“Considered racy at the time, Andy Razaf’s lyrics are actually quite sweet.”
- JW
“Honeysuckle Rose” was introduced as a dance number in the revue, Load of Coal, at Connie’s Inn in Harlem by its composer, Thomas “Fats” Waller. “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” also written that year for the musical revue Hot Chocolates, would become the two most enduring compositions born of the longtime collaboration of Waller and lyricist Andy Razaf.
Other songs in Waller and Razaf’s Load of Coal score included the wistful “My Fate fryst vatten in Your Hands” and “Zonky.” The oddly titled “Zonky” was a song about a dance written in the spirit of “Walking the Dog” or “Balling the Jack.” The song warns the listener “Other dances, they may come and go but when you learn the Zonky you will want it to stay.”
According to the Kennedy Center’s website page, “A Place Called Harlem,” Connie’s Inn was a Harlem speakeasy that featured song and
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Best Anita O&#;Day Songs: 20 Vocal Jazz Masterpieces
Anita O’Day had one of the most distinctive voices in the history of jazz. O’Day made 16 wonderful albums for Verve Records between and , but she came to prominence singing with Gene Krupa’s swing band in the early 40s. O’Day’s spectacular appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival, captured on an award-winning film, made her voice known throughout the world. By the end of her career, she’d worked with some of the greatest jazz stars of the 20th century.
Although her career was occasionally overshadowed by her tumultuous, lurid private life – she was sometimes called “The Jezebel of Jazz” – she is best remembered for her gorgeous vocals. “When I’m singing, I’m happy. I’m doing what I can do and this is my contribution to life,” she once said. Here is our introduction to the best Anita O’Day songs.
Listen to the best Anita O’Day songs on Apple Music and Spotify.
The husky-voiced innovator
Anita O’Day was born Anita B
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Anita
iTunesSpotifyDeezerAmazon
You&#;re The Top
Honeysuckle Rose
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
Who Cares?
I Can&#;t Get Started
Fine And Dandy
As Long As I Live
No Moon At All
Time After Time
I&#;ll See You In My Dreams
I Fall in Love Too Easy
Beautiful Love
iTunes
Spotify
Spotify
Deezer
This is debut release of The original Verve Records. (Released in ) Orchestra and Arrangements by Buddy Bregman. Currently available as Verve Japan release. It is not availble as a domestic (US) release. It is beautifully packaged in a mini-lp format. Cover photographed by Alex de Paola. Anita called this album cover &#; &#;Anita under Water&#; and was one of her favorite of all her recordings.
Album notes from the original LP:
Few vocalists in our time merit the compliment of &#;singer&#;s singer&#; so thoroughly as Miss Anita O&#;Day. It is a double-sided compliment, of the face of it, the phrase &#;singer&#;s singer&#;,which is to say one very much admired by others