Written by: Fred E Ahlert (music), Joseph Young (lyrics)
Recorded: 2011
Producer: Tommy LiPuma
Engineer: Al Schmitt
Released: 6 February 2012 (UK), 7 February 2012 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals
Diana Krall: piano
John Pizzarelli: guitar
Robert Hurst: bass
Karriem Riggins: drums
Available on:
Kisses On The Bottom
The opening song on Paul McCartney's 2012 album Kisses On The Bottom was made famous by Fats Waller in 1935.
Written by Fred E Ahlert and Joe Young, the song contains the line which gave the album its title – a reference to the letter written by the protagonist, rather than anything anatomical.
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter has been performed by a number of artists. The fisrt hit version was recorded on 8 May 1935 by Fats Waller, and reached number five on the Billboard chart. The following year it hit number three when recorded by The Boswell Sisters.
Frank Sinatra recorded the song for his 1954 album Swing Easy, and again in 1962 for his collaboration with Count Basie, Sinatra-Basie. It was also covered by Bing Crosby on the 1957 album Bing With A Beat.
Other significant versions were by Nat 'King' Cole, Dean Martin, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, and Bill Haley & His Comets, who recorded a rock 'n' roll arrangement in 1957.
In the studio
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter was recorded at Avatar Studios in New York. The rhythm arrangement was by Diana Krall.
Lyrics
I'm gonna sit right down
And write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna write words oh so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
A lot of kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I got 'em
I'm gonna smile and say
I hope you're feeling better
I'll close with love the way you do
I'm gonna sit right down
And write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna smile and say
I hope you're feeling better
And close with love the way you do
I'm gonna sit right down
And write myself a letter
And make believe, oh I'm gonna make believe
I'm gonna make believe it came from you
Billy Williams had the hit which reached #2 in 1957
It was recorded at Capitol Studio A in Hollywood, this has been verified by one of the session engineers. The credit to Avatar Studios as printed in the CD notes of Kisses On The Bottom happens to be incorrect.
Any doubts? Please view the You Tube video of the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9oVAHEpJY
Those familiar with Capitol Studio A will recognize the amenities not the least of which is Paul’s microphone which is the same used by Nat King Cole.