The ace of hearts is high

by Tim Stevens

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Andy Whyte Hooray – you've made my day! Congratulations, Tim. I'm about to listen here in the otherwise-deserted Torrens Resilience Initiative at Flinders Uni –the perfect accompaniment to writing a puff piece for the Ethics Panel … Cheers, Andy

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The ace of hearts is high, The beauty of the way and the goodness of the wayfarers, There'll be some changes played, Later still, this autumn year, with whom you can be who you are, I'll tell you later in December, Media vita, and 8 more. , and , .

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1.	Isn't it a lovely day 04:49	lyrics	buy track
Isn't this a lovely day To be caught in the rain? You were going on your way Now you've got to remain Just as you were going, leaving me all at sea The clouds broke, they broke and oh What a break for me I can see the sun up high Though we're caught in the storm I can see where you and i Could be cozy and warm Let the rain pitter patter But it really doesn't matter If the skies are grey Long as I can be with you it's a lovely day
2.	I'm gonna laugh you right out of my life 08:27	lyrics	buy track
I'm gonna laugh you right out of my life Laugh, and forget this affair Guess I was foolish to care. I'm gonna dance you right out of my dreams Try to be carefree and gay I guess I'll learn to play the part Cos when our friends begin that heartless rumour I know I'm gonna need my sense of humour; I'm gonna laugh you right out of my life, Make it a beautiful joke – No-one will know you broke my heart. Cos if I find you and I really meant that last goodbye, Then I'm gonna laugh so hard, I'll cry.
3.	All the things you are 05:41	lyrics	buy track
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 Someday my happy arms will hold you And someday I'll know that moment divine When all the things you are are mine
4.	Miss Brown to you 04:18	lyrics	buy track
Who you think is comin' to town? You'll never guess who The lovable, huggable Emily Brown Miss Brown to you What if the rain comes pattering down? My heaven is blue Tennessee is sending me Emily Brown Miss Brown to you I know, her eyes will thrill ya But go slow, oh, oh Don't you all get too familiar Why do you think she's comin' to town? Just wait and you'll see The lovable little Miss Brown to you Is baby to me
5.	Last night when we were young 06:51	lyrics	buy track
Last night when we were young Love was a star, a song unsung Life was so new, so real, so right Ages ago last night Today the world is old You flew away and time grew cold Where is that star that seems so bright? Ages ago last night To think that spring had depended On merely this: a look, a kiss To think that something so splendid Could slip away in one little daybreak So now let's reminisce And recollect the sighs and the kisses The arms that clung When we were young last night
6.	My funny valentine 06:27	lyrics	buy track
My funny valentine Sweet comic valentine You make me smile with my heart Your looks are laughable Unphotographable Yet you're my favourite work of art Is your figure less than Greek Is your mouth a little weak When you open it to speak Are you smart? But don't change a hair for me Not if you care for me Stay, little valentine, stay Each day is Valentine's Day
7.	Taking a chance on love 03:35	lyrics	buy track
Here I go again I hear those trumpets blow again All aglow again Taking a chance on love Here I slide again About to take that ride again Starry-eyed again Taking a chance on love I thought that cards were a frame-up I never would try Now I'm taking that game up And the ace of hearts is high Things are mending now I see a rainbow blending now We'll have a happy ending now Taking a chance on love Here I slip again About to take that trip again I got that grip again Taking a chance on love Now I prove again That I can make life move again Mmm, I'm in a groove again Taking a chance on love I walk around with a horseshoe In clover I lie And brother rabbit of course you'd Better kiss your foot goodbye On that ball again I'm riding for a fall again I'm gonna give my all again Taking a chance on love
8.	Oh, lady be good! 06:04	lyrics	buy track
Listen to my tale of woe It's terribly sad, but true All dressed up, no place to go Each ev'ning I'm awfully blue I must win some winsome miss Can't go on like this I could blossom out I know With somebody just like you. So Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good Oh, lady, be good to me I am so awf'ly misunderstood So lady, be good to me Oh, please have some pity I'm all alone in this big city I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood So lady be good to me
9.	The Piccolino 04:06	lyrics	buy track
By the Adriatic waters Venetian sons and daughters Are strumming a new tune upon their guitars It was written by a Latin A gondolier who sat in His home out in Brooklyn and gazed at the stars He sent his melody Across the sea To Italy And we know They wrote some words to fit That catchy bit And christened it The Piccolino And we know that it's the reason Why everyone this season Is strumming and humming a new melody Come to the casino And hear them play the Piccolino Dance with your bambino To the strains of the catchy Piccolino Drink your glass of vino And when you've had your plate of scaloppino Make them play the Piccolino The catchy Piccolino And dance to the strains of that new melody The Piccolino
10.	When you wish upon a star 06:40	lyrics	buy track
When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do Fate is kind She brings to those who love The sweet fulfillment of Their secret longing Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true

about

For my beloved brother, Michael, and for Alice Howick, in anticipation of their marriage
With my fondest love and all good wishes for eternal happiness

I’ve said it already, and repeatedly, but despite having been obliged to learn a hefty number of standards as an undergraduate, I never really felt I wanted to perform them very much. Browne – Haywood – Stevens featured some standard repertoire, American songs and jazz tunes, but most of its book was written by me, and I always wanted to be contributing original ideas. I can’t remember playing a single standard tune with my current trio. The problem is really with precedent; some musicians have made this such a large part of their life’s work that it feels a bit like the standard rep is taken care of.

But then something happened. A couple of years ago I decided to share some music online because everyone was locked down and miserable and it seemed like the next best thing to actually getting together. I made almost daily contributions, shared them on socials, and I wrote about them on my website, listing the pieces I’d performed and giving a breakdown for standard/original/traditional/classical. There were tons of standards, and as I re-engaged with them I was able to see again what great songs they are, and how worthy they remain of attention.

The present program comprises some very time-smoothed chestnuts but also some tunes that are simply personal favourites of mine. ‘All the things you are’ had to be learned during my bachelor’s degree, alongside ‘Stella by starlight’ and ‘There will never be another you’ and about a hundred others. ‘My funny valentine’ was in that bag too. But ‘Last night when we were young’ I played with Browne – Haywood – Stevens and always loved, and ‘I’m gonna laugh you right out of my life’ is just one of the most brilliant and heartbreaking songs in the world, that doesn’t get played nearly often enough. ‘Isn’t it a lovely day’ and ‘The Piccolino’ both come from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’s Top Hat and that’s a score that continues to amaze me. ‘When you wish upon a star’ was an afterthought at the session because it occurred to me that I didn’t have a waltz in the set, but I liked how it came out. I really hope this program is enjoyable.

I want to thank everyone, all over again. The people who have shown faith in me, and patience, and indulgence, and whose sustenance is essential. The dear souls who made sure my music got out into the world and met receptive ears. Anyone, ever, who bought a CD or a download, or who came to a gig. I love you all. People who dug the Quarantunes, and in particular Mth Mel Clark and Fr John Fowler. To Niko Schauble humble and loving thanks for having me at Pughouse and engineering everything so superbly. Senior characters who continue to support me: Andrew Ford, David Moyle, Jessica Nicholas, Mal Stanley, Fr John Baldock, Dr Penelope Preston, Garry Warne, Tim Dunn, and the fabulous Cheryl Orsini. You rock the houseboat. Thanks to my students, for keeping me alert. To Michael, the co-dedicatee, my keenest thanks for your interest in my music and your constant encouragement. My wonderful colleagues (gee how lucky am I to be able to call you that?) Madeleine Jevons, Phoebe Green, Naomi Wileman, Ben Robertson, Marty Holoubek, Dave Beck and Tony Floyd. You’re all so completely marvellous. And my profoundly affectionate thanks to the other most smashing friends: Jenni Mills, Andrew Ogburn, Meg Morley, Fliss Matson, Alison Lemoh, Mth Colleen Clayton and the spectacular Tab Halley.

And Sally: I couldn’t be luckier than to have met you, and to have you find me worthwhile. You, and our most beautiful children, are the essence of my world. All my love to all of you.

credits

released September 2, 2022

Tim Stevens, piano

Produced by Tim Stevens

Recorded at Pughouse Studios, Thornbury, 14 July 2022
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Niko Schauble
Executive producer Tim Stevens
Cover photos by Tim, design by Cheryl Orsini

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about

Tim Stevens Melbourne, Australia

Improvising piano player and composer, Melbourne, Australia

timstevens.com.au

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