Sunday, July 17, 2011

Mad About The Boy

Mad About The Boy - Dinah Washington (1961)

Ah sweet diversity, how I love thee.

Listen to the song here.

Originally written in 1932 by Noel Coward for the revue Words and Music, this song tells of a longing for the actor on the silver screen.  Bluesy, torchy, jazzy all rolled into one, this version of the song shows off Dinah's charisma.

While covered by numerous other people through the years including Marianne Faithfull, Lena Horne, Jessica Biel, and even Miss Piggy, Dinah's version has seemed to stand the test of time and gained in popularity from it's use in a popular Levi's commercial.  The song was re-released in 1992, and was able to crack the UK singles chart.

Dinah was born in 1924 as Ruth Lee Jones.  After winning a talent contest at 15 years old, she was able to grab the attentions of such musicians as Fats Waller and Lionel Hampton and quickly rose to popularity.  While not always appreciated by the critics, one can't deny her appeal with her fans.  In the span of 7 years she achieved 27 top 10 hits on the R & B chart with several crossovers into the Pop chart.  Impressive by any standard to be sure.

Unfortunately, she passed away from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at the age of just 39 in 1963.  She was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

My feelings on the song:

In researching her, I listened to several of her other tracks, and while I like this song, I believe she's done better.  Her versions of What A Difference A Day Makes, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby are some of the best renditions I've heard.

So check this out, as well as her others.  I don't believe you'll be disappointed.

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