Don’t read too much into this week’s tune. First Draft isn’t going anywhere but 2023 will be in history in 3 days.
The Party’s Over was written for the hit Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing by Jules Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green.
Judy Holiday was the first to perform this week’s tune, so let’s go the movies:
My favorite version of this week’s song comes from Nat King Cole and Billy May:
Blossom Dearie is her real name. I am not making this up.
Peggy Lee says LAL as opposed to LOL.
Anita O’Day. Say no more. As to Cal Tjader, have I told you lately we have the same high school alma mater?
Marvin Gaye loved show tunes. Offbeat opinion: Hello Broadway is one of his best albums: He sings the hell out of these standards.
Finally, he holds many gnarly views, but Van Morrison is still a great singer.
What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without jazz instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time: Stan Kenton, George Benson & Jack McDuff, and Wynton Marsalis.
That’s it for this year. Let’s drink to that always elusive world peace. It’s what Judy and Dino would want. Never argue with them.
here’s a weird one. I wonder if it was stage direction to sound like that or if there was a well-stocked bar in The Green room.
https://youtu.be/jb0DK0P2Ak8?si=GOFM3AsSOZm_DILA
much as I like cool Jazz I think Nat King Cole’s Sinatra horns version beats out blossom Dearie and I’m sorry Andre but I thought the soaring strings were a little much in the movie one.
The horns are a Billy May trademark. He did, however, do several albums with Frank.
As.much as I love music I never had a head for all that kind of details of arrangers and sidemen and when was it recorded.. same reason I kind of stopped watching baseball. I couldn’t keep up with the level of detail of the serious fans.