Harlem Nocturne
"Harlem Nocturne" is a jazz standard written by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers in 1939.[1] The song was adopted by bandleader Randy Brooks the next year as his theme song.[2]
"Harlem Nocturne" has been frequently recorded. Artists include Johnny Otis, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, British band Ken Mackintosh, Bill Haley and His Comets (performed live),[3] The Lounge Lizards, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Earl Bostic, King Curtis, The Cherokees, Anton Szandor LaVey, Herbie Fields,[2] Willy Deville, David Sanborn[4][5], Alicia Keys, Michael Lington [6] and guitarist Danny Gatton[7] The haunting version by The Viscounts has the distinction of being a tune released twice by the same band and rising high on the Billboard charts each time [8]: first in 1959, when it peaked at #53, and again in 1966, peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart [2].
In 1990, pianist Kofi gained popularity in the instrumental world for her cover from the album of the same name "Harlem Nocturne."[9]
It was also the theme song for the television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.[3]
Though vocal renditions of known originally instrumental tunes are rare, this song inspired several vocalists to sing it. Mel Tormé recorded a version with lyrics for his 1963 album Songs of New York, beginning a nocturne for the blues, and in 2009, Sylvia Brooks recorded a different one arranged by Jeff Colella, on her Dangerous Liaisons CD[10], starting deep music fills the night, which already has been covered.
[edit] References
- ^ "'Andy Griffith' composer dies at 88". CNN. May 27, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20080618060936/http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/27/earle.hagen.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ a b c Marsh, Dave (1999). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. De Capo Press. p. 610. ISBN 9780306809019. http://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC&pg=PA610&dq=%22Harlem+Nocturne%22+%22Randy+Brooks%22.
- ^ a b McLellan, Dennis (May 28, 2008). "Television composer Earle Hagen wrote memorable tunes". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004442351_hagenobit28.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ "Time Again overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r638941.
- ^ "Time again - David Sanborn". JazzTimes.com. http://jazztimes.com/articles/13770-timeagain-david-sanborn.
- ^ "Michael Lington overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r738342.
- ^ Gress, Jesse (2006). Guitarevolution: Lessons from the Groundbreakers & Innovators. CMP Media. p. 84. ISBN 0879308680. http://books.google.com/books?id=XtxJJLYqlUIC&pg=PA84&dq=%22Harlem+Nocturne%22.
- ^ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000
- ^ "Harlem Nocturne overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r103714.
- ^ Dangerous Liaisons at Allmusic
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