Download Instrumental    Is being irresponsible so bad?  Not when it comes to the clever lyrics in this catchy little tune from 1963,  written by the illustrious Sammy Cahn.  You might, or might not, remember a few of Cahn’s other masterpieces like “Three Coins in a Fountain”, “All The Way”, “High Hopes” and “Let It Snow”.  But “Call Me Irresponsible” was by far the most popular and most recorded piece of its time.  Most of the superstars who recorded this one were men (Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and many more).  Women, I think, are just naturally reluctant to call themselves irresponsible, even in a song.  Men?  We don’t care…

My favorite rendition is off the 2007 album titled “Call Me Irresponsible” by Michael Buble.  So, of course, I channeled Buble while hammering this arrangement together.  I really, really like the way he arranges his music.  As far as really liking the man himself – not so much.  He comes off as a bit smarmy to me.  A woman once argued with me that Michael Buble was the sexiest man alive, so I took a second look.  Nope…. still smarmy.

Anyway, as in almost all big band arrangements, the piano and guitar get lost in all the horns.  I hate that.  So I kept piano and jazz guitar as out front as possible, while keeping the horns “subtle but still there”.  This will work better onstage for you singers out there if you use these backup tracks.  Your audience comes to hear you sing and the last thing you need at a club performance is a wall of brass blasting away behind you.

Ironically, this tune was first performed by someone who really didn’t sing well – Jackie Gleason.  Mr. Gleason was given the honor of introducing it to the world in the film Papa’s Delicate Condition.  Gleason played Papa, who was a lovable but crusty family guy whose “delicate condition” kept him inebriated a great deal of the time.  He was careless (irresponsible) with money – once buying an entire circus because his daughter wanted a pony.  See?  Lovable.  His wife eventually leaves him, which prompts this song and a very poignant scene between Papa and a dress mannequin.  Watch below if you don’t believe me.  It’s poignant, I tell you!!