"I Cover the Waterfront" is a 1933 popular song and jazz standard composed by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman.[1] The song was inspired by Max Miller's 1932 best-selling novel, I Cover the Waterfront.[2]
| "I Cover the Waterfront" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sarah Vaughan | ||||
| Genre | Jazz blues | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Edward Heyman | |||
| Producer(s) | Johnny Green | |||
| Sarah Vaughan singles chronology | ||||
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| Billie Holiday singles chronology | ||||
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Recordings and interpretations
editThe song became popular, and many artists have recorded it since 1933.[3] Notable artists include:
- Billie Holiday[4]
- Frank Sinatra[5]
- Sarah Vaughan[1]
- Annette Hanshaw[2]
- Abe Lyman's California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra[2]
- Connee Boswell[2]
- Harry James[6]
- The Lester Young Trio with Nat King Cole[7]
- Ray Conniff recorded the song in 1958, and was included on his "Awful Nice" LP.[8]
- Buddy Rich[9]
- Louis Armstrong[2]
- Years later, Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song in her 1979 live album Digital III at Montreux on Pablo Records.[10]
- Annie Lennox gave her interpretation of the song on her 2014 studio album Nostalgia.[11]
- John Lee Hooker recorded several versions of the song. One appears on the 1991 compilation The Ultimate Collection[12] and another with Van Morrison on Hooker's 1991 album Mr. Lucky.[13] Hooker's versions make such changes from the original melody and lyrics that his label credits him as the songwriter.[2]
- In 2017, the musicians Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau collaborated on an album recording of the track.[14]
Film role
editA 1933 motion picture, also inspired by Miller's book and also titled I Cover the Waterfront, was re-scored at the last minute to include the tune. Sheet music publishers later used the film's success by claiming that the song was "[i]nspired by the United Artist Picture of the same name".[3]
Radio program theme
edit- I Cover the Waterfront was the theme for the Johnny Modero, Pier 23 radio program, which starred Jack Webb and was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1947.[15]
Popular culture
edit- R&B/soul singer/actress Miki Howard, portraying Billie Holiday, performed the song in the 1992 bio film Malcolm X.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "78 Record: Sarah Vaughan - Once In A While (1953)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "I Cover the Waterfront". Songbook1.wordpress.com. March 28, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ a b "Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (I Cover the Waterfront)". Jazzstandards.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "CD Album: Billie Holiday - The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve - 1945-1959 (1992)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Vinyl Album: Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Greatest (1962)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "America Swings: The Great Harry James - Harry James | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Vinyl Album: Lester Young - Archives Of Jazz - Vol. 1 (1972)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "www.rayconniff.info". www.rayconniff.info. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ "CD Album: Buddy Rich - Rags To Riches (1989)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Digital 3 at Montreux - Ella Fitzgerald | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Nostalgia - Annie Lennox | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990) - John Lee Hooker | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Mr. Lucky - John Lee Hooker | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau - Chris Thile, Brad Mehldau | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2003). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7864-4925-5.
- ^ "Malcolm X (1992) - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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