Teach Me Tonight
"Teach Me Tonight" is a popular song that has become a jazz standard. The music was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was published in 1953.
Early recordings
Five versions charted in 1954 and 1955:- Janet Brace was apparently first, making the Billboard chart on October 23, 1954, and eventually reaching No. 23.
- Jo Stafford – No. 15 in 1954
- Dinah Washington – a No. 4 R&B/Hip-Hop Songs hit in 1954, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999
- Helen Grayco – No. 29 in 1954
- The DeCastro Sisters – No. 2 in 1955. In addition, a 1959 re-recording titled "Teach Me Tonight Cha Cha" went to No. 76 on the Hot 100.
Other recordings
- Blossom Dearie recorded the song for her 1959 album Once Upon A Summertime
- Ann-Margret recorded a version on her 1961 debut album, And Here She Is... Ann-Margret and again on her 2023 album Born to Be Wild as a duet with Pat Boone.
- In 1962, actor and singer George Maharis recorded his version of the song and included it on his album George Maharis Sings! The song released as a single reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. In Canada it reached No. 8.
- A country version appeared on Phoebe Snow's 1976 album It Looks Like Snow and was later released as a single, but failed to chart.
- In 1982, Al Jarreau included his version on "Breakin' Away". In the US, this version went to No. 70 on the Hot 100 and No. 51 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. In addition, it went to No. 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
- In 1984, Frank Sinatra recorded it for his album, L.A. Is My Lady
- Anne Murray recorded a version of the song for her album Croonin'.
- A 2004 live recording appears on the deluxe version of the album Frank by Amy Winehouse.
- A version appeared on the 2014 album Classics by She & Him.
- A 2020 version appears on James Taylor's American Standards album.