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Take Two |
Composed by Joe Bushkin in 1941 with lyrics by John DeVries, Oh! Look At Me Now was first recorded by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra with the young Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines and the Pied Pipers in an arrangement by Sy Oliver. Sinatra re-recorded the song in 1957 for his album A Swingin' Affair, conducted by Nelson Riddle.
You will see that Connie Haines is described as '...a petite and dynamic big band singer who performed alongside Frank Sinatra in the Harry James and Tommy Dorsey orchestras .... When Dorsey first heard her in action with James at Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook, New Jersey's temple of big band music, he reportedly asked, "Hey, little girl, where'd you learn to swing like that? And when can you join my band?"
Listen to the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra recording:
I'm not the guy who cared about love
And I'm not the guy who cared about fortunes and such
I never cared much
Oh, look at me now!
I never knew the technique of kissing
I never knew the thrill I could get from your touch
I never knew much
Oh, look at me now!
I'm a new man better than Casanova at his best
With a new heart and a brand new start
Why I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest
So I'm the guy who turned out a lover
Yes I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
One of those things
Oh, look at me now!
In 2019, the Quentin Collins Sextet and special guest Jean Toussaint recorded the number for their album Road Warrior on the Ubuntu label. Quentin Collins (trumpet and flugelhorn), Leo Richardson (tenor sax), Meilana Gillard (alto Sax), Dan Nimmer (piano), Joe Sanders (bass), Willie Jones III (drums).
Writing in Jazz Journal, Brian Payne said: '...... The album is a vibrant mix of contemporary straightahead jazz and hard bop in the Messengers mode ..... Oh! Look At Me Now, made popular by Sinatra in the 40s, has Sanders and Jones swinging hard with excellent solos from Collins, Gillard and Richardson. This is creative ensemble playing of the highest order. It sparkles with energy and has highly impressive soloing from musicians at the top of their game.....'
Listen to the Quentin Collins recording:
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