Always (1925)

When legendary songwriter Irving Berlin (1888-1989), who had more Alley hits than anyone and was Jewish fell for the daughter of a millionaire, Ellin MacKay it scandalised 1920s society.

Berlin poured his longing for Ellin into a series of romantic ballads. Always represents the culmination of their courtship and was Irving's wedding present to Ellin. Written a few years earlier the lyric was originally "I'll Be Loving You, Mona" Berlin simply changed it from Mona to Always.

It had also been set in be included in the score of the Marx Brothers' Broadway show The Cocoanuts (later their first film) though writer George S. Kaufman was indifferent to music. He questioned Irving's first line : "I'll be loving you, Always. Always was a long time for romance, what about I'll be loving you Thursday."

Despite Kaufman's opinion the song became a standard. My favourite recording is a duet with Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan.