Somewhere as performed by Aretha Franklin and produced by Quincy Jones has to be one of the most moving, relaxing and sad songs of all times. While letting you know there is no hope it gives you a just maybe. The artistry on displace by Franklin, Woods and Jones is top tier. Great choice!
Johnny Hartman, John Coltrane, Elvin Johns on the brushes, McCoy Tyner, pianist, and Jimmy Garrison acoustic bass. A dream team. I tell people who haven't been exposed to jazz, it's kind of like a person who has only drank a wine cooler, and the tried a fine wine. It will take some getting used to but you will not go back to those pop wines.
In this performance, Aretha harkens back to some of her performances of jazz and show tunes that she recorded during her work with Columbia Records (1960-1965). Here, she provides her unique amalgamation of soul, gospel, blues, and jazz, in both her singing and wonderful piano playing. Likewise, the song "Somewhere" is an amalgamation of classical music and broadway show tunes that was Leonard Bernstein's specialty. Aretha gives a great performance of this song. Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane provide performances that are pure jazz of a song that is pure jazz. As a jazz aficionado, the quality and purity of their performance and of the song make me prefer their performance of "Lush Life" over Aretha's performance of "Somewhere." Yet, I must emphasize that I love both recordings and I am extremely glad to have had both recordings in my collection for several decades. Both recordings have brought me great pleasure through the years.
Excellent reaction as always, S and T. You've certainly done your research. ;) I'm glad I was able to bring some new music into your life. I don't have much to add, other than that I don't really have a preference between the two recordings, It just depends on my mood as to which I listen to. Or maybe I need both.
Two excellent suggestions! I prefer the Johnny Hartman/John Coletrane song, because I really love that album, although this is not my favourite on the album.
For me, Aretha wore this song out. I rarely bother listening to anyone else's rendition of Somewhere. She wore it out, then I wore out the vinyl. It's the only version I recommend to anyone else. I like Streisand's version too, but Ms. Franklin had already closed the book for me on Somewhere by the time Streisand sung it. (For Streisand, I turn to her masterpieces on her Simply Streisand album, like When Sunny Gets Blue) Somewhere, from the Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky album, like all the other Aretha Franklin albums of the early 1970s, it has wonderful production, sound, superb instrumentalists and her vocals!!!! She had reached a point of perfection that was matchless.
Shawn and Trey, This song battle sounds sounds like an interesting one involving two great songs and two great artists. The first song starts off with beautiful strings and music production, and switches to a relaxed tempo Jazz style arrangement. The music has atmosphere. Good vocal like you said. The comments by you guys are accurately described. The second song is a classic torch song, this versiuon has a jazzy arrangement, very smooth music featuring horns and piano and cool drum percussion. You are right Trey, this makes the listener want to light up a cigar and have drink. Shawn is right, great quartet sound. The vocal is very smooth. Great comments. by you guys. You both chose Somewhere as the winner, a good choice, but I will choose Lush Life as the winner.. ,I prefr the smoother vocal and smoother jazzy sound. Great Jazz song battle An Cat Dubh. A side note, I read that Sinatra wanted to record Lush Life during his prime but decided not to do it.
Hey Shawn and Trey, this one was a little difficult as I have a soft spot for the Hartman / Coltrane album which I picked up years ago. Aretha's performance might have been better, but I feel as a song that "Lush Life" is better. Also Johnny Hartman was such an underrated classic songbook signer, he gets overlooked at times. Either way, great choices!
Coltrane serving the song, not getting in the way of Hartman's creamy vocal performance. This isn't close for me, as this whole Hartman/Coltrane album is desert island level to my ears. I can only think of two vocal artists that could extend and bend a note better Hartman & that would be Sarah Vaughan and Betty Carter. Listen to this and it's hard to believe Coltrane is the same artists who would unleash blistering material like heard on something like Live at the Villiage Vaguard 61'. But the he had to play a pretty ballard, or next to Monk (no easy task) or alongside the great Eric Dolphy.
I still say of the Coltrane/Hartman album, if you play it on a date and you don't get some action, there's something very wrong with you. oh btw Billy Strayhorn was gay in a time when that meant he was deep in the closet.
