dcccxii. VARIOUS ARTISTS: But Not For Me

dcccxii. VARIOUS ARTISTS

But Not For Me

Ten versions

The Gershwins' musical -- Girl Crazy -- opened in 1930, starring Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers (overnight stardom). It takes place in Custerville, Arizona. (As an Arizonan, I can guarantee you there is no such place.)

The 1943 film starred Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.

A standard 16-bar form, but notice how George uses diminished seventh chords, creating a short uncertainty:

Some take it slow
Some take it fast
But all this music's
From a glorious past

1. Judy Garland (1943)
(2:26)

2. Chet Baker (1954)
CB, trumpet, vocal
Russ Freeman, piano, celesta
Carson Smith, bass
James Bond, bass
Bab Neel, drums
Lawrence Marable, drums
Peter Littman, drums
(3:04)

3. Modern Jazz Quartet (1956)
Milt Jackson, vibraphone
John Lewis, piano
Percy Heath, bass
Kenny Clarke, drums
(3:43)

4. Red Garland (1957)
RG, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Arthur Taylor, drums
(5:51)

5. Miles Davis (1957)
MD, trumpet
Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone
Horace Silver, piano
Percy Heath, bass
Kenny Clarke, drums
(5:43)

6. Ella Fitzgerald (1959)
EF, vocal
Strings
(3:34)

7. John Coltrane (1961)
JC, tenor saxophone
McCoy Tyner, piano
Steve Davis, bass
Elvin Jones, drums
(9:36)

8. Frank Sinatra (1980)
(3:52)

9. Linda Ronstadt (1986)
LR, vocals
Don Grolnick, piano
Plas Johnson, tenor saxophone
Bob Mann, guitar
Bob Magnusson, bass
John Guerin, drums
(5:27)

10. Diana Krall (2018)
DK, vocals
Bill Charlap, piano
Peter Washington, bass
Kenny Washington, drums
(3:07)