Where can I find a recording of the Beatles song "Yesterday" sung by Mel Torme?

Are you sure that the song is the Beatles "Yesterday" and not
"Yesterday, when I was young?"

I am certain it is not "Yesterday When I Was Young."  More than two
decades ago, I heard on the radio Mel Torme sing the Beatles'
"Yesterday."  It was a recording, not a live performance.  It was the
most beautiful rendition of the song I had ever heard, and I listened
carefully after it was over to verify who the artist was.

brucebrooks --

Could you possibly be thinking of the late Matt Monro's version of
"Yesterday"?  He was a well-known 50s/60s British pop singer (not a
jazz-inflected singer like Torme) who recorded the very first "cover"
version of the Beatles hit.

Sorry about the "wild" guessing, but it is curious that a recorded
Torme version would not be findable if it existed, and I, at least,
have been unable to find one.

markj-ga

brucebrooks --

Following up on my previous comment, here is an audio clip of the Matt
Monro version of "Yesterday":

Tower Records: Matt Monro, "Original Gold"
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.asp?pfid=1514013&cc=USD

Monro and Torme certainly have different singing styles, but those
differences  are muted on a "straight" ballad like "Yesterday." And
they do have similar sounding names.

Let me know if this is the recording you remember, and I will post an
answer.  If it is not, I and others will continue the search.

markj-ga

Matt Monro sounds very good singing "Yesterday", but not nearly as
good as I remember Mel Torme sounding.  But thanks for your efforts.

Welp.  I found the one trace of Mel Torme connected with the Beatles
-- but he wasn't singing Yesterday -- instead it was 'She's Leaving
Home'.   Another, on the same album, Lee Morgan, did sing The Beatles
'Yesterday'.   I'm not sure if its a case where the DJ played both
songs or if as you say, the legendary Torme really did sing said song.

I wonder if it would be possible to contact Mel Torme or his agent and
ask what they know?

Unfortunately, Mel Torme is dead.

markj-ga

That's a shock.  He must have died recently.  His agent, then?
BTW, this question has been much harder to answer than I thought it would be.

If it helps anybody, there is a compilation album that was released in
Japan which includes Mel Torme. It is called "Jazz On Lennon and
McCartney". I can't find a track list, but the recording may be on
this album.

- Hammer

I have found no more information on Jazz on Lennon and McCartney, but
I imagine that it is worth investigating this lead.  It could be that
this album contains the cover of "She's Leaving Home", rather than
"Yesterday", but you never know.

Believe it or not, it's been almost four years since Mel Torme passed
away:

"Singing legend Mel Torme dead at 73" (June 6, 1999)
CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9906/05/torme.obit.03/

I emailed Blue Note (the releasing label) and an online retailer who
claims to have the album in stock to find out if it includes the Mel
Torme Yesterday track. We shall see...

- Hammer

mels discography on www.jazzvocal.com/meltorme.html