“Because of You” (PDF) from the Ronell Johnson album, That Gentilly Swing

Arthur Hammerstein’s legacy as a songwriter pales in comparison to his prolific nephew, Oscar Hammerstein II, but his work as a bricklayer and musical theater producer has been cemented to history as the original developer of the space known as The Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. Arthur’s greatest songwriting credit, “Because of You” - a ballad co-written in 1941 with Dudley Wilkinson - was featured in the 1951 wartime film I Was an American Spy - starring the white Ann Dvorak as Filipino-American and Medal of Freedom recipient, Claire Philips - but the song eventually found wider audiences off-screen.

Within a few weeks after the film’s release, “Because of You” had become a chart-topping hit for Columbia Records and an up-and-coming crooner known as Tony Bennett. Not to be overshadowed by younger talent or the creative advancements of bebop jazz during this time, trumpeter Louis Armstrong released his own version of the hit recording later in the year - including the same b-side of Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart” - on Decca Records. Although it did not revitalize Satchmo’s career, “Because of You” eventually became a New Orleans standard and was adopted into the Preservation Hall Jazz Band repertoire before the end of the century.

According to The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, the Decca version also serves as an early document of multi-track recording by featuring the trumpeter answering his own vocal performance.

Recommended reading: The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong: A celebration of Louis Armstrong's life and music, one song and video at a time by Ricky Riccardi. - https://dippermouth.blogspot.com/