Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.This is a quintessential torch song, a lament typically sung by a woman in a way that expresses regret, longing, abandonment or resilience, sometimes all at once. “All Night Long” (1961) is not as well known as, say, “Cry Me a River”, the 1955 hit for Julie London, but it inhabits a similar space: smooth, melancholy, sophisticated, emotional and sexy in a restrained way. Other than in its mood, it has no connection to the film All Night Long (1962), Basil Dearden’s excellent “jazz Othello” — nor Lionel Richie’s exuberant 1983 hit “All Night Long (All Night)”.It was written by Curtis R Lewis (1918-69), a pioneering Black songwriter who ran his own publishing and recording company. His work was performed by all manner of jazz, R&B and pop artists, including Peggy Lee and Freddie King, but “All Night Long” remains his most covered song.The lyrics are about the enduring subject of unrequited love, but with a twist. The object of the singer’s love does not exist, and she knows little about him: “Don’t know if he’s weak or strong.” By the second verse we learn that she “never knew his favourite song”. Let us know your memories of ‘All Night Long’ in the comments section belowThe paperback edition of ‘The Life of a Song: The stories behind 100 of the world’s best-loved songs’, edited by David Cheal and Jan Dalley, is published by ChambersMusic credits: Warner; Blue Note; Sony; Tangerine; Savoy; Capitol; Nagel heyer; GRP; SteepleChase; MAXJAZZ; Hufter; PRA
