THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

731-Jack Payne and His Band (Vocal chorus by Billy Scott Coomber) -It’s A Lovely Day To-Morrow.

1939-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.04. Possibly the ultimate ‘half glass full’ song.

‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was one of approximately 1,500 songs composed by Irving Berlin between 1907-1971 (see also best songs 457-385 and 100.) Irving Berlin was born Israel Beilin, (Yiddish: ישראל ביילין;) on May 11th, 1888, in Tyumen, Russian Empire, he died in Manhattan, New York City, United States, on September 22nd, 1989, of a heart attack, and other natural causes, in his sleep, at the age of 101. Irving Berlin is considered by many to be the greatest songwriter of all time, as a composer and lyricist his music forms a large part of the ‘Great American Songbook,’ of which there are 31 of those songs featured in this ‘Best 1000 Songs’ list (see also best songs 281 for the full list.) During his 64 year career as a composer, he wrote songs that included, ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band,’ (1911) ‘Blue Skies,’ (1926) ‘Easter Parade,’ (1933) ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz,’ (1927) ‘Cheek to Cheek,’ (1934) ‘White Christmas,’ (1942) ‘Happy Holiday,’ (1942) ‘Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better,’) (1946) and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ (1946.) Among the songs written by Irving Berlin, several of those compositions appeared in 20 original Broadway shows, and 15 original Hollywood films, with his songs being nominated eight times for Academy Awards. The composer George Gershwin (1898-1937) (see also best songs 286 and 231) called him ‘The greatest songwriter that has ever lived,’ and another composer Jerome Kern (1885-1945) (see also best songs 687 and 82) said that ‘Irving Berlin has no place in American music, he is American music. Emotionally, he honestly absorbs the vibrations emanating from the people, manners and life of his time and, in turn, gives these impressions back to the world, simplified, clarified and glorified.’ The ‘American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers,’ (ASCAP’) have stated that 25 of Irving Berlin’s songs have reached the top of the charts, including ‘White Christmas,’ (1942) (see also best songs 457) which is the best selling song worldwide of all time, with sales in excess of 50 million physical copies sold.

‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was written by Irving Berlin in 1938, coming about after a conversation between Berlin, and the Hungarian film producer Alexander Korda (1893-1956.) The ‘Munich Agreement’ had just been reached, and had depressed both men, and Korda asked Berlin if he had written a war song yet. Berlin used ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ in his 1940 musical ‘Louisiana Purchase,’ in which it describes feelings of despair, and hope during the American ‘Great Depression’ of the 1930’s, the song was first performed by the American actress Irene Bordoni (1885-1953) on the musicals opening night.

‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ has been recorded on many occasions. In 1940 in the UK, the song was recorded by Al Bowlly, (1898-1941) and also by Denny Dennis, (1913-1993) with Jay Wilbur And His Orchestra. ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was also recorded by Vera Lynn, (1917-2020) and promoted to lift the spirits of the British people during the darkest days of World War II, and the Blitz. In America the song was also recorded in 1940 by Frank Sinatra, (1915-1998) who recorded it with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The version I have chosen is the 1939 recording by Jack Payne and His Band, with vocals by Billy Scott Coomber, which was recorded for the ‘Decca’ label.

Jack Payne was born John Wesley Vivian Payne, on August 22nd, 1899, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, he died on December 4th, 1969, at the age of 70. Jack Payne was a bandleader, composer, vocalist, and an actor, who played in the genre of Jazz, and led his own band at the height of the British dance band era in the 1930’s. In 1928, Jack Payne became the ‘BBC Director of Dance Music,’ and the leader of the BBC’s first official dance band. In 1929, the band were featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast, and also appeared in the short film ‘Jazz Time’ that same year. His signature tune was ‘Say it With Music,’ which was written by Irving Berlin. After leaving the ‘BBC’ in 1932, Payne took his band on national, and international tours, and made the films ‘Say it with Music’ in 1932, followed four years later by ‘Sunshine Ahead.’ In later years he became a disc jockey, and appeared as himself in the 1957 musical film ‘Jamboree,’ (see also best songs 99) he also made the occasional television appearance as a panellist on the BBC television music show ‘Juke Box Jury,’ between 1959-1967.

Providing the vocals for Jack Payne and His Band on ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was the Indian born Irish singer Billy Scott Coomber (1905-1990.) Coomber also recorded under the pseudonym ‘Malcolm Desmond, as well as working with others, through until his retirement from performing in 1970. This version of ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was chosen as part of the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed ‘Singing Detective’ BBC, television serial drama from 1986. The other songs on that soundtrack that appear on this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list are (see also best songs 960-934-842-759-702-535-310-288-281 and 172.)

‘It’s a lovely day tomorrow, tomorrow is a lovely day. Come and feast your tear dimmed eyes on tomorrow’s clear blue skies. If today your heart is weary, if ev’ry little thing looks grey, just forget your troubles and learn to say tomorrow is a lovely day.’