Favorite recording of ... All of Me?

Message

Mr Awesomer · #1 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:33 am

Since we're on the topic of favorite versions of standards...

I've got two faves for this one, a slow and a fast.

Slow is Sidney Bichet's well know version @ around 100.

Fast is Harry James' from '44 @ around 190.

Yours?

kitkat · #2 Post by **kitkat** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:40 am

Not crazy about the song, period. I haven't heard that Harry James version, though, and look forward to seeing suggestions here!

Ryan · #3 Post by **Ryan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:37 pm

Most of the versions of this song are a bit sweet for me, but here's some I dig on.

- The Bechet version
- Erroll Garner's version on Savoy
- Billie Holiday's version with Eddie Haywood

djstarr · #4 Post by **djstarr** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:45 pm

Ryan wrote:Most of the versions of this song are a bit sweet for me, but here's some I dig on.

- Billie Holiday's version with Eddie Haywood

is this the one on the Lester Young Proper Box? Don't have any liner notes on me right now, just my playlist files.

Ryan · #5 Post by **Ryan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:48 pm

djstarr wrote:Is this the one on the Lester Young Proper Box? Don't have any liner notes on me right now, just my playlist files.

Not sure because I actually don't have the Lester Young Proper Box.

Campus Five · #6 Post by **Campus Five** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:54 pm

When I play guitar, especially Django-style, All of Me is almost always the first thing I play. Its got nice chords and its really familar.

But, I've almost never heard a great version for dancing, and I know I've never called it at a dance. The one off the Sweet and Lowdown soundtrack might work though....

Mr Awesomer · #7 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:16 pm

Campus Five wrote:But, I've almost never heard a great version for dancing.

Even at 100bpm the Bechet version has always been great for dancing... and the Harry James version I mention is a straight ahead Lindy Hop number. I might need to stick a clip of it online when I get home... I can't find any existing ones online.

djstarr · #8 Post by **djstarr** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:22 pm

it's funny that this song seems to be little used and little recorded, I think I have a lot of swing tracks now, and the only versions of All of Me I have are small groups: Bechet, the one with Billie Holiday on the Lester Young Proper Box, and an uptempo one with Roy Eldridge on Little Jazz and the Jimmy Ryan All stars.

The reason I think it's funny is that there is a very standard big band arrangement of All of Me that high school jazz bands play - I played it in both high school and college and I've heard other school bands play it - I remember hearing it at a dance and still remembering my part! I guess I thought it would have been a more popular big band recording and would be more readily available.

Albert System · #9 Post by **Albert System** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:42 pm

There's a really happening version of it on the "Sinatra at the Sands" CD.

It's odd because Frankie does not sing- it is an instrumental by the Basie band featuring Al Grey with some nice plunger trombone. Definately danceable!

CafeSavoy · #10 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:10 pm

Albert System wrote:There's a really happening version of it on the "Sinatra at the Sands" CD.

It's odd because Frankie does not sing- it is an instrumental by the Basie band featuring Al Grey with some nice plunger trombone. Definately danceable!

He takes a vocal on the version from Live in Australia with the Red Norvo combo.

Swifty · #11 Post by **Swifty** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:46 pm

Twin Cities Hot Club

dancin_hanson · #12 Post by **dancin_hanson** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:14 pm

There's a nice live instrumental version by Duke Ellington HERE , from "Duke Ellington at the Alhambra" in 1958, with Johnny Hodges front & center, that I like and have played as a change of pace. Mellow groove with a splashy finish.

Mr Awesomer · #13 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:55 pm

There is a clip online of the midtempo Harry James version:
http://www.amazon.com/Uncollected-Harry ... B0000017U6
...though it's been so long since I've sampled music online I forgot how horribly compressed the sound clips are.

Platypus · #14 Post by **Platypus** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:40 pm

I love that Duke Ellington version. Yummmmmmm.......

GemZombie · #15 Post by **GemZombie** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:53 pm

I'm going to depart on from the norm on this one.

For Dance: Hot Club Of San Fancisco
For Jazz: Billie Holiday.

I'd just like to say that this is one of my favorite songs ever... it's right up there with Honeysuckle Rose for me.