ALL THAT JAZZ | rayhoffman

THE SONGS AND LYRICS

FOLLOW ME (music - Nino Rota, lyrics - Ray Hoffman)

Ray sings a theme from one of the signature films of Italian cinema, La Dolce Vita. The music --written to accompany a nightclub scene-- is by one of the signature composers of Italian cinema, Nino Rota. The English language lyrics --entitled "Follow Me"-- are by Ray Hoffman (the lyrics are printed in the lyric section below).

The wonderful Bill Perkins (1924-2003) is heard on tenor saxophone. Larry Koonse is the guitarist, with Tom Warrington on bass.

The band track was recorded at Stagg Street Studio in Van Nuys, California in 1999. It was mixed by Joe DiGeorgi of Headline Studios in Irvington, NY.

also recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema
Soulnote Records 121306

Follow Me - Music Nino Rota, Lyrics Ray Hoffman

00:00 / 00:00

DANCE WITH ME, OUTSIDE (music - Pete Rugolo, lyrics- Ray Hoffman)

Ray collaborated on a number of song projects with Pete Rugolo (1915-2010). Pete, who first made his name as chief arranger and staff composer for Stan Kenton's groundbreaking orchestra of the 1940s and early '50s, went on to write many film and television scores, including The Fugitive TV series.

Pete and Ray collaborated on a number of songs in the 1990s and early 2000s, including this one: "Dance With Me, Outside" (the lyrics are below). Again, Bill Perkins is featured on tenor saxophone. Mark Lewis plays the trumpet echoing in the distance. Larry Koonse is joined by his father, Dave Koonse, in a guitar duet (befitting the theme). Tom Warrington is on bass, Joe LaBarbera on drums.

Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

also recorded by Marlene VerPlanck on her CD,

My Impetuous Heart

Audiophile Records ACD-334

Dance With Me, Outside - Music Pete Rugolo, Lyrics Ray Hoffman

00:00 / 00:00

SELECTED RAY HOFFMAN LYRICS:

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IISIS THERE S TERIS THERE E

IS THERE TIME FOR PARIS?

MUSI

Music by John Basile

Lyrics by Ray Hoffman

Is there time for Paris?

For the things we still can be?

Could we care? Should we dare?

With our own autumn in the air?

Can we trust this feeling,

Reeling from our separate pasts?

If you'll stay, I won't stray

We'll have the lamp to light the way now.

Some disbelief, there should be,

Past passions to resolve

Our wiser hearts can take them all,

Then make them all just dissolve.

Come and share this vision

Indecision could be wrong

Come along, try again,

The golden hour awaits us by the Seine

So our question begs an answer, not a guess

Is there time for Paris? Yes, yes, yes.

Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

Recorded by Alexis Cole, at alexiscole.com

BUT I CAN’T GET CLOSER TO YOU

Music by Al Cohn
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
adapted from the instrumental theme Mr. George

I pour Dom Perignon when you’re thirsty.
The Mouton when you’re feeling “Grand Cru”
On the sea and on land,
Vintage always on hand
But I can’t…get closer to you

Ship you, from Singapore, sprays of orchids
Send you alpaca packed in Peru
For whatever your need, I endeavor with speed
But I can’t …get closer to you

Not when we
Are one from shoulder to knee
Be it said that it’s true
Any closer and I’d be in back of you

No lovers knot could knot us as tightly

Nightly, nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you

second chorus:

Caffe latte and roses at breakfast,
Pavarotti in concert for two
In the dark, in the light
When you spark, I ignite
But I can’t… get closer to you

For some fresh air, I’d buy you a county
Like a Mountie I would pursue.
To your every desire
I’m a clever suppli’r
But I can’t…get closer to you

Tied in bows, in close proximity,
I conclude, heaven knows,
Any closer and you’d be in back of me

No lovers knot could knot us as tightly
Nightly, nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you

©LaFlo Music (ASCAP)

______________________________

DANCE WITH ME OUTSIDE

Music by Pete Rugolo
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman

No gold, no polished parquet
No band-upon-the-stand to play
But dance with me,
Come dance with me, outside

The trees swing softly in time
The rhythm in the breeze, sublime
So if you please
Come dance with me, outside

We’ll slide and sway and lose the light
And glide away far out of sight
And till the dawn we’ll hide away, we’ll stay
In this interlude
Even rain won’t intrude

So let me lead out the door,
There we’ll share a starlit floor
Tonight you’ll see
You’ll dance with me, evermore

©Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
on her CD “My Impetuous Heart” DRG Records 8481

______________________________

FOLLOW ME

Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From La Dolce Vita)

Follow me to nights you’ve never known
Round the world on flights you’ve never flown
Follow if you dare
To a fountain, where
We can share a dance until the dawn

Follow me beyond the farthest lights
To a magic pond of starlit nights
Drifting on until, high upon a hill,
We can find a place where time stands still

Follow on and on above the crowd
Ever drawn inside a cloud
Round and round the stair
Higher, higher there
Breathless in a sigh
As in mid-air

Flying out tonight, you’re next to me
Private satellite to ecstasy
So away we’ll ride,
Sitting side by side
Follow me, and I will be your guide

recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306

______________________________

LOVE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU

Music by Pete Rugolo
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the instrumental theme Diamond on the Move
from Richard Diamond, Private Detective)

Brighter than stars, shooting on high
You look at me, sending a sigh
And I reply, “It must be love in view”
And love looks good on you

There, in your smile, there is a place
Wherein your heart wears on your face,
There in that place,
A look you couldn’t misconstrue
And love looks good on you

And on me, you’ll see
In reflection,
That glow, bestowed with
Such affection

Soft as a blush, met by the dawn
Then like a rush when it comes on
Here it comes on!
A look that looks forever true
So good love looks on you

Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
“It’s How You Play the Game” Audiophile Records ACD-325

______________________________

SING ME TO SLEEP

Music by Billy VerPlanck
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman

Pillows on the floor, rugs by the fire,
Blankets snug, warm and tight,
Just right,
Night is here, sing me to sleep,
Sing me to sleep, my dear

Sing of sunset skies, sing of my eyes.
Fly me on clouds of white,
All night,
Lullabies, nice little sighs,
Sing me to sleep, tonight

Crackling logs make do
Accompanying you,
Just mention I’m your choice.
Softly ‘round your themes,
Your thoughts, your schemes
It seems my dreams are in your voice

Add some kindling, now; fire’s dwindling, now,
Shadows break high, tonight,
So right
Till the dawn, sing me to sleep
No counting sleep from now on

Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
“What Are We Going To Do With All This Moonlight?”
Audiophile Records ACD-304

______________________________

WAIT AND SEE

Music by Armando Trovajoli
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From the movie Marriage, Italian Style)

Wait and see
Wait and see
I may be here with you forever
Wait and see
Wait and see
Come the fates, come the stars, whatever

It’s not by chance that this dance isn’t ending
With one more glance we’ll advance beyond pretending

Here’s the key
Turn the key
We’ll be locked and embracing
Our hearts ever racing
We’ll be……
…..just you wait and see.

recorded by Anita Gravine
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306

______________________________

AROUND ABOUT A HALF PAST NINE

Music by Billy VerPlanck

Lyrics by Ray Hoffman

Give me an hour to court you

And then an hour to transport you

I'll let you see all that can be

And around about half past nine you'll be mine

One little hour to divert you

Another to disconcert you

I guarantee that you'll agree

Right around a half past nine...

Not to dwell but there's just no concealing.

Feeling this must unfold, let's behold.

And if you've any doubt over what it's about

It's only your heart I'm stealing.

An hour for me to un-twist you

And just one more to have kissed you

So take my bet. Get ready, set,

Right around half past nine...

c2008 Mounted Music and Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

recorded by Marlene VerPlanck

"Once There Was A Moon"

Audiophile Records ACD-334

_______________________________

YOU’LL COME TO ME

Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the theme from Fellini’s Amarcord)

Memories steal from the past
Breaking the seal on the past
Much they reveal
Much they still conceal

On the breath of spring there comes a wind
Sweetly blowing blossoms into play
Tossing in the breeze, my memories
Drifting back again from yesterday

Reminiscing here, where once we kissed
This is where we’ll always be
On the wind forever we’ll exist
This I know, you’ll come to me

Were we really there, beneath the trees?
Did it happen quite the way it seems?
Standing here amid those memories
These are not the springtime’s idle dreams

Some horizon, somewhere you’ll appear
Like a ship out on the sea
In my eyes you’re growing ever near
Here you’ll come, you’ll come to me
You’ll come, you’ll come to me…

recorded by Anita Gravine
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306

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THE SONGS AND LYRICS

DANCE WITH ME, OUTSIDE (music - Pete Rugolo, lyrics- Ray Hoffman)

Ray collaborated on a number of song projects with Pete Rugolo (1915-2010). Pete, who first made his name as chief arranger and staff composer for Stan Kenton's groundbreaking orchestra of the 1940s and early '50s, went on to write many film and television scores, including The Fugitive TV series.

Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

also recorded by Marlene VerPlanck on her CD,

My Impetuous Heart

Audiophile Records ACD-334

SELECTED RAY HOFFMAN LYRICS:

IISIS THERE S TERIS THERE E

Terms and Conditions

THE SONGS AND LYRICS

DANCE WITH ME, OUTSIDE (music - Pete Rugolo, lyrics- Ray Hoffman)

​

Ray collaborated on a number of song projects with Pete Rugolo (1915-2010). Pete, who first made his name as chief arranger and staff composer for Stan Kenton's groundbreaking orchestra of the 1940s and early '50s, went on to write many film and television scores, including The Fugitive TV series.

​

Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)

also recorded by Marlene VerPlanck on her CD,

My Impetuous Heart

Audiophile Records ACD-334

SELECTED RAY HOFFMAN LYRICS:

IISIS THERE S TERIS THERE E