Make Love to Me

"Make Love to Me" may refer to one of two different songs.

Mann/Weiss/Gannon song (1941)

With music by Paul Mann and Stephan Weiss, and lyrics by Kim Gannon, it was recorded in 1942 by Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra. It has also been performed by Ella Fitzgerald^[1] and Julie London.

Norvas/Copeland/Rappolo/Mares/Pollack/Brunies/Stitzel/Melrose song (1954)

A 1954 popular song with words and music written by a larger team than normally is known to collaborate on a song: Bill Norvas, Alan Copeland, and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, comprising Leon Rappolo, Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, George Brunies, Mel Stitzel, and Walter Melrose. The melody was derived from a 1923 song, "Tin Roof Blues", composed by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.^[2]

The best-known version of the song was recorded by Jo Stafford on December 8, 1953 (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40143, with the flip side "Adi-Adios Amigo",^[3]) and in 1954 the #1 position on the Billboard chart went back and forth between this record and Doris Day's "Secret Love" (See 1954 in music#US No. 1 hit singles). On Cash Box magazine's charts, however, the song only reached #2^[4]. The same year, the song was covered in the United Kingdom by Alma Cogan and Billie Anthony.

The recording by Alma Cogan with Ken Mackintosh and his orchestra was recorded in London on February 16, 1954. It was released in 1954 by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 10677 and 7M 196. The flip side was "Said the Little Moment".

Other covers were recorded by:

• The Commanders (recorded February 2, 1954, released by Decca Records as catalog number 29048, with the flip side "Kentucky Boogie"^[5]
• the Tommy Dorsey orchestra (with Jimmy Dorsey and vocal by Gordon Polk) (recorded January 1954, released by Bell Records as catalog number 1029, flip side "My Friend the Ghost"^[6])
• the Kalin Twins (recorded June 24, 1960, un-issued as 45rpm or LP by Decca Records until 1992, released by Bear Family Records in CD format under album When - The Kalin Twins as catalog number BCD 15597.

The song was also included on Anne Murray's tribute-to-the-fifties album, Croonin', where it was released as the first single, becoming a top 10 hit on both pop and country charts in Canada.

Peter Spar has written the Danish lyrics. The Danish title is "Vær sød mod mig". Raquel Rastenni, acc. Harry Felbert's sextet, Cond.: Harry Felbert recorded it in Copenhagen in 1954. The song was released on His Master's Voice X 8208. It was arranged by Erik Kaare.

References

1. ^ Make Love to me on lyricsplayground.com
2. ^ "Tin Roof Blues" on the Hurricane Brass Band site
3. ^ Columbia Records in the 40000 to 40499 series
4. ^ Cash Box charts for 1954
5. ^ US Decca Records in the 29000 to 29499 series
6. ^ Bell Records discography