[Dixielandjazz] There is more than one way to skin a cat.

[David Richoux]

Frank Zappa's band did a great version of Ravel's Bolero in the late 
1980s - it was on the CD "The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life."  
Very true to the original composition!

According to the internet, the "most recorded song" is "Yesterday" 
written by the Beatles. "Stardust" would have to be right up there near 
the top.

But I think the series of recordings put out by Rhino Records (and 
co-produced by KFJC ) with many versions of "Louie Louie" is the 
ultimate Mass Quantity Recording. Back in 1983 there was a friendly 
competition between KFJC and KALX (UC Berkeley) as to who could play 
the most versions of that song - KFJC finally won with a 3 day, 900+ 
version marathon that included live in-studio performances by Richard 
Berry and many groups that made that song famous (or infamous ;-)  One 
of the KFJC staff from that "Maximum Louie Louie" has made it his 
life's work to totally document the entire Louie Louie history - you 
can see what  Eric Predoehl has done so far at 
http://www.louielouie.net/

Are there any OKOM versions? Pete Fountain did it on his 1966 LP, I've 
Got You Under My Skin , Coral Records  CRL 757488, Ian Whitcomb did it 
back when he was a rock-n-roller and I see one listing for the 
"Crescent City Stompers" from the mid 1970's.
There are unreleased versions by  "Django Reinhardt Memorial Ensemble"  
and "The Mossville Green Jazz Band."
Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five  did a song in 1938 called "Run Joe" 
that is in some ways very similar to Louie Louie.


Anyway, if your band has recorded a version - let Eric know (and send 
him a copy for his database!)

Dave Richoux


Jul 9, 2004, at 8:21 AM, Stephen Barbone wrote:

> What is it we say about "The Saints" or "Bill Bailey"?  How about this
> album? Yes, OKOM, note the reference to Benny Goodman"s and  Nat
> Shilkret's versions in the next to last paragraph. :-) VBG.
>
> July 4, 2004 - NY Times
>
> HIGH NOTES  By JAMES R. OESTREICH
>
> One Album, 10 `Boleros' (but No Bo Derek)
>
> By JAMES R. OESTREICH
>
>    In the more innocent days of my college years, I was appalled to 
> hear
> of a cruel and unusual hazing that a fraternity had inflicted on its
> pledges. They were confined to a cabin for a weekend and made to listen
> to Ravel's "Bolero" over and over, endlessly.
>
> Imagine that sinuous and haunting melody, which keeps turning back on
> itself, burrowing ever deeper into your psyche. And to help you 
> imagine,
> RCA Victor has just released "Ravel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate
> `Bolero,' " a reissue CD with no fewer than 10 versions of the piece,
> one after another.
>
> Here, at least, there is some variety. Only three tracks offer Ravel's
> orchestration, and only two of those are performed complete. (Charles
> Munch conducts the Boston Symphony; Eduardo Mata, the Dallas Symphony;
> and in an abridgment, Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops).
>
> Since that brilliant orchestration, with its constantly shifting 
> colors,
> is the very essence of the piece, the severe abridgments seem well
> advised in arrangements for piano by Morton Gould and for two pianos by
> Jacques Fray and Mario Braggiotti. And although Isao Tomita commands a
> suitable array of sonorities on his synthesizer, he takes cuts too — 
> yet
> still outstays his welcome with pointless noodling after Ravel's
> crunching conclusion.
>
> The Canadian Brass and the percussionist Evelyn Glennie are also
> featured. But the two kickiest versions are by Benny Goodman and his
> orchestra — in his jazz, not classical, mode — and Nat Shilkret and his
> band, in a fox-trot reimagination.
>
> At a time when the established labels wearily fall back on cheap and
> easy reissues, it is nice to find an occasional sign of life. The 
> people
> at RCA, which released "Pachelbel's Greatest Hit" in 1991, have 
> retained
> at least a mild sense of humor.   
>
>
>
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