SwingDJs

It's stuck in my head (probably as a result of listening to it played live and DJed), but I don't own a version that I like and wouldn't mind spinning. I'm mostly thinking about something uptempo (180-210 bpm)-ish, but wouldn't mind other tempos.

Many (most?) arrangements of "After You've Gone" change tempos mid-way through. I like versions by Lionel Hampton (1937) and LaVern Baker (1958), although both far exceed 210bpm when they eventually get going.

If you don't mind some old school, there's a fine 1929 version by Louis Armstrong at 200 bpm and not changing tempo. (Unfortunately it's not one of the songs he did with Luis Russell's orchestra at the time. Those were hard-swinging!)

A few nice versions that come to mind (swing-era, non-ultra-fast):

Fats Waller - 1939 (Associated transcription)
Benny Goodman - 1942 (one of many versions of his, but this is my favorite)
Tommy Dorsey - 1936 (not lindy material, but beautiful)
Jess Stacy - 1944 (lovely trio recording)

Tom Lord lists 1048 recordings, so this could become a very long thread...

I have a blog post listing six versions with tempo changes.

Bessie Smith! 1927

There's a fun Stuff Smith version from 1936.

I like the 1937 one from this album (Bill Coleman, Stéphane Grappelli, Joseph Reinhardt, Wilson Myers, Ted Fields).

I also like the Katherine Whalen version.

I like the vocals in the Cecile McLorin Slavant version. They're buttery.


Oh, zipthebird - Titan Hot Seven! I still haven't bought any of their stuff!

Gene Krupa w Roy Eldridge = fast!