Mario Lanza recorded his first version of Jerome Kern's and Oscar Hammerstein II's 1939 song "All the Things You Are" at MGM Studios on 12 July 1951 for the soundtrack of Because You're Mine. The conductor was John Green. A second version was recorded on 19 October 1951, but neither recording was actually featured in the film. Of the two takes, only the 12 July version has emerged, and it was first made available commercially on the TCM CD Be My Love: Mario Lanza's Greatest Performancesat M-G-M in 1998. The CD was subsequently withdrawn from the marketplace after an injunction instigated by BMG, but is still available (at often inflated prices) on ebay and from Amazon marketplace sellers.
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#35 All the Things You Are (Radio, 1951)
Lanza recorded his second version of "All the Things You Are" at Radio Recorder Studios for his weekly Coca-Cola-sponsored radio show on 13 July 1951, one day after his first MGM version (above). The conductor was Ray Sinatra. This recording was first released commercially in 2001 on the BMG CD Mario Lanza: My Romance.
#36 All the Things You Are (RCA, 1956)
Lanza recorded his final complete version of "All the Things You Are" at Republic Studios, Hollywood, on 31 August 1956 for his second concept album, Mario Lanza: A Cavalcade of Show Tunes. The conductor was Henri René. This version, the last of four takes of the song recorded that day, is best heard on the 2019 Sepia Records CD All the Things You Are.
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All the Things You Are Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) and music by Jerome Kern (1885-1945); written for the musical comedy Very Warm for May (1939).
Note: Lanza's versions of the song omit the now seldom-performed verses and feature only the famous chorus.
You are the promised kiss of springtime That makes the lonely winter seem long. You are the breathless hush of evening That trembles on the brink of a lovely song. You are the angel glow that lights a star, The dearest things I know are what you are. Some day my happy arms will hold you, And some day I'll know that moment divine, When all the things you are are mine!