"Tulip or Turnip"

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Yakov · #1 Post by **Yakov** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:29 pm

I absolutely love the song "tulip or turnip" as sung by Ray Nance on Ellington At Newport 1956 Complete. What a killer dance tune. questions:

1. any other danceable versions that you like?

2. can you make out the word -- he says "Tell me tell me tell me ------, What am I to you?" What is the word -----? I can't find the lyrics online.

-yakov

#2 Post by **JesseMiner** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:41 pm

Agreed. Great version, though I love the melody in general and haven't heard a version that I didn't like.

From what I can tell, the line is "Tell me, tell me, tell me, dreamface, what am I to you?"

A few other danceable versions that I play are on the following albums:

Helen Carr - The Complete Bethlehem Collection
Bill Henderson - Something's Gotta Give

I also heard a great version on Greg Avakian's Yehoodi show by the Dave Whitney Quintet. Greg, can you give us any more information about this cut? I'm going to have to go out and get it now!

Jesse

Lawrence · #3 Post by **Lawrence** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:47 pm

Carmen McRae sings a great version. I do not have the album info with me, though.

Platypus · #4 Post by **Platypus** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:38 pm

Carla Cook (used to be George Gee's vocalist) also has a version on her "Simply Natural" album.

Mike · #5 Post by **Mike** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:11 am

I used to play a version off of Happy Birthday, Duke! the Birthday Sessions, which I really liked, although if I remember correctly Ray Nance is slightly off-mic for that number. Still great for dancing though.

Swifty · #6 Post by **Swifty** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:42 am

Do you remember which disc that's on?

Shanabanana · #7 Post by **Shanabanana** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:28 am

Yakov wrote:2. can you make out the word -- he says "Tell me tell me tell me ------, What am I to you?" What is the word -----? I can't find the lyrics online.

Dreamface. At least that's what I've always assumed it is.

I have a few great versions, but my favorite is the Ellington version on chronological classics 1946-1947.

Shanabanana · #8 Post by **Shanabanana** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:29 am

oops...that's what I get for not reading the previous posts well enough.

Mike · #9 Post by **Mike** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:24 pm

Swifty wrote:Do you remember which disc that's on?

Looks like it's disc 4.

CafeSavoy · #10 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 4:39 pm

Janis Siegel has a version on her The Tender Trap.

Shorty Dave · #11 Post by **Shorty Dave** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:48 pm

Greg, this is your dream thread! Where are you???

Greg Avakian · #12 Post by **Greg Avakian** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:57 am

Hahaha, David, you crack me up! Yeah, Greg sure does like that song. Not crazy about the Carla Cook version though. Maybe I should listen again, but I think it's slow, long and a little abstract for dancing?
BTW, on the Bill Henderson "Live at Joeys revisited" album, it's called "What am I to you", not "Tulip or Turnip". Other artists have mistakenly done the same...

Anyway, the Dave Whitney album is "Dave Whitney: Live at Bullfinch's". It is one of my DJ treasures.

It is a terrific fusion of traditional jazz and swing -but with a very modern sound. Some may feel that, while the arrangements seem "traditional", the players sound "modern". Normally this would feel awkward to me, but this band totally makes it work. There are many danceable tunes (slow, med & fast) and since it's a live recording, the vibe of the music is very upbeat and swingin'. You can tell everyone is just having fun with their friends. I honestly think almost anyone on this list will like this CD and find something they could play at an event.
There was no ordering info. or catalog number on the CD itself, so I did some research -and called Dave Whitney! He's a heck of a nice guy to talk to and as it turns out, you can order the CD directly from him. He also has another CD out called "Dave Whitney: Creative Horn". I found it on this site if you want to hear some samples, but if you order it, I think it would be nice to order it from him -since he makes more money that way.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 45-8590522
Track list:
1. At Sundown
2. That's My Home
3. Mean to Me
4. I Love You, Samantha
5. Old Folks
6. Struttin' With Some Barbecue
7. Be Careful, It's My Heart
8. Drop That Sack
9. Beale Street Blues
10. Breezin' Along With the Breeze
11. One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)
12. Shoe Shine Boy
13. My Very Good Friend, the Milkman
14. Fantastic, That's You
15. You Can Depend on Me
16. Spain
17. Dear Bix
18. Yacht Club Swing
=============================================================
Ordering info:

Dave Whitney
33 Wyman Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821

Each CD is $15
=============================================================

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I have!

Greg

#13 Post by **JesseMiner** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:40 pm

Lawrence wrote:Carmen McRae sings a great version. I do not have the album info with me, though.

I just recently picked up a sweet version by Carmen McRae off of her album Any Old Time, and the liner notes include the lyrics:

Tulip or Turnip

Tulip or turnip?
Rosebud or rhubarb?
Fillet or plain beef stew?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, dreamface,
What am I to do?

Diamond or doorknob?
Sapphire of sawdust?
Champagne or just home brew?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, dreamface,
What am I to you?

Do I get the booby-prize,
Or will I be the hero?
Am I headed for blue skies,
Or is my ceiling zero?

Tulip or turnip?
Moonbeam or mudpie?
Bankroll or I.O.U.?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, dreamface,
What am I to you?
Tell me, tell me, dreamface,
What am I to do?

Tell me, tell me,
Come over here and tell me,
Tell me, tell me, tell me, dreamface,
What am I to you?

I thought some of you might be interested in this.

Jesse

Lawrence · #14 Post by **Lawrence** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:49 am

JesseMiner wrote:
Lawrence wrote:Carmen McRae sings a great version. I do not have the album info with me, though.
I just recently picked up a sweet version by Carmen McRae off of her album Any Old Time

Yes, that's it!

Jerry_Jelinek · #15 Post by **Jerry_Jelinek** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:21 am

From memory Bobby Troup wrote the song.

He also recorded and sang it on a CD under his name. I'm stuck for the title of the CD, but I think it is 'Jazz Stars' or West Coast Jazz Stars, something like that.

He did the album in the late 1950s in conjunction with his short lived TV program from LA.

But I agree the Nance version on Neport 56 is great, and the best version I've heard.

SwingDJs

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