Sweet Georgia Brown

[Roy]

Does anyone play this song? I'm curious because the past year or so it has grown into one of my favorites. I often use the Earl Hines version from 1936 as the first song of a big band set. Because of it's familiarity everyone always gets up and dances to it. But sometimes I will use other more modern verions -Alberta Hunter, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown trio(very long version). Sometimes I will play the Eddie South/Django version. but all versions get people dancing, for me it's one of those sure thing songs if I feel I lost connection with the crowd.

So, anyway last night I was listening to blues before sunrise (www.bluesbeforesunrise.com) and Steve Cushing put on a version by Brother Bones which is the same version that the Harlem Globetrotters use. And He said he knew very little about Brother Bones. I found that curious I mean geez just go to allmusic.com. So, I did to look it up. and brother bones is not listed at all. I found that strange how can one of the most recognized version of any song not have a listing? Nothing? So I had to do a deeper internet search and found information on Brother Bones here: http://www.whistlingrecords.com/brother ... _bones.htm
At this site you can here many of his songs, most of his other stuff I thought was garbage. But on this site tallking about bones players there is an interesting version of "Ain't she Sweet" by Mr. Goon-Bones who is a conteporary on Brother Bones. (I ain't making this up)

So this got me thinking. Is there any song out there that anyone plays or a swing song that someone does not play in which the "bones" are played? It's an interesting sounding insturment and out of my own curiousity I would like to hear it in a few jazz recordings for I can make up my my if I like it or not.

[GemZombie]

I don't have the Brother Bones version, but I do play an Erskine Hawkins and an Earl Hines version from time to time... good stuff. I have other versions, but I can't say I've really listened to them... perhaps I will and see if they will go over well, like you suggest they will.

I was buying some 78's for my wife (she likes to collect them), and did find a version of Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue, by Brother Bones. I have not found anything on CD.

Here's some info: http://www.whistlingrecords.com/brother ... _bones.htm

Versions of Sweet Georgia Brown I have:
Earl Hines
Benny Goodman
Benny Carter & His Chocolate Dandies
Cab Calloway
Django Reinhardt (3 versions)
Erskine Hawkins
Harry James

[kitkat]

So this got me thinking. Is there any song out there that anyone plays or a swing song that someone does not play in which the "bones" are played?

Patrick Szmidt of Paris, France spins Brother Bones's version of Sweet Georgia Brown pretty regularly.

I personally don't really like dancing to it as much as other artists' versions. Then again, I think his version of "Charleston" that you can find on that site is the best I've ever heard. It gets especially captivating after the last whistling solo at 1:14. I'd spin it in Paris, where people are used to hearing his music (familiarity can put more of a happy smile on dancers' faces than bad recording quality can take off) or perhaps at an event with fans of older music.

[Roy]

Jive Melody of that site is pretty good also.

[caab]

So funny that you posted this, a few months ago I got the Sweet Georgia Brown bug and I looked for as many different versions as I could find. In addition to some listed already, I love to play versions by Diane Schuur and the Ink Spots.

[Yakov]

Gene Harris!

[Nima]

The version which I started to like recently is from one of our local bands. AS a matter of fact I played it last night. Corny name, but good sounds: Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz

[CafeSavoy]

Does anyone play this song? I'm curious because the past year or so it has grown into one of my favorites.

Since you're collecting versions, a few not mentioned:

Henderson, Bill _Sweet Georgia Brown (180) _Live with the Count Basie Band ['65]
Aleman, Oscar _Sweet Georgia Brown (200) ['41] _Swing Guitar Masterpieces 1938~1957 (Disc 1)
Charles, Ray _Sweet Georgia Brown (245) _Ray Charles and Betty Carter , Dedicated To You
Kirby, John _Sweet Georgia Brown ['39may19] [C6] _Charlie Shavers, Jazz Archives No203~~ The Amazing Trumpet of Mister Charlie 1937~1947
Murphy, Mark _Sweet Georgia Brown (133) _The Best of the Capitol Years ['59~60]
Schuur, Diane _Sweet Georgia Brown (188'') ['92] [BB] _In Tribute

[JesseMiner]

You're missing my favorite to play at dances:

Ella Fitzgerald w/ Duke Ellington - Cote d'Azur Concerts (Disc 7)

She also has a slightly faster one on "A Perfect Match" (with the Basie band), but I prefer the version with Ellington.

As for Brother Bones, his version used to be played all of the time here in San Francisco. I've gotten a kick on several occasions from watching dancers goofing around with some "air basketball" while it is playing.

Interesting side note: Leland Ho ripped Brother Bones' version from a 45 record, and every dancer/DJ I know who has the song got it either from Leland or from someone who got it from him - Erwin and Brainard from Chicago being one example. It's fun to trace how some songs have been discovered and have gotten around the Lindy scene.

Jesse

[Swifty]

She also has a slightly faster one on "A Perfect Match" (with the Basie band), but I prefer the version with Ellington.

I find this one is wierd to dance to for some reason.

There's also a nice version on Chicago: The Living Legends by Alberta Hunter w/ Love Austin's Blues Serenaders. FWIW, the entire album is great - it's got my current favorite version of "St. Louis Blues." (More sound clips here)

[Yakov]

FYI - amazon lists the 8-disc Verve Ella/Duke Cote set for $50 in zshops.
wow

[Lawrence]

Contains a phenomenal, explosive Big Band version that starts slow and builds to Mid-Tempo. Very good spin on a somewhat staid tune.

[Ryan]

You have to cue it up at a certain time (or edit it) to avoid the intro... but Condon has an awesome live version on...

The Town Hall Concerts Vol. 11

[hep2hop]

I also like to play Harry Connick Jr's version, done when he was eleven years old :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music


Chris

[djstarr]

I also like to play Harry Connick Jr's version, done when he was eleven years old :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music


Chris

wow - I thought '20' was his first album. I was very into Harry Connick about 15 years ago and really enjoyed seeing his live band play the Seattle Opera House; I've been meaning to go through the CDs I have (about 7) to look for tracks for swing dj'ing.