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July 29, 2005
Summertime
BP has made a righteous CD that is entirely performances of George Gershwin's "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess:
1. Janis Joplin
2. Dizzy Gillespie & Mongo Santamaria
3. Miles Davis
4. Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
5. June McMechen (1951 opera)
6. June McMechen (1951 opera)
7. Camilla Williams (1951 opera)
8. Betty Roche (1956 Bethlehem)
9. Betty Roche (1956 Bethlehem)
10. Betty Roche (1956 Bethlehem)
11. Betty Lane (1977 Houston Opera)
12. Betty Lane (1977 Houston Opera)
13. Clamma Dale (1977 Houston Opera)
And what a pleasure it is to listen to.
Posted by senioritis at July 29, 2005 10:21 AM
Comments
Can I just say "WOW!!!" I love that song! My mom used to sing it to me as a lullabye. That is beautiful.
Posted by: dr. b. at July 29, 2005 01:52 PM
Yes. The operatic versions are really interesting, because the performances featured the same singer and orchestra in 2-3 different arrangements. My favorites on this list are #2, #4, and #11.
Posted by: senioritis at July 29, 2005 02:16 PM
Two important versions not on this list: Angelique Kidjo (on her Keep on Moving CD), and Fantasia Berrino (American Idol winner a few years back, a woman with a phenomenal voice)...
Posted by: susansinclair at August 1, 2005 09:57 AM
That remark inspired me to go to the iTunes store. Neither of the versions you name was there, but I found some fine bluegrass, jazz, and blues versions. We're going to remake that CD!
Posted by: senioritis at August 1, 2005 12:11 PM