold Stanley, the lyrics by Bob Russell who was born Sidney Keith Rosenthal in Passaic, New Jersey in 1914. The song was published in 1952.

Half a Photograph lyrics

I saw half of a photograph
And it took my breath away;
On that face on that photograph
Was my love of yesterday.

It was only half a picture,
There was still another part,
But somebody tore that picture
Like the way he tore my heart!

Somewhere I'm on the other half;
If you find it you will see
That this half of that photograph
Has a smile that he meant for me!

It was only half a picture,
There was still another part,
But somebody, somebody tore that picture
Like the way he tore my heart!

Somewhere I'm on the other half;
If you find it you will see
That this half of that photograph
Has a smile that he meant for me

Kay Starr ~ Half a Photograph

45 RPM record, side 2

photo by Styrous®

This recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2464. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 6, 1953 and lasted 12 weeks on the chart, peaking at #10.

Kay Starr ~ Half a Photograph

45 RPM record label, side 2

photo by Styrous®

Viewfinder links:

Bing Crosby
Kay Starr

YouTube links:

Bing Crosby ~ Again/Allez-Vous-En

Ferrante & Teicher ~ Allez-Vous-En
Lilo ~ Allez-Vous-En
Kenny Gardner & Guy Lombardo Orchestra ~ Half a Photograph
Kay Starr
   Allez-Vous-En
   Half A Photograph

Styrous® ~ Tuesday, July 21, 2020

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