In the style of the "Mr. Tambourine" era Byrds, i.e. 1965.
My god, that's brilliant. Both conceptually and execution-wise.
And I would be remiss if I didn't post the original proto-music video of the song, which won an Academy Award in 1946, just so you can see how transplendent Ronnie's cover is.
Anway, I bring all this up because the other day a certain Shady Dame of my acquaintance and I were watching Robert Altman's fabulous 2001 Agatha Christie detective mystery pastiche Gosford Park, and I flashed on how much I loved co-star Jeremy Northam's performance of Brit pop songwriter Ivor Novello's 1924 hit "The Land of Might Have Been."
Seriously, I think that's gorgeous and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Lack of blues influence notwithstanding. 😎
And all of which leads us, slowly but inexorably, to the subject of today's thought experiment. To wit:
...and your favorite (or least favorite) pre-Elvis English or American trad pop song that's sort of become a standard or you just like is...???
Discuss.
No arbitrary rules whatsoever, and because I'm a nice guy, if you nominate something from the mid-50s or early '60s -- i.e., from My Fair Lady, West Side Story or The Music Man -- I will let you slide. But it's gotta be non-rock and nothing later than "Till There Was You"!!!
Anyway, in case you're wondering, here's my pick. By the Gershwins -- George and his lovely wife Ira. 😎
Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
16 comments:
I'll cop to a fondness for Hoagy Carmichael. Georgia On My Mind and Stardust are actual standards, not sorta become standards. I prefer Hoagy's usual stripped down versions of his songs to the more lush productions others usually put on them.
About 15 years ago I saw Kasim Sultan cover "New York State of Mind," just him on piano. I got chills, and it occurred to me that Billy Joel had written a bona fide standard.
I always loved the Mills Brothers version of "The Way You Look Tonight," as my dad played that a lot when I was growing up. I have a soft spot for that one now from most anybody
"Stardust" is my single favorite song of all time. Stunningly beautiful. Nothing greater.
And that Ronnie cover is fab!
Fred Astaire - "They Can't Take That Away from Me".
I get weepy when I hear it.
Captain Al
Forgot to sign this
Another one I'm fond of is "Where or When." Rogers and Hart.
I recall being gobsmacked hearing a subway musician play the 'Maple Leaf Rag' on a GUITAR. At a dignified tempo that Scott Joplin would have approved of, like Joshua Rifkin's recordings.
I had a music professor in college who had been an early crusader for the ragtime revival (this was pre-THE STING) and I worked with him to actually learn how to play Maple Leaf on piano. My hands are arthritically shot to shit these days, so I doubt could even fake it anymore, but it was enormous fun to be able to actually sit down at a keyboard and run through it.
The Doors first album covered a Kurt Weill
song "Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
That was a damned good version both on track and live
My great friend Mark Laurens fronted his very own rockin' zydeco band in southwest Ohio for about 15 years (1997 - 2012) and arranged a killer version of St. James Infirmary. Before he switched to a three row button accordion and zydeco music, Mark played guitar and harmonica for his three piece blues band. So you might say he had the blues in blood and it served him well after he "went zydeco."
(Deep breath)
You Belong to Me-Jo Stafford
Summertime-Santo & Johnny, Zombies, Billy Stewart
Fly Me to the Moon-Ten Tuff Guitars (look it up)
After Hours-Roy Buchanan
Sweet Dreams-Roy Buchanan
Hurt-Elvis
Caravan-Santo & Johnny
Sing, Sing, Sing- Los Straitjackets
Hearts of Stone-Blue Ridge Rangers
A Taste of Honey-Hollies (great arrangement)
Just Because-Collins Kids
Night Train-Paul Revere/Raiders
What a Difference a Day Makes-Esther Phillips
Satisfied Mind-Glen Campbell
Bob in IL
One more Kurt Weill absolute classic -
Mack the Knife - Bob Darin
respect...mic drop
Frank Sinatra- In The Wee Small Hours (the song, yes, but the whole record, too.
Great call Cleveland Jeff.
Captain Al
I know not a 'pop' or 'rock' artist, but listen to "Don't You Know I Care" as sung by Johnny Hartman. Kills me. And the song "Some Other Time" (written by Bernstein) from West Side Story is a great, unheralded song.
Thanks, Captain.
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