I'm not a huge jazz/swing aficionado. I listen to a fair amount (mostly on NPR's "The Swing Years and Beyond") but I don't know many names of prominent players or songs of significance. Anyone wanna help me out? I've decided that my insomnia needs a soundtrack, so I am putting one together. If you've heard Frank Sinatra's album In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning, then you know the kind of songs I'm looking for. I'm using most of that album.
Other songs I already picked: Miles Davis "It Never Entered My Mind", Billie Holiday "God Bless the Child", Nina Simone "Don't Smoke In Bed", Glenn Miller "Moonlight Serenade", Lena Horne "Ill Wind."
I adore doubles, so if you know of other great versions of any song I mention I would welcome them with open arms. Ears. Whatever.
Less traditional songs are also welcome (I have a couple of Paul Simon's, and R.E.M. and Jefferson Airplane are both represented), though in general I'd prefer stuff a little more old school.
Some of you guys know approximately everything about music so hopefully someone can help me out. Or, if I'm being pointless, point me towards an older thread. Okay, dazzle me! I'll turn the lights down low and we'll talk jazz.
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
One of my favorite jazz songs is Take Five by Dave Brubeck. A song that might be good for your insomnia is Lullaby of Birdland by Stan Getz. If you like that song look up more stuff by Stan Getz. He's incredible.
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
Ooh, I have a version of Lullaby of Birdland by George Sharing! It is totally inaproppriate for insomnia though. Very upbeat. I'll have to check out this Mr. Getz of whom you speak.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Laura Nyro is not jazz, but, come on, I am the Blue starts with the line, "Cigarettes I'm all alone with my smoke and ashes." Perfect! You also need In a Sentimental Mood and Miles Davis's Moon Dreams. Those are essential night songs. Then you have Ella to consider. There's so much Ella for this that is perfect. And I'm obsessed with the song The Fog by Kate Bush. It's not jazz, but I've listened to it 101 times since yesterday and it makes me rather mellow and relaxed.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I like Ella doing Lullabye of Birdland. (Not mellow, though!)
Hmmm, I am very fond of Kate Wolf when I need to mellow out-- "Safe at Anchor" is my insomnia song-- but it's not jazz, not by a long shot.
Posted by hatrkr81 (Member # 9317) on :
"Black Coffee" sung by Sarah Vaughn is an amazing song. I also think you'd enjoy anything off of Mile's Davis' Kind of Blue album. Good stuff there.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
If you don't put Tom Waits on a mix album called "Late Nights and Cigarettes," I'm pretty sure something horrible happens.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Doesn't fit the theme at all, but when I read the subject I immediately thought of Cigarettes Will Kill You by Ben Lee.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
I suggest the song "Miles Davis' Funeral" by Morphine. It's not exactly jazz. But I think it might fit very nicely on your mix tape.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
How about "Guilty"? (Randy Newman, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt)
Not jazz/swing. Just what came to mind.
Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :
Do you know K D Lang's album Drag? It has some beautiful cigarette songs on it.
The other song I think of is from Guys & Dolls: My Time of Day. But I probably just like it because I did that show in high school.
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
Take that song Jim-Me's girl made; he linked to it in 10 Things to Do Before I Die. It's modern, but it's relaxing.
That song U2 did in The Unforgettable Fire, Lullaby -- also relaxing.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
look into this one, I have it on a mixed cd but know nothing about it.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
Wow... "relaxing" isn't a word I usually associate with "Last Rite" . If you were to take a song of Michelle's for an album called "Late Nights and Cigarettes" I'd probably suggest "After Five"
In a completely wrong style for it, seeing the thread title made me think immediately of Led Zepplin's "In the Evening".
Obscurely, A-Ha's (yes the guys who did "Take On Me"-- just trust me) "The Way We Talk" would be perfect. It's off an excellent but nearly unknown 1991 CD called "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"
Kristy Kruger has a song called "I Will Make You Love Me" that is a fairly humorous "girl on a piano" type tune that would be fun. It's on the CD "Bachelor of Apathy." She also does a country version of Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down" that's an interesting mix of upbeat and dark... it's on "Songs from a Dead Man's Couch." Both are sampled at her web site
Kind of a stretch, but I'm flat partial to Lonestar's cover of Mark Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" for almost any occasion.
Edit to add... I never heard the studio version, but Tori Amos's "Cornflake Girl" might be a decent fit, too.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Chet Baker, Time after Time. Good enough sample to give you a feel of his best stuff from before '66, when his horn and smooth voice 'd charm the pants off of you...as well as off of any wannabe-close-to friend.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
. If you were to take a song of Michelle's for an album called "Late Nights and Cigarettes" I'd probably suggest "After Five"