Posted by Orin Kerr:
Mel Torme Sings "We've Got A World That Swings":
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_12_23-2007_12_29.shtml#1198478980
To many in the VC audience, Mel Torme is probably most famous as the
object of Judge Harry Stone's fascination in the 80s TV sitcom hit
[1]"Night Court." When you think Mel Torme, you probably think of
schmaltzy recordings that no one could possibly listen to seriously.
Here's the thing: Although Torme did in fact participate in many
schmaltzy or even campy performances ([2]cough), he is actually one of
the most gifted jazz singers. Catch him in the right setting, and
Torme is simply an astonishing musician.
Here's an example of Torme in the right setting: with a jazz trio,
in 1964, singing "[3]We've Got a World That Swings" for Ralph
Gleason's Jazz Casual program. Check it out.
[EMBED]
Great stuff, isn't it? What a voice. If you want to to year more, be
careful out there: watch out for the schmaltz. My recommendation is
one of my all-time favorites, [4]Mel Torme Swings Schubert Alley, with
the Marty Paich Orchestra. Terrific stuff, no schmaltz.
Finally, some random trivia about the song. The original lyrics were
from the 1963 movie "the Nuttty Professor," [5]as performed by Jerry
Lewis. There's a line in the song, presumably about the Cuban Missile
crisis, that goes "atom bombs, Cape Canaveral false alarms." After
Kennedy was assassinated, however, LBJ renamed Cape Canaveral "Cape
Kennedy." Singing just a few months later, Mel updates the lyrics by
singing "Cape Kennedy" instead of "Cape Canaveral." Cape Kennedy later
reverted back to Cape Canaveral, so more recent versions of the song
(such as the one by [6]They Might Be Giants) use the original lyrics.
References
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Court
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy3AokXLwPc
3. http://youtube.com/watch?v=QXrt6i1oOVQ
4. http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Torm%C3%A9-Swings-Shubert-Alley/dp/B0000046ST
5. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Wd7h6CpJ3I&feature=related
6. http://youtube.com/watch?v=eg-5PrfsbUE
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