For Robert Pinsky, who observed that "Moonlight in Vermont" is one of the only standards -- possibly the only one -- without a rhyme. I'll have to check; I have a feeling that Hammerstein at some point or other tried writing a rhyme-less lyric. Here's the best recording of the great Green Mountain State standard. John Blackburn wrote the words, and Karl Suessdorf the music, of this 1944 song.
And here's what happened when Sinatra and Ella got together on the song:
-- DL
gorgeous renditions, my long time favorites, thanks for posting David, I needed that...
Posted by: lally | August 19, 2017 at 10:00 AM
One of my favorites. Willie Nelson's take is pretty splendid, too.
Posted by: Sally Ashton | August 19, 2017 at 02:19 PM
Yes, nothing is better-- both of these versions.
And we poets might study these two masters-- and the song-- to learn about vowels and consonants. . . as materials.
(Thank you, David Lehman.)
RP
Posted by: Robert Pinsky | August 20, 2017 at 03:29 PM
I hate to disagree with the Master, DL, but c'mon--Betty Carter's version is pretty hard to beat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWe3FDaWUS8
Posted by: Julie S | August 20, 2017 at 05:26 PM
I would never put down Betty Carter! Thank you for the link.
Posted by: The Best American Poetry | August 21, 2017 at 01:11 PM