Cole Porter wrote In The Still Of The Night in 1937 for the Nelson Eddy movie musical Rosalie. Despite that dubious origin it’s still a great song.

The song has been recorded nearly 300 times over the past 84 years. I’m not sure if that makes it an evergreen or a chestnut. I’ll let you decide as long as you don’t roast me over an open fire.

All Friday Cocktail Hour roads lead to Ella Fitzgerald. She gets the first word:

One of Porter’s own favorite interpretations was by the great Billy Eckstine:

It’s Sammy Time:

I haven’t featured the swinging stylings of Jo Stafford before in this feature. It’s time to rectify that omission:

Rosemary Clooney had been around the block and back by the time she recorded this small-group version in 1982:

I made a Mel Tormé joke at the top of the post. Here’s the Velvet Fog’s take on this Porter classic:

Here’s a 21st Century version from my homey, Aaron Neville:

What would a Friday Cocktail be without an instrumental version of this week’s song?

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Oscar Peterson? I can’t say it enough.

That’s all for this Friday. Pour yourself a shot of your favorite adult beverage and toast the end of another work week. Do it even if you’re not working. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.