"A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, where one party is either oblivious to the existence of the other, or where one party has moved on." (Wikipedia)
Sarah Vaughn, Broken Hearted Melody. Nostalgic video. Fine understated guitar work.
Timi Yuro, Hurt. When I first heard her back in '61, I thought she had to be black. She's not black, but of Italian extraction: Rosemarie Timotea Auro.
Billie Holliday, The Very Thought of You
Roy Orbison, In Dreams. "The best voice in the business," said E. P. See how many of the sidemen you can identify.
Peggy Lee, Oh You Crazy Moon.
Ketty Lester, Love Letters.
Etta James, At Last
Lenny Welch, Since I Fell For You
Elvis Presley, I Can't Help Falling in Love with You
Kay Starr, Stormy Weather
Julie London, When I Fall in Love
Gogi Grant, The Wayward Wind. I've enjoyed this song since I was six years old. Ill take Lady Gogi over Lady Gaga any day.
Not a torch song, but the video is cute:
Jay and the Americans, Come a Little Bit Closer
UPDATE (11/5)
Ed contributes:
You posted a very fine 1938 recording of ‘The Very Thought Of You’ by Billie Holiday. If I am not mistaken, the sax is Lester Young (‘prez’), who Kerouac worshipped, and who supposedly gave young Jack (in 1943) his first taste of the wacky baccy. See this.
There is a London connection here. The song was written by Ray Noble, and first recorded (with Al Bowlly, vocal) in London April 21, 1934. Noble was born in Brighton in 1903, studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and become one of the great British band leaders of the 1930s. He later moved to New York. His well-known ‘Cherokee’ was an obsession of Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, who made it the basis of his 1945 composition Ko-Ko. As I am sure you know.
Your musical catholicity amazes me, Ed. Rare is the hombre who can dig both Hank Williams and Charlie Parker, not to mention Robert Johnson and Robert Schumann.