Billie Holiday, Live 1948-57

[medjuck]

I'm pretty sure there's already a thread about this release but I can't find it using search.  On the first disc Bobby Tucker introduces two songs ("Good Morning Heartache" and" I Wonder Where Our Love has Gone") with a tune that's very familiar to me but I can't remember what it is.  Then to drive me even more nuts, on cd 2 Carl Drinkard uses the same tune as an outro on "I Cried for You" and "What A Little Moonlight Can Do".    Please someone: name that song.

[l p]

ellington tune?

[l p]

at 0:44

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2015 by l p

[medjuck]

Wow!  You're right!  WTF!  Why are they playing that?

[jazzbo]

Maybe for the "Holiday" aspect?

[l p]

Maybe for the "Holiday" aspect?

that's probably right. 'lady be good' is also used as a theme by the piano player, i think at her later concerts.

[agriffith]

By the way, the unidentified bass feature during the instrumental medley (track 10, disc 1) is "Jumpin' Punkins" by Mercer Ellington. 

 

 

[AllenLowe]

you sure you think Mercer wrote it? From what I heard Duke was putting Mercer's name on things for tax purposes.

[medjuck]

I don't think it was for tax purposes but rather that as a member of ASCAP Duke couldn't record any of his songs whereas Mercer and Billy Strayhorn were members of BMI.

[agriffith]

you sure you think Mercer wrote it? From what I heard Duke was putting Mercer's name on things for tax purposes.

I would imagine Duke actually wrote it; sounds like him of course. And, yes I knew about the ASCAP/BMI thing; thanks for mentioning that Medjuck.

Should have clarified that when I posted. On a similar note: although Mercer is credited as writing "Things Ain't What They Used to Be", it is actually a Johnny Hodges piece (no surprise); Hodges "lost" the piece to Duke in a card game! Then Duke had Mercer put his name on it because of the BMI/ASCAP thing. 

Anyway, just some trivia I heard from a member of the Ellington band, who heard it from Mercer himself.

 

 

[medjuck]

I once heard a dj play "Things.."  and announce that it was by Johnny Mercer and Duke Ellington.  I guess he looked at the label.  A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 

[l p]

On 7/22/2015 at 4:49 PM, AllenLowe said:

you sure you think Mercer wrote it? From what I heard Duke was putting Mercer's name on things for tax purposes.

 

Duke Ellington 
The Duke Box (8 CDs - 2006) Storyville Records

CD 5 (55:29)

11Dec43, Carnegie Hall, NYC  
 4. Moon Mist

 

duke introduces this tune as 'written by my son, mercer ellington'. 

why would he make a public announcement like this if it's just for tax purposes?

[alankin]

I thought it was due to the recording ban.

[jazztrain]

On ‎7‎/‎24‎/‎2015 at 1:00 PM, agriffith said:

I would imagine Duke actually wrote it; sounds like him of course. And, yes I knew about the ASCAP/BMI thing; thanks for mentioning that Medjuck.

Should have clarified that when I posted. On a similar note: although Mercer is credited as writing "Things Ain't What They Used to Be", it is actually a Johnny Hodges piece (no surprise); Hodges "lost" the piece to Duke in a card game! Then Duke had Mercer put his name on it because of the BMI/ASCAP thing. 

Anyway, just some trivia I heard from a member of the Ellington band, who heard it from Mercer himself.

 

 

The original title of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" was "Time's A-Wastin'"

Edited April 13, 2016 by jazztrain
clarification

[l p]

39 minutes ago, jazztrain said:

The original title of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" was "Time's A-Wastin'"

 

in concert, Wings And Things (written by hodges) was often played as a continuation of Things Ain't What They Used to Be (at least in 1966). Wings seems like a natural extension of Things Ain't What They Used to Be. on those july 1966 antibes shows hodges just seems to be soloing forever when playing this medley. 

[AllenLowe]

why wouldn't he announce Mercer as the composer if he had done it for tax purposes? Otherwise he would be admitting to having broken the law.

[l p]

why make the announcement? it's not like he habitually announced each tune and its composer at concerts, especially in these early days.

Edited April 13, 2016 by l p