Jezebel (Frankie Laine song)
| "Jezebel" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Frankie Laine | ||||
| B-side | "Rose, Rose, I Love You" (Lin Mei, Wilfred Thomas) | |||
| Released | April 1951 | |||
| Recorded | April 4, 1951 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:08 | |||
| Label | Columbia (nr. 39367) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Wayne Shanklin[1] | |||
| Frankie Laine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Jezebel" is a 1951 popular song written by American songwriter Wayne Shanklin. It was recorded by Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir and Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39367. The record reached #2 on the Billboard chart and was a million seller. The B-side, "Rose, Rose, I Love You", was a hit too and reached #3.[2]
Background
The title refers to the biblical woman Jezebel, a wicked, Baal-worshipping Phoenician princess who ruled Israel as queen to King Ahab. Jezebel's story is recounted in I Kings, a book of the Old Testament.
Covers
- In 1956 Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps performed their version of the song on their debut album.
- In 1962, Marty Wilde had a UK Top 20 hit with his version of the song.[3]
- In 1963, Rob E. G. (Australian steel slide guitarist), took his instrumental version into the Australian top 5.[citation needed]
- In 1967, Herman's Hermits included their version on the LP There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World.
- In 1967, Witness Inc. covered and released the song, as a single on the Apex label. (Apex - 77063)
- In 1994, The Reverend Horton Heat included his version on the LP Liquor in the Front.
- In 1995, Dave Vanian of The Damned included his version on the LP Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords.
- The French language version by Édith Piaf, had lyrics by Charles Aznavour, and was recorded the same year as the Frankie Laine version.
- In 2011, English singer-songwriter Anna Calvi recorded a cover which blends both Laine's English and Piaf's French iterations, released as a single[4]
Popular culture
- In 1951, Desi Arnaz performed the song as Ricky Ricardo in the first season of I Love Lucy.
References
- ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ Frankie Laine’s hits in the years 1947-1952 Archived 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ Ashurst, Hari (January 17, 2011). ""Jezebel" by Anna Calvi Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
