"But Beautiful" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen, the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was published in 1947. One of five songs written by Burke and Van Heusen featured in the Paramount Pictures movie Road to Rio (1947), it was introduced by Bing Crosby and is also associated with his leading lady Dorothy Lamour. The original key is G major and has the form A-B1-A-B2. It is usually performed as a ballad. Lady in Satin is an album by jazz singer Billie Holiday released in 1958 on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 1157 in mono and CS 8048 in stereo. It is the next to final album completed by the singer and released in her lifetime (her final album, Billie Holiday, being recorded in March 1959 and released just after her death). The original album was produced by Irving Townsend, and engineered by Fred Plaut. Unlike the bulk of Holiday's recordings, rather than in the setting of a jazz combo Holiday returns to the backdrop of full orchestral arrangements as done during her Decca years. The album consists of songs Holiday had never recorded before. The arrangements were by bandleader Ray Ellis. Soloists on the album included Mel Davis, Urbie Green, and bebop trombone pioneer J.J. Johnson.
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. In 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996.
Love is funny, or it's sad,
Or it's quiet, or it's mad
It's a good thing, or it's bad,
But beautiful . . .
Beautiful to take a chance,
And if you fall, you fall
And I'm thinkin'
I wouldn't mind at all . . .
Love is tearful, or it's gay,
It's a problem, or it's play
It's a heartache either way,
But beautiful . . .
And I'm thinkin' if you were mine,
I'd never let you go,
And that would be just beautiful I know
Beautiful to take a chance,
And if you fall, you fall
And I'm thinkin'
I wouldn't mind at all . . .
Love is tearful, or it's gay,
It's a problem, or it's play
It's a heartache either way,
But beautiful . . .
And I'm thinking if you were mine
I would never let you go!
And that would be so beautiful. . . .
Yes, that would be but beautiful . . .
I know!
