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Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea'" is an American popular song published in 1931, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler, and first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931. It was introduced in the 1931 Cotton Club show 'Rhythmania' and is now a widely recorded standard.
Early hits
Joel Whitburn identified the most successful early recordings as being by:
# Cab Calloway recorded October 21, 1931 for Brunswick Records (catalogue No. 6209)
# Louis Armstrong performed a version featuring a trumpet solo which was recorded on January 25, 1932 and released by Columbia Records, catalogue No. 2600D.
# The Boswell Sisters with The Dorsey Brothers (Recorded March 21, 1932, Brunswick Records, No. 6291)
Other notable recordings
*1930 Jack Payne and his BBC Orchestra included in his album Roamin' Thru' the Roses, Vol. 6.
*1932 Kate Smith recorded January 28, 1932 for Columbia Records with Blues in My Heart interpolated.
*1935 Benny Goodman and orchestra (July 1, 1935 for Victor) with Helen Ward on lead vocal
*1939 Count Basie (recorded November 7, 1939) featuring Helen Humes as vocalist and Lester Young on tenor saxophone
*1937 Phil Harris recorded it for Vocalion Records on Feb. 27, 1937.
*1955 Ella Fitzgerald included in her album 'Sweet and Hot'.
*1956 Dick Haymes recorded for his album 'Moondreams'.
*1957 Buddy Rich performed the song on his album 'Buddy Rich Just Sings'
*1957 Bing Crosby included it in the album 'New Tricks'.
*1957 Carmen McRae for her album 'After Glow'.
*1958 Perry Como included in the album 'Saturday Night with Mr. C'.
*1960 Bobby Darin recorded a version influenced by Latin music in Feb. 1960, released in 1964 on the album 'Winners'.
*1961 Ella Fitzgerald recorded it for her 1961 Verve album 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook'
*1961 Joni James for her album 'The Mood Is Romance'.
*1964 Mel Torm on his self-titled album.
*1967 Thelonious Monk played the song on his 1967 album, 'Straight, No Chaser'
*1993 Diana Krall an instrumental version was included on her album 'Stepping Out'.
*1993 Chris Rea played the song on his 1993 album, 'Espresso Logic'
*2002 George Harrison on his posthumous final album, 'Brainwashed'
*2010 Paolo Nutini with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on the album An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program
Film appearances
*1933 'Sing, Bing, Sing' Bing Crosby sang an abridged version of the song in this Mack Sennett short.
*1984 'City Heat' sung by Eloise Laws.
Broadway show
Featured in the 2013 show 'After Midnight'.
References
Category:Pop standards
Category:Songs with music by Harold Arlen
Category:Songs with lyrics by Ted Koehler
Category:1931 songs
Category:Cab Calloway songs
Category:George Harrison songs
Category:Songs released posthumously
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