Great American Songbook | Darian Johnson's Favorite Things

The Great American Songbook Countdown – #6: Lush Life

coltrane+hartman[1] I was browsing Barnes and Nobles sometime during the summer of 1997 when I came across the simply-titled John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman album. I knew this was an LP that I had to own after hearing the duo cover Bill Strayhorn’s “Lush Life”¹. I still get goosebumps listening to it. No other version (not even Trane’s solo take) can compare to this recording. Their take is, simply put, the definitive recording of this classic.

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – Lush Life

The Great American Songbook Countdown – #7: Good Morning Heartache

billie-holiday[1] I first heard “Good Morning Heartache” in 1993 (on Terence Blanchard’s previously mentioned Billie Holiday Songbook); I didn’t fall for the song until 1995, when I purchased Billie Holiday’s Complete Decca Recordings. The song is mesmerizing. Billie sings each verse as if she’s lived the lyrics¹.

Good morning, heartache, you ole gloomy sight
Good morning, heartache, thought we’d said goodbye last night
I turned and tossed until it seemed you had gone
But here you are with the dawn
Wish I’d forget you
but you’re here to stay
It seems I met you
When my love went away
Now everyday I start by saying to you
Good morning, heartache, what’s new?

Jill Scott does a decent turn on the song, but nothing beats Billie. Enjoy!

Billie Holiday – Good Morning Heartache

The Great American Songbook Countdown – #9: I Concentrate On You & #8: Baubles, Bangles And Beads

sinatra+jobim[1] In 2001, my not-quite-my-girlfriend-not-yet-my-wife let me borrow disc three of Frank Sinatra’s Reprise Collection. The disc, covering recordings from 1966-69, included songs from Sinatra’s sessions with Brazilian bossa nova great Antônio Carlos Jobim.

I was already a Jobim fan, yet somehow I had overlooked these recordings. After learning of these sessions, I scoured Napster (back before RIAA started cracking down) and downloaded all of the Sinatra/Jobim recordings. Of those tracks, the Cole Porter-penned “I Concentrate On You” and “Baubles, Bangles And Beads” (written by George Forrest and Robert Wright) are my favorites from the American Songbook (Full disclosure: “Wave” is my favorite recording from the sessions, however, that won’t count in this list since it isn’t part of the GAS). ¹

Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim -I Concentrate On You

Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim – Baubles, Bangles And Beads

The Great American Songbook Countdown – #10: I Cover The Waterfront

Usually my daughters and I “dance” (if you want to call it that) to music from our Sirius music channels before they go to bed. We normally stick to the classic R&B and hip hop stations; however, a few days ago, I decided to check out the classic jazz station. The station was playing Ella Fitzgerald’s cover of Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady”. “Great,” I thought as I turned the volume up. “My kids are going to love this!”

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