Well, our local NPR here has decided to see how many versions of Gershwinn's "Summertime" they can play this year. I was only really familiar with Janis' version off "Cheap Thrills", which ALWAYS has been a favorite of mine. So far this weekend, I've heard versions by Ella live in Berlin, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, a jazz version by The Mahattan Project w/Stanley Clarke, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn.

So far, I still like Janis's best. All the versions are good, but there's something about Janis's that just reaches right in there. I hear that there's a version by Ella and Louis Armstrong that is excellent, but I haven't heard that one yet.

So, what others are good and what do you guys like??

Uhhh........ BTW, no Mungo Jerry please!! Gershwinn only

My favorite is the one Janis did on Cheap Thrills. She gave it her all on that one. I also liked Sarah Vaughn's from the 50's. We had it on an old Columbia "six-eye" Lp.

Nah, y'all are all wet...The BEST "Summertime" is the Jamies' "Summertime, Summertime" from 1958. They were a brothers & sister act from Massachusetts, & IIRC, it was one of the very 1st stereo records.-Sandy G.

Nah, y'all are all wet...The BEST "Summertime" is the Jamies' "Summertime, Summertime" from 1958. They were a brothers & sister act from Massachusetts, & IIRC, it was one of the very 1st stereo records.-Sandy G.

Sandy:

Did the Chipmunks do a version too??? :lmao: :lmao:

Just kidding!!

I'm only looking for the Gershwinn song from "Porgy and Bess"; I don't think that's what your guys did.

Could be wrong though............

Chet Baker did a pretty damned good version of it, as did Nina Simone. Greg Dulli covered it quite well on last year's Twilight Singers/ She Loves You album.

Sorry, Andyman !!-Sandy G.

I vote for Ella and Louis.

Miles Davis & Gil Evans, from their Porgy and Bess LP -- Foe

Cool beans guys!
I've just placed holds on the Ella and Louis, and the Davis/Evans versions with the local library.
Should be checking them out before the week is up! :banana:

Andy you'd better be sitting down when you play Ella and Louie on those LaScalla's and your tube amp. It will bowl you over. The whole cd, performance and sonics are reference quality. Best to you............

If you haven't heard Renee Olstead's version of it, you really need to. It's very different, starts off quietly and then really gets into a bouncy beat. Pretty cool!

If you've never heard of her, she's one of the current young phenoms. She has an excellent album of standards that was released last year.