DEFINITIVE VERSION OF:
“As Time Goes By” written by Herman Hupfeld
Bryan Ferry from his 1999 album of the same name.
Herman Hupfeld (February 1, 1894 –June 8, 1951) was an American songwriter whose most notable composition remains the iconic “As Time Goes By” from the World War Two film noir classic Casablanca starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Hupfeld wrote both the lyrics and music.
“Play it again Sam”, Humphrey Bogart famously quipped to Moroccan gin joint pianist actor Dooley Wilson, who was actually a bandleader, singer and drummer, but not an actual pianist in real life. It’s widely recognized that the piano music for the film was played off-screen by Elliot Carpenter and dubbed later.
Arthur “Dooley” Wilson (April 3, 1886 – May 30, 1953) was an American actor, singer and musician who is best remembered for his portrayal of Sam in the 1942 film Casablanca and his performance of its theme song “As Time Goes By”.
Wilson was a drummer and singer who led his own band in the 1920s, touring nightclubs in London and Paris. In the 1930s he took up acting, playing supporting roles onstage on Broadway and in a series of films. His role as Sam in Casablanca is by far his most prominent.
Here is Wilson’s original vocal performance from the film with Elliot Carpenter playing the piano offstage:
And if that little bit of Hollywood trickery and slight of hand were not enough, Bogart never actually utters the oft quoted phrase he is credited with saying. What he actually says in the movie is, “You played it for her, you can play it for me”.
Released in 1999, As Time Goes By is the tenth studio album by English singer and Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry. Consisting of cover versions of popular songs and jazz standards, the album peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and has since been certified Gold.
And here is Ferry’s interpretation of the song almost 60 years later
And…
Just because…