# What Are Your Favorite Recordings of These Old Standards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933 "2014-12-11T12:19:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/1 "2014-12-11T12:19:57Z")
I’m going to be a guest on a podcast and we’ll discussing the Great American Songbook. I’ll have to prepare some songs to feature in clips. For the following songs, I’m not sure who’s recordings I want to include (if you don’t see some of your favorite songs listed, do not fret: they may be included, it may just be that I am already sure of which recording I want to use). So, who’s recordings are your favorites for the following songs? **Cole Porter:** I Get a Kick Out of You Miss Otis Regrets Anything Goes Let’s Misbehave Everytime We Say Goodbye **George Gershwin:** Summertime\* They All Laughed Our Love is Here to Stay They Can’t Take That Away From Me **Irving Berlin:** Let’s Face the Music and Dance Steppin’ Out with My Baby Blue Skies I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm **Jerome Kern:** Pick Yourself Up The Song is You Smoke Gets in Your Eyes I Could Write a Book (Rodgers and Hart) It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (Duke Ellington) She’s Funny That Way (Richard A. Whiting and Neil Moret) Come Rain or Come Shine (Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer) I’ve Got the World on a String (Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler) \ ***BONUS QUESTION:** What is the best _operatic_ recording of “Summertime”? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/2 "2014-12-11T12:28:28Z")
Don’t feel any need to limit suggestions to classic era performances. Recent recordings are perfectly acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/3 "2014-12-11T12:55:44Z")
You can’t go wrong with the Ella Fitzgerald “Songbook” series . . . though you probably won’t like every one. The best “Summertime” is by Clamma Dale in the 1976 Houston Opera recording. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/4 "2014-12-11T14:08:05Z")
For Porter, you need to have Ethel Merman for one of them, maybe “Anything Goes.” For Gershwin, you need a Fred Astaire version. “The Can’t Take That Away From Me” is the best choice, though you could substitute Berlin’s “Stepping Out With My Baby,” which is iconic. Gedde Watanabe does a nice version of “Miss Otis Regrets” – in Japanese – but that’s probably not what you’re looking for. Any why no Harry Warren? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/5 "2014-12-11T15:15:12Z")
Ray Charles and B B King (with Eric Clapton) have recorded “Come Rain or Come Shine”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/6 "2014-12-11T15:23:26Z")
_Smoke Gets In Your Eyes_: The Platters’ version stands out for me. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/7 "2014-12-11T15:32:18Z")
Cassandra Wilson for _Blue Skies_ and _Let’s Face the Music._ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/8 "2014-12-11T16:22:47Z")
_Summertime_ is a toss-up. I either go for the regular and cite Cleo Laine & Ray Charles, or go sideways and cite Janis Joplin. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/9 "2014-12-11T23:20:31Z")
Thanks, all! Keep 'em coming! > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Any why no Harry Warren? Well, in all fairness, if I started a Thread asking what’s the best recording of “At Last”, it would end up being a _really short Thread_. 🙂 Might also do a clip of “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Million Dollar Baby” but I wasn’t too distressed about which versions to feature. Would love to hear about your favorites, though! ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/10 "2014-12-11T23:28:41Z")
Patti LuPone does a great version of Anythng Goes. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/11 "2014-12-11T23:35:10Z")
The best _Summertime_ rendition is the one on _Cheap Thrills_ by Big Brother and the Holding Company. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/12 "2014-12-11T23:47:42Z")
The podcast has more of a rock audience usually, so I’m not going to feature Janis/Big Brother, since it’s the version that the audience will all pretty much know backward already. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/13 "2014-12-12T00:22:41Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > The best _Summertime_ rendition is the one on _Cheap Thrills_ by Big Brother and the Holding Company. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/14 "2014-12-12T00:46:41Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Thanks, all! Keep 'em coming! > > Well, in all fairness, if I started a Thread asking what’s the best recording of “At Last”, it would end up being a _really short Thread_. > 🙂 > > Might also do a clip of “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Million Dollar Baby” but I wasn’t too distressed about which versions to feature. Would love to hear about your favorites, though! The f[ull Busby Berkeley version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kLaupKL938) of “Lullaby” (with video) can’t be topped, especially with the “was that what I thought it was?” ending. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/15 "2014-12-12T01:01:29Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > _Summertime_ is a toss-up. I either go for the regular and cite Cleo Laine & Ray Charles, or go sideways and cite Janis Joplin. Joplin hasn’t aged well for me, but I think **Summertime** is her greatest performance. =========== I nominate my favorite Cole Porter song: **Night And Day** as performed by Art Tatum and Roy Eldridge (1983 CD “The Best Of Art Tatum”) _[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kptyXmbgbkE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kptyXmbgbkE)_ ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/16 "2014-12-12T01:34:26Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I nominate my favorite Cole Porter song: **Night And Day** > as performed by Art Tatum and Roy Eldridge I know it’s crazy, but Cole Porter might be my favorite songwriter of the 20th Century, “Night and Day” is one of his _most beloved_ songs, and I just have never really liked it. I’d say the same thing about “Love for Sale”: one of his most beloved songs, I love his songwriting … but not these two immensely popular songs. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/17 "2014-12-12T01:37:09Z")
For “Summertime” it’s GOT to be Ella and Louis: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kQt14\_5OQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kQt14_5OQ) ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/18 "2014-12-12T03:11:43Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Thanks, all! Keep 'em coming! > > Well, in all fairness, if I started a Thread asking what’s the best recording of “At Last”, it would end up > > being a _really short Thread_. > 🙂 Short? As in someone among [Frances Langford](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48f35apCxP4), [Etta James](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwzDxp2TC7I), [Ray Eberle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFbPB-KJc00), and [Beyoncé](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8FHwsATN0E)? I also like rock music, and other types too. > [@](#): > > Might also do a clip of “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Million Dollar Baby” but I wasn’t too distressed about which versions to feature. Would love to hear about your favorites, though! For 5¢[$1000000]10¢ I like [The Boswell Sisters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olnqqo5ehCk). Other favorites… [ul] [li] I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm = [Alice Faye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJQp-AIb9rs)[/li][li] I’ve Got the World on a String = [Cab Calloway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9ZBrrPqPNM)[/li][li] I Get a Kick Out of You = [Ethel Merman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkbcz3tebXE)[/li][li] Pick Yourself Up = [Ginger Rogers and Fred AStaire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUsRGuZb6k), at least for a movie version[/li][li] Blue Skies = [Maxine Sullivan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVz1ATv7vR8)[/li][/ul]Do you know yet when and where we can get the podcast? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/19 "2014-12-12T04:05:01Z")
I Get a Kick Out of You - Johnny Hartman _They Can’t Take That Away From Me_ - Sarah Vaughan _Blue Skies_ - Bing Crosby _Smoke Gets in Your Eyes_ - The Platters _Let’s Face The Music And Dance_ - Diana Krall Also, I’m gonna throw in _Unforgettable_, just so I can mention Nat King Cole. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-recordings-of-these-old-standards/706933/20 "2014-12-12T04:25:41Z")
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