This week another upbeat and downright perky song as an antidote to a cold and gloomy month. I’m still irked,
Pennies From Heaven was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. It was the perfect song for the Great Depression when pennies were hard to come by.
The song was introduced to the world by Bing Crosby, so that’s where we begin.
My favorite version of Pennies From Heaven was recorded in 1956 by Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle.
Another early version was recorded by the Teddy Wilson Orchestra with Billie Holiday on vocals.
A sassy small group recording from Sarah Vaughan:
We move from the sassiest to the wildest with Louis Prima, Sam Butera and the Witnesses
I’d never heard Merle Haggard’s take on Pennies From Heaven until recently. It’s pretty darn good. I dig the head tilt on the album cover as well.
Finally, a 21st Century version from James Taylor:
What would a Friday Cocktail Hour be without a jazz instrumental version of the week’s song? This time, Stans Kenton and Getz. The latter plays with a pianist you might have heard of.
Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?
That’s it for this week. Let’s raise our glasses and toast Bing and Frank’s characters in High Society as seen in the featured image: CK Dexter Haven and Mike Connor. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.
So…Bing Crosby makes me want to curl up on a couch and take a long nap. Frank, aw Frank…I love him. Billy always a good tune. Not particularly crazy about the Sarah Vaughn version. The Louis Prima version makes me want to take dance lessons! Not crazy about Merle Haggard. I love James Taylor’s voice no matter what the song is. The Stan Kenton version sounds like lounge music where you just want to sit and sip and not move for hours! Stan Getz sounds like versions of the older ones, nothing special to me.
Well, that is my take. Thanks for sharing all that! I like listening to all the different musics.