Songs or arrangements indelibly ascribed

[Naphtali]

Driving home from Missoula this evening listening to CDs in my changer, I realized that some songs, some arrangements of songs are "possessed" by one singer or group or band, or are performed to perfection only the one way. Among these I include:

1. Hot Club of France's version of "Honeysuckle Rose";

2. Frank Sinatra's "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)";

3. Nat Cole's "Stardust";

4. Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild";

5. Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine";

6. Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket";

7. Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train";

8. Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing";

9. Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo";

10. Walter Huston's "September Song";

11. Ella Fitzgerald's "Love for Sale."

In many of these instances, the artist recorded the song more than once. I have specific recordings in mind, but for those who are unfamiliar with any version, all are pretty good, and one version is perfection.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I want you all to listen very closely to the song "If I Fell" (c.1964) from the film 'A Hard Days Night' by the Beatles.

This one original composition exemplifies what perfection is in terms of great melody, tight vocal harmony, and subtle instrumentals that will stick in your cerebral hemisphere for eternity.

Those two voices (Lennon and McCartney) together in harmony were perfected by years of hearing Everly Brothers and capturing the subtle nuances that create the perfect song.

Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

-dixon cannon

 

[JennyLou]

I want you all to listen very closely to the song "If I Fell" (c.1964) from the film 'A Hard Days Night' by the Beatles.

This one original composition exemplifies what perfection is in terms of great melody, tight vocal harmony, and subtle instrumentals that will stick in your cerebral hemisphere for eternity.

Those two voices (Lennon and McCartney) together in harmony were perfected by years of hearing Everly Brothers and capturing the subtle nuances that create the perfect song.

Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

-dixon cannon

Oh, I agree with you completely. That songs is wonderful. Lennon and McCartney wrote some amazing tunes.

 

[Chas]

Which version of which song is tops? It's purely subjective and it's a question that requires many hours of listening.

"Body and Soul", for example. Billie Holiday's rendition with Teddy Wilson recorded in 1940 is certainly a contender for the finest version. However - you come to Coleman Hawkins' 1939 version, which is far more important and groundbreaking as it is considered a landmark recording in the history of jazz, and by many as the first modern jazz recording. It is a true masterpiece, an incredible effort of pure improvisation and it is arguably the greatest jazz recording of all time. So it's a purely personal statement to suggest that any one artist really "owns" a particular song.

Stardust? The Artie Shaw version w/ Billy Butterfield's sublime solo? Louis Armstrong? Ben Webster's version w/ Duke Ellington? Art Tatum?

Duke Ellington recorded at least four versions of Solitude. Which one is best?

I am familiar with the Hot Club Of France's version of "Honeysuckle Rose", but how can you honestly suggest that it's superior to Lester Young's version? My experience is that over years of listening, your tastes will change, you will reevaluate and reorder your assessments over time.

Peas and apples. Purely a question of personal choice.

 

[JennyLou]

Which version of which song is tops? It's purely subjective and it's a question that requires many hours of listening.

"Body and Soul", for example. Billie Holiday's rendition with Teddy Wilson recorded in 1940 is certainly a contender for the finest version. However - you come to Coleman Hawkins' 1939 version, which is far more important and groundbreaking as it is considered a landmark recording in the history of jazz, and by many as the first modern jazz recording. It is a true masterpiece, an incredible effort of pure improvisation and it is arguably the greatest jazz recording of all time. So it's a purely personal statement to suggest that any one artist really "owns" a particular song.

Stardust? The Artie Shaw version w/ Billy Butterfield's sublime solo? Louis Armstrong? Ben Webster's version w/ Duke Ellington? Art Tatum?

Duke Ellington recorded at least four versions of Solitude. Which one is best?

I am familiar with the Hot Club Of France's version of "Honeysuckle Rose", but how can you honestly suggest that it's superior to Lester Young's version? My experience is that over years of listening, your tastes will change, you will reevaluate and reorder your assessments over time.

Peas and apples. Purely a question of personal choice.

I agree with you-it would be hard to say that one version of a song is the best when so many great artist have done it as well. As far as "Body and Soul". I think you describesd it well. Coleman Hawkins rendition is amazing and a true piece of art.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

The Jimi Hendrix version of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower, even Bob Dylan prefers the Jimi Hendrix version.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'll agree with the Hawkins version of Body and Soul as the definitive *jazz* version -- although the Benny Goodman Trio version from 1935 is the one I hear in my head when I think of this particular tune.

But for the version of "Body and Soul" that's *truest to the original conception of the song,* as a Broadway torch song, I'll point to the 1930 Victor recording by Leo Reisman and his Orchestra, with a superb vocal by Lee Wiley and a trumpet solo by Bubber Miley of all people. This is what Johnny Green had in mind when he wrote the tune.

 

[Fletch]

That is, especially for 1930, one hell of a performance. Not for any advanced arranging or such, but for the sheer feeling and intensity and the artful use of dynamics. Dynamic variation was just about unheard of in dance bands at the time, and as you must know, Reisman made something of a style of it (at least while he was with RCA with their high quality sound).

I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get that arpeggiated, low register tenor sax figure to come out smoothly and softly in practice. I'm not surprised it took seventeen takes for Reisman's boys to get it down.

 

[Naphtali]

This is wonderful -- expanding my horizon.

 

[HadleyH]

This one.
Always in awe of Louis Armstrong ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fHdb3QDaeU

 

[Sertsa]

I'll add Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" -- the recording with Joe Henderson's sax solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlGvuKSq7Wk

(Edited to fix the link and say I've also always been in awe of both Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins).

 

[Spitfire]

The Jimi Hendrix version of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower, even Bob Dylan prefers the Jimi Hendrix version.

Oh yes!!!!!
And then we have this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgGu4vehUo
Bryan Ferry's version of All along the watchtower. I think both Hendrix AND Dylan would prefere it.

 

[Chas]

Oh yes!!!!!
And then we have this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgGu4vehUo
Bryan Ferry's version of All along the watchtower. I think both Hendrix AND Dylan would prefere it.

I dunno, man. I'm skeptical. I like Bryan Ferry, but this version is too clean and 'pop-py'. Hendrix has soul. Again, purely subjective. I grew up listening to Hendrix, so the emotional influence is not to be discounted.

 

[Spitfire]

Chas - of course it's purely subjective. And you have a right to be. I grew up with hendrix too - and I think he's the greatest guitarplayer even to day.

But I was also at the Bryan Ferry concert here in Copenhagen, when he did the Dylanized Tour. It was a great concert - clean? Maybe. Cool? Absolutely!
And that young longhaired kid in the striped shirt had some marvelous solos.
Maybe I am just as subjective....

 

[Ethan Bentley]

"I Say A Little Prayer" written by Burt Bacharach, sung by Aretha Franklin.

What I define as a "sound" song.
There's some pun there but it's not really intended.