AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Cole Porter

Artist:Cole Porter
Song:You're The Top
Album:It's De Lovely: The Authentic Cole Porter Collection





There will always be constant debate over whether Cole Porter or Irving Berlin was the greater songwriter. Both had a lot of success in the 30s. You're The Top is one of his most popular songs. And he is performing it on this recording. He was born June 9, 1891 in Peru, IN. His maternal grandfather J.O. Cole was the richest man in Indiana. He wanted Porter to become a lawyer and sent him to the best schools. When Porter went into music, his mom kept it from Grandpa. He went to France during WWI and settled in Paris and married rich divorcee Linda Lee Thomas. It was a marriage of convenience as she knew he was gay. Porter continued to write while living off her money. He didn't have much success until he wrote the show Paris in 1928. The songs included Let's Misbehave and Let's Do It. Eventually Hollywood came calling and Porter was hired to write for movie musicals. You're The Top is from the 1934 Broadway musical Anything Goes, considered by many to be Porter's greatest work. Porter liked to make lists in his songs and You're The Top is a good example of that. Plenty of familiar references. Paul Whiteman had a top five hit with You're The Top. This recording by Porter was a demo. When the 2004 Porter biopic De-Lovely was produced, they used this recording on the soundtrack with a new orchestral arrangement by Vince Giordano. RCA released this CD in conjunction with the film. Porter himself sings You're The Top and Anything Goes and the rest of the CD has Porter songs performed by various artists. A 1937 accident made Porter an invalid and he had limited success in the 40s but roared back in the 50s with Kiss Me Kate. His success continued until failing health led to his death on Oct. 15, 1964 at age 73. Obviously many Cole Porter songs are performed today and his influence is immeasurable. Here's a video for You're The Top by Cole Porter.