Summertime

[brigdh]

One of my very favorite songs is Summertime. Originally composed by George Gershwin in 1935, it has been performed by a *lot* of people since then. Below the cut are some of my favorite covers of it; I used to have many more, but unfortunately I lost them when my computer crashed a while back. If anyone has some more versions, I'd love to hear them!



Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Summertime. Probably the most famous version of the song, this turns the opera aria into a jazz standard.

The Platters - Summertime. Another jazz version; I love how relaxed the singer is here, especially with the backup.

Sublime - Summertime. Sublime is heavily influenced by jazz here, but brings in their own rock background. They throw in lyrics to many other songs in the verses, but the chorus stays with Summertime.

Morcheeba - Summertime. Morcheeba brings in the electronica influences to make a lovely, lounge-y song.

Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix - Summertime. My very favorite version; this was recorded live at Woodstock, and is obviously right in the center of 60s rock. I love Janis's passion singing this.


Crossposted from lunatunes, because they lock their posts.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

I have a weird, loungey version hat's not in English that I found in Australia. I'll email it to you tomorrow.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

That would be excellent! Thank you so much.

[quixotic-sense.livejournal.com]

Is that the one by Angelique Kidjo, on the coup d'etat album? It also has an Franco-Arab cover of the Shaft theme, as I recall. *g*

[rm.livejournal.com]

It is her, but I just have it on a sampler, yes.

[b-hallward.livejournal.com]

Must be my music pimping karma that this is the one post I read all week ^^

I have versions by Billie Holiday (though the sound quality isn't great), Nina Simone, Sam Cooke (weirdly creepy) and an instrumental jazz version by the Sidney Bechet Quintet -- I can upload any or all that catch your interest.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh! There you are! It makes me so happy to see you; I had been wanting to write you an email, to say that I completely understand if you can't be around but that you will be missed, and that I am glad you made a post before you left, because I'd just noticed a few days before that you'd seemed to have disappeared and had started to weigh the relative intrusiveness of writing you to see if everything was okay or asking someone else who might know, so I really appreciated that you had said something. But I keep getting flustered at thinking of ways to say 'I think you're fascinating too! I think you're wonderful and interesting and I am so sorry for what you're going through!' that don't make me sound like a stalker, and apparently I'd rather just embarrass myself here.

Um. Right. Ignore that, if you'd like. I'd love to hear Nina Simone's, because I adore her voice, but any you think I might like would be appreciated.

[b-hallward.livejournal.com]

#^^# Thanks, means a lot.

I don't know why sending emails is so hard, but I have exactly the same problem. The human mind is weird.

And, btw, hating winter? I am so, so with you on that.

Sidney Bechet Quintet - Summertime (http://www.sendspace.com/file/hs9uhv)

Nina Simone - Summertime (http://www.sendspace.com/file/om5l6j)

Sam Cooke - Summertime, Pt. 1 (http://www.sendspace.com/file/1qgacu) (Maybe it's just me, but this version gives off all sorts of creepy; "One of these mornings you're going to rise up singing" has a totally different vibe)

Billie Holiday - Summertime (http://www.sendspace.com/file/k0364f)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

No worries. ^^

Sending emails is so personal and specific. It makes me think of the long letters characters are always sending each other in Victorian novels; I should include descriptions of weather and balls and dinners.

I'm convinced the only reason winter exists to make us enjoy the rest of the year more. And even then, I think we could manage to scrape up some appreciate without it for comparision.

Thank you so much! The Sam Cooke one is creepy; I think it's the woman's voice in the background. She sounds like a ghost.

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

I can't upload it right now, but you need the Stereophonics one! Acoustic guitar from Welsh rockers, very nice.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Dude! I do need that. I, uh, encourage you to remember when you do have a chance to upload it.

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

http://www.sendspace.com/file/v5cnqw

There! I didn't realise it was on this harddrive. Convenient!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, and it is such a lovely cover of it.

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

My all-time favourite. ( :

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

I just heard the Greg Kinnear version from Stuck On You the other day on the radio!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ha, really? That's pretty cool!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

They were interviewing him on "Fresh Air." Overall it was pretty awesome.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ah, cool. Makes sense that they'd play it then. I was just thinking that I've never heard this song on the radio, but clearly I am not listening to the right stations.