Two of a Kind: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the full range of Mercer's genius in one accessible volume. Teachers and singers will find standards suitable for recital, cabaret, or concert programming, all with chord charts for flexible accompaniment and straightforward vocal lines that honor the original melodies without excessive ornamentation.

These songs breathe with the warmth of classic American song. Whether you're navigating the wistfulness of 'Days of Wine and Roses,' the ebullient swagger of 'I'm an Old Cowhand,' or the intimate vulnerability of 'One for My Baby,' Mercer's language and the melodies he inspired invite singers into storytelling that feels both timeless and deeply human.

Singers preparing solo recitals, cabaret programs, or jazz standards repertoire will find 46 carefully selected songs that span Mercer's output across film, theater, and popular song. Pianists and guitarists accompanying vocalists benefit from the included chord frames, which provide harmonic clarity without limiting interpretive flexibility.

• Treat the text as dialogue. Mercer's lyrics invite conversational delivery; resist the temptation to oversing or add unnecessary vibrato in ballads like 'Skylark' or 'Laura.'
• Study the recording history of any song you choose. Many of these standards have multiple famous interpretations; listening to Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, or Frank Sinatra can illuminate phrasing and style without requiring you to imitate.
• Pay attention to rhythm and speech patterns in uptempo novelty songs like 'Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive' and 'G.I. Jive,' where lyrical clarity and comic timing matter as much as pitch.
• Balance piano accompaniment with the vocal line. The chord charts allow guitarists or pianists to voice these arrangements lightly, keeping focus on the singer's storytelling.

Build a recital around Mercer standards to create thematic cohesion and demonstrate the breadth of American popular song. These pieces work equally well in concert halls, cabarets, and educational showcases; consider pairing a selection of uptempo novelty songs with a contrasting slow ballad to show Mercer's range and the pianist or guitarist's sensitivity to accompanying different moods.

• Vocal phrasing in popular song idiom with attention to text clarity and conversational delivery
• Reading chord charts and understanding harmonic progressions in lead sheet notation
• Interpreting jazz and theater song conventions, including swing rhythm and syncopated melody
• Accompanying flexibility for singers, allowing pianists and guitarists to adjust texture and voicing based on the vocalist's needs
• Historical awareness of American standards and their film and theatrical origins