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"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" is a popular song, best known as the signature song of Tony Bennett, written in late-1953 in Brooklyn, New York by George Cory and Douglass Cross. In 1962, the song was released as a single by Bennett on Columbia Records as the b-side to "Once Upon a Time", which peaked at No. 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was also included on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
The Ralph Records album Subterranean Modern, released in 1979, features four different covers of the song recorded specifically or the LP, by Chrome, MX-80 Sound, The Residents and Tuxedomoon.
History[]
Ralph Records' Subterranean Modern album, released in 1979, was a showcase for bizarre contemporary San Francisco bands, with each of its four artists contributing 10 minutes worth of new music. At the request of The Cryptic Corporation, each artist would include a cover of "I Lefft My Heart in San Francisco" in that 10 minute slot. The Residents submitted a four part suite titled The Replacement, which told the story of a man being replaced by his doppelgänger. "In San Francisco" serves as the opening track to The Replacement, and is again interpolated in the closing track, "Time's Up." An early instrumental demo version of the cover was released on the 2019 Eskimo pREServed set.
None of the groups were particularly thrilled about recording the song. Hardy Fox, of The Cryptic Corporation, later admitted that the original song was "not great",[1] but it was chosen because of its status as the anthem of San Francisco. What resulted was a interesting cover of the song very fitting for the "Eskimo" era.
Legacy[]
This song has not been performed live but has seen many rereleases along with the rest of the "The Replacement" suite. With this suite being recorded alongside "Eskimo", it's commonly featured as a bonus on various reissues, most notably the 1987 Classic series CD and the 2019 pREServed CD. This has been featured on certain releases by itself though, such as "Ralph before 84'", "80 Aching Orphans," and the "Buy or Die! Ralph Records 1972-1982" compilation release. Lastly, it's worth mentioning that the entire suite is featured on the Residue Deux and Superior Verdict reissue.
Every song from "80 Aching Orphans" had some accompanying text with it. For this song this is what The Residents had to say.
In August 1979, The Residents' label, Ralph Records, issued the Subterrranean Modern compilation album, consisting of material by our heroes, Chrome, MX-80 Sound and Tuxedomoon. "Do anything you like," seemed to be the remit, "as long as that includes recording a version of I Left My Heart In San Francisco." Everybody duly obliged and the album was released to serve as a sampler, of sorts, for both Ralph and the artists it contained.
Lyrics[]
I know that soon I will be gone I know that soon I will be gone Left his heart in San Francisco Left his heart in San Francisco I know that soon I will be grown Grown, Groan, Groan[2]
Releases[]
- Subterranean Modern (1979) [Versions 1]
- Ralph Before '84: Volume 1, The Residents (1984) [Versions 1]
- Eskimo "Classic Series" CD reissue (1987) [Versions 1]
- Residue Deux (1998) [Versions 1]
- 80 Aching Orphans (2017) [Versions 1]
- Eskimo pREServed (2019) [Versions 1] [Versions 2]
- Buy or Die! Ralph Records 1972-1982 (2024) [Versions 1]