SwingDJs

You know, every time Rayned pulls something like this out of the ether, it just kills me.

Kalman

There are 36 versions of this song in the iTunes music store. Even a Willie Nelson one.

CafeSavoy wrote:....you'll find there are tons of good versions.....

Thanks Rayned! Kevin did a great job of giving us a list of songs that you could take in many different directions.

By listening to the versions mentioned in this thread, I've heard a bunch of different styles. If you want to get your funk on - check out this version by Carmen McRae.

Yeah, he sure did, I took it into the "I'm gonna kick your ass" direction . I just can't stop the smack man, gotta hype this bad boy up!

Harrison

I guess I'll actually contribute something here...

Like I said earlier, the count basie version is pretty rad, but the most common version I've heard has been the Carmen McCrae version, but it's not my thing, though I do know that a LOT of people like it.

Harrison

djstarr wrote:...check out this version by Carmen McRae.

Or, you could poke yourself with sharp sticks.

I think we're getting away from our purpose as DJs; I think that you should make your final selection during the battle. Listen to how people are doing, and then choose something. I think it would be helpful (because you know that you will play at least one version) to have many versions at hand during the battle. Heck, you could even play the Basie version before Harrison does, thereby forcing him to play the Willie Nelson version, or, worse, the version above!

The "best" "Exactly Like You" may emerge in the moment.

Matthew wrote:I think we're getting away from our purpose as DJs; I think that you should make your final selection during the battle. Listen to how people are doing, and then choose something. I think it would be helpful (because you know that you will play at least one version) to have many versions at hand during the battle. Heck, you could even play the Basie version before Harrison does, thereby forcing him to play the Willie Nelson version, or, worse, the version above!

The "best" "Exactly Like You" may emerge in the moment.

I totally agree - this is what I thought the battle was going to be like, but we asked Kevin T to moderate, and he came up with the rule that we had to pick ahead of time --- I'm not sure exactly why, but it does simplify the battle a little bit and since this is the first time we are trying this it's probably a good thing.

We were talking about having to battle on 10 specific songs but I wanted more flexibility in the set - the battle incorporates the overall sets plus how well we blend in the 6 specific songs.

CafeSavoy wrote:For an esoteric but good version, try Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson & His West Indian Dance Band on "_Black Bristish Swing_. Good cd overall too.

I agree, its a pretty solid version and also an excellent CD.

I have a great Lester Young comp where he played it with Glenn Hardman and His Hammond Five - 1937-1939 - There are 2 tracks of it on the cd and I forget which one I play - I think that's the same one Rayned mentioned

I also like the PeeWee Russell version I have from "Swingin' with Pee Wee." A bit dixieland, but it totally hangs. He is one of my favorites.

We have a local band who has butchered this song - they basically stole Carmen McRae's lovely old battleaxe and just killed it - it's sharp, on top of the beat, and god knows what else - it killed Carmen for me. So sad.

I played the Benny Goodman quartet one last night - everybody enjoyed it and suprisingly it's a version that hasn't gotten airtime in Seattle. It was also fun to say "oh yeah, that's Lionel Hampton singing".

Although I did listen to Harrison's pick yesterday (the early Count Basie one) -- I was like "oh this is ok" until Jimmy Rushing came in.........then I'm like "damn, I like this version just as much as the Benny Goodman one".

shortyjul wrote: We have a local band who has butchered this song - they basically stole Carmen McRae's lovely old battleaxe and just killed it - it's sharp, on top of the beat, and god knows what else - it killed Carmen for me. So sad.

Have you heard the version from Ella Fitzgerald/Stan Getz Quintet/Bill Harris, Ella Fitzgerald & Friends at Birdland: Summer 1952?

Even though it has been overplayed and slandered, I still prefer like the "original" version that Carmen McRae recorded for the Moochers a few years ago.

Lawrence wrote:Even though it has been overplayed and slandered, I still prefer like the "original" version that Carmen McRae recorded for the Moochers a few years ago.

Is this another one of your attempts at being funny?

Great thread!

I'm gonna throw another vote out for the Satch and Josh version.

Also, 'cuz I don't think it's been mentioned yet, a shout out to Nina Simone's beautiful, slow version from "Live at Town Hall"

A friend of mine stopped by this weekend with a CD full of different copies of Exactly Like You (as well as the other battle songs). He's from Chicago, but had been following the battle thread on Seattle Delphi - I thought that was *very* nice of him.

Included was the Carmen McRae version, the Nina Simone Town Hall, the Satch and Josh (which I like, but I already have O.P. slated for another song), and Tony Bennett and k.d. lang's duet.

I think I am going to get the Earl Hines/Jimmy Rushing album; it would be fun to play the early Basie and the modern one back to back - they sound like two different songs.