JSngry

I don't exactly know the answer to that, but I have about 15 versions, and the earliest happens to be a vocal version- Irene Kral with Buddy Collette, circa 1957 (from "The Buddy Collette Quintet" on Studio West). Next earliest in my collection is Sarah's recording for Roulette in '62. I've got Chris Connor & Maynard Ferguson from 1961 on Atlantic. Great Willie Maiden chart, one of his very best. This site http://www.franlandesman.com/code/biogs/franbiog.html tells the story of how the song came about. Tommy is co-composer Tommy Wolf, the Crystal Palace a club in St. Louis (read about it here: http://riverfronttimes.com/issues/2004-03-...ature_full.html ). Fran Landesman is, of course, Fran Landesman. Ok, the singer is really named Jerri Winters, and the label was Fraternity. Here's the album: Gotta love that cluttered artwork... Track listing: Another page from the same site http://www.franlandesman.com/code/biogs/wolf.html mentions that the song was also recorded by Wolf for an album of the same name on Fraternity in 1957. The Kral/Collette recording was from a broadcast, right? So the song was definitely "in the air" in 1957. but if you can believe the above, Jerri Winters (of whom I've only marginally heard) was the first to "officially" record it. The song, and the whole nexus of performers and songwriters who were creating & propagating material of a similar attitudinal bent, is a unique sub-chapter of The Great American Songbook (and probably doesn't qualify as such!). You've got songwriters and performers who still were functioning in the traditional social/functional modes of their respective occupations, but they had all heard bebop & cool, and it had a blatant effect on their music. Coming as it did at the beginning of the Rock & Roll era, most of that material was and still remains remains somewhat "cultish" relative to earlier popular song. but it's definitely a unique body of work. Sounds like a possible future project for ghost of miles. Paging!

36 calls for a 40!

A damn near perfect record.

Reissued on a Drive archive CD, I believe. A fine side, to be sure. And talk about unpredictable - he plays "Birdland"!

Not the exact phrase I would use, but no argument otherwise. If the guy has any problems on/with his instrument, I sure don't hear them.

Esquerita Little Richard Big Dick Cheney

Jim Wynn Anna Loos John Gnagy

When all is said and done, is there really any other kind?

I hear it most in his mid-period tenure w/Cannonball, the Capitol stuff that's mostly not yet been reissued. But it's more of a "conceptual" influence than a "specific" one.

Brian Blade Grassella Oliphant Walt Whitman

Mooloopia!

ZOOP!

You're not alone.

Wendy Wilson Wendy O. Williams Dr, Charles R, Drew

Coocoocachoo!

Jim Lang Bob Eubanks Chuck Barris

I'd like to hear Keith Jarrett cover a Steely Dan tune.

You're not alone.

Conrad is so right. Wait til ya hit 50, right Jim? Yep. You gotta be prepared to hit back.

Eartha Kitt naked and horny 30-40 years ago. I'd pay good money for that souvenir. Other than that, the album of previously unreleased festival performances from a few years ago was pretty nifty. Got any more?

Gerald McBoing-Boing Papa Oo Mow Mow Jomo Kenyatta

Mr. Magic Mrs. Baird Miss Priss

Richard Starkey Charlie the Tuna Bill Parcells

Had a few listens to this last night, and it's going to be filed under "Good For The Long Haul". A superb album in every respect.

Paul Whiteman David Duke Duke Ellington