[Dixielandjazz] : Is "'Round Midnight" really the most recorded song ever?

[Norman Vickers]

To:  DJML and Musicians and Jazzfans list
From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

As usual, our erudite  Aussie listmate/ discographer/ jazz connoisseur  and
"settler of arguments" Bill Haesler has given us hard data on which to base
our judgment.
Thanks, Bill.

Likely the DJML discussion will run on ad infinitum but let's let this be
the definitive word on the M&JF list! (smile)
Thanks, as usual, Bill



-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Haesler [mailto:bhaesler at bigpond.net.au] 
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2014 4:30 PM
To: Norman Vickers; dixieland jazz mailing list
Subject: Is "'Round Midnight" really the most recorded song ever?

Norman Vickers wrote:
> This came across my screen.  Lovely rendition of "Round Midnight  by
Modern Jazz Quartet.  
> I was intrigued to read the statement that "this is the most often
recorded ever."
> Does anyone have data to corroborate this statement?

Dear Norman,
A quick 'google' suggests that the most recorded jazz standard was W. C.
Handy's "St. Louis Blues" for over 20 years from the 1930s onward, after
which Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" replaced it.
Today, that place is allegedly held by Johnny Green's "Body and Soul". 
The most recorded standard composed by a jazz musician is Thelonious Monk's
"'Round Midnight".
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_standard 
*Note that the conditional words for "Round Midnight" are "...composed by a
jazz musician." 
A check of Version 2014 of Tom Lord's 'Jazz Directory' lists about 1610
versions of "Round Midnight/Round about Midnight" from 1945.
"St Louis Blues has 1960
"Stardust" has 1430.
And "Body and Soul" boasts 2170.
Kind regards,
Bill. =