Temptation

~ from the MGM film "Going Hollywood"

Music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed , 1933

EMI-Robbins Catalog Inc. ~ ASCAP

1st recording 1945 ~

V-Disc Recording

At the beginning of World War II, the War department, through the Army Services Forces — Special Services Division, distributed thousands of shellac phonograph records (V DISCS) to Army Forces throughout the world. Shortly after the Army's program started, the U.S. Navy became involved in the program, appointing E.P. DiGiannantonio to run the Navy, Marine and Coast Guard programs.

V-Disc Record Number ( Not Issued )

Serial No. VP 1219 D5TC 168-1

Recorded circa Mid February, 1945

"Chesterfield Supper Club" Radio Broadcast

NBC Studios, New York City

Perry Como - vocal refrain

with Ted Steele's Orchestra

Recording Time u/k

Trumpets: George Shellenberger and Melvin "Red" Solomon

Trombones: Tim Murphy and Thomas Reo

Saxes: Fred Dornbach, Sal Franzella Jr., Edward Hellman,

Artie Owen and Stan Webb

Violins: Max Ceppos, Robert Freda, Isidore Gralnick, Sid Harris,

Samuel Rand, and Max Senofsky

Viola: Samuel Persoff

Piano: Thomas Speledore

Guitar: Tommy Kay.

Bass: Frank Carroll ( Carvana )

Drums: Terry Snyder

Harp: Ruth Hill

Vocal Group: The Satisfiers ( Helen Carroll, Ted Hanson, Art Lambert and Bob Lange )

| Perry with The Satisfiers |

In December 1944, Perry Como began a long association with the Liggett and Meyers Tobacco Company and its "Chesterfield Supper Club" series on NBC Radio ( Monday to Friday, 7:00-7:15 P.M. ). During the V-Disc years, accompanying orchestras included those of Ted Steele, Lloyd Shaffer, Carl Kress and Mitchell Ayres. Ted Steele's Orchestra accompanied Perry on the Chesterfield broadcasts from December 11, 1944, through to July 27, 1945.

2nd recording 1945 ~

With Orchestra Conducted by Ted Steele

Produced by Lew Martin

Recorded at RCA Victor Studio 2, New York City

Recording Time 2:41

Recorded March 27, 1945 ~ Matrix No. D5VB - 166 Take 1A - 1B

SESSION MUSICIANS

March 17, 1945

A&R Production Lew Martin

Orchestra

MORNING 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

NO OVERTIME

Leader: Ted Steele

Contractor: Lewis Martin

Sax ~ Arthur Owens

Sax ~ Fred Dornbach

Sax ~ Sal Fransella

Sax ~ Stanley Webb

Sax ~ Edwin Hellman

Trumpet ~ Melven Solomon

Trumpet ~ George Shellenburger

Trumpet ~ A. William Graham

Trombone ~ Thomas Reo

Trombone ~ Timothy Murphy

Violin ~ Samuel Rand

Violin ~ Sidney Harris

Violin ~ Mac Ceppos

Violin ~ Isadore Gralufek

Violin ~ Max Senofsky

Violin ~ Robert Freda

Viola ~ Samuel Persoff

Cello ~ Emil Borsody

Piano ~ Thomas Speledore

Drums ~ Terry Snyder

Bass ~ Frank Caruana

Harp ~ Ruth Hill

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-1658-B

Single Flip Side: "I'll Always Be With You"

US Chart Position No. 15

Re-issue: 78RPM-20-1919-A with flip side "Goodbye Sue"

UK Single release: HMV-78RPM-BD-1153 ( November 1946 )

Single Flip Side: "Surrender"

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-3298-B ( P-237 )

Single release: RCA-45RPM 47-2886 ( 1949 )

Single Flip Side: "Prisoner of Love"

RCA Gold Standard Series 78/45-RPM-420/447-0105

Single Flip Side: "Prisoner of Love"

Perry's first recording of "Temptation" was one of his earliest Gold Records and was released initially as the "B" side to a song which was destined to obscurity in comparison with this performance. "Temptation" was later re-released as an "A" side to the re-release of Perry's very first song with RCA Victor titled "Goodbye Sue" that had been recorded during the American Federation of Musicians ( AFM ) recording ban in 1943. It was almost thirty years before Perry would record "Temptation" again, once in the studio for his 1974 album "Perry" and then again in 1980 during 'live' performance for his album "Perry Como Live On Tour". The 1974 arrangement was modern, up-tempo, and one of Perry's earliest recordings in Quadraphonic discrete 4-Channel Stereo.

In 1945, as World War II drew to a close, Perry Como burst on the popular music scene with three records that each sold a million copies. One was a wartime novelty song based on a phrase that comedian Bob Hope had made popular — A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba. The second was the soaring adaptation of a Chopin Polonaise — Till the End of Time. And the third was this fine song by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, composers of such movie hits as Singing in the Rain, Alone, and You Were Meant for Me. Bing Crosby introduced Temptation in the 1933 film ‘Going Hollywood’, but this recording made it a popular classic. And the Como version served notice on Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes that a new top-rank male singer had arrived on the scene — and intended to stay.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )

| Lyrics | Album Links | CD-Finder | V-Disc Recordings Index |

3rd recording 1974 ~

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

with The Ray Charles Singers

Produced by Pete Spargo

Recorded in RCA's Studio "C," New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Recording Technicians: Joe Lopes and Tom Brown

Recording Time 2:30

Recorded April 29, 1974 ~ Matrix No. DPA1-1440 Take 1 +

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Perry" CPL1\CPD1-0585 STEREO\QUAD 1974

Single release: RCA-45RPM-PB-10045-A

Single Flip Side: "In These Crazy Times"

Charted Adult Contemporary No. 28

This durable standard, brilliantly updated, sounds as fresh today

as when it was a million seller for Perry back in 1945.

Now, as then — as always — it is the personal property of one Perry Como.

3rd recording 1980 'LIVE' ~

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

with Vocal Arrangements by Ray Charles

Live recording on location produced by Mike Berniker

Time 31:36 Side A and 28:42 Side B applause and talk included

Recording Engineer: Mike Moran

RCA Mobile Unit: Ron Olson and Tom Brown

Mastering Engineer: Mike Posner

Recorded 'Live' at the Mill Run Theatre, Niles, Illinois, July 29th, 30th, 31st, 1980

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Perry Como Live On Tour" AQL1-3826 STEREO 1981

Note: The opening Overture ( Como Medley ) includes: Till the End of Time / Round and Round / Catch a Falling Star / Prisoner of Love / Temptation / Hot Diggity / It's Impossible arranged and conducted by Nick Perito