Listen: Misty / The Vibrations
Misty

There are many, many covers of this classic. Some people will complain it’s a schmaltzy adult bore, or that it’s too camp. But be informed, the greats have done it in varying styles: Aretha Franklin, Donald Byrd, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughan, Richard Groove Holmes, Donny Hathaway, Julie London, Stan Getz even Timebox. I like them all. Interestingly, it can withstand many very different interpretations.

The Vibrations, like The Contours, were in that poor man’s Temptations or Four Tops category. Consequently, both often tipped into Northern Soul. Their version of ‘Misty’ though brings me right back to the Syracuse War Memorial October 30, 1965. The Vibrations, along with Pattie La Belle & The Blue Belles, were opening for The Rolling Stones. Bravely, they performed this clad in shiny purple chino suits; and the power of the vocal had ten thousand restless kids in silent awe. Check out the final high notes here, you’ll see what I mean.

Listen: The Girl From Ipanema (Single Edit) / Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz
The

‘The Girl From Ipanema’ may have created the Space Age Bachelor Pad musical sub genre on it’s very own, quite by accident. What started out as rather lengthy bossa nova jazz rendition by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, with an Astrud Gilberto vocal feature rather far into the song’s album version, was eventually rearranged and edited down to a brilliant worldwide hit.

Seek out the single version, streamed above. It’s concise and in my opinion, far superior to the long full length counterpart. Then there’s the near extinct picture sleeve. Don’t ever pass that up.

Several years back, Astrud Gilberto played a night at SOB’s in NY’s West Village. I’d seen the listing, and lazily intended to attend, until day of. Suddenly, getting home and sinking into the sofa sounded way better. For whatever reason, I thought, just do it already. So last minute, left the Island office and walked across town, only to find the club oversold. Now the juices were flowing. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Two days later, Island’s King Sunny Ade & His African Beats were scheduled. Without shame, I pulled out my Island office ID and forcefully played the guilt card.

She was fantastic.

Listen: Misty / Groove Holmes RichardHolmesMisty.mp3

There are many, many covers of Erroll Garner’s ‘Misty’ from ’54. Some people will complain it’s schmaltzy, a bore or that it’s too adult. But be informed, the greats have done it in varying styles: Aretha Franklin, Donald Byrd, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughan, The Vibrations, Donny Hathaway, Julie London, Stan Getz even Timebox.

Almost forty years later, in ’91, ‘Misty’ was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, not surprising given one of the most common jokes about the RIAA’s recognition process is how out of touch they can be.

It’s a fact: like Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sunny’, ‘Misty’ weathers just about every genre well.

Listen: Cast Your Fate To The Wind / Shelby Flint ShelbyFlint.mp3

Even though Sounds Orchestral’s instrumental version was the bigger hit, Shelby Flint stakes claim to the classic version of ‘Cast Your Fate To The Wind’. It was her vocal version that filled the void left by Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto’s ‘The Girl From Ipanema’, well sort of. She’s still around, and living in North Hollywood, exactly here she grew up. How great is that?

Listen: The Girl From Ipanema / Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto AstrudGilbertoIpanema.mp3

Why? Why is he posting this ubiquitous single? That’s totally what you’re thinking. At least I hope it is. A few reasons: a) it’s seminal b) where the fuck do you hear it these days and c) if and when you do – is it ever this single edit? NO. All those oldies stations with their digitally remastered, stereo perfect versions of ‘Homeward Bound’ or ‘Good Vibrations’. Come on. First of all, who needs someone to program these songs to us EVER again? We’ve been inundated with them for decades already, so much so that one simply needs to think about the track, and it plays in your head. Even worse, those lame stations don’t have a clue how to recreate that magical moment. AM hits, in mono, heard through transistors radios, accompanied by that beautiful crackle and treble-y eq – that’s what it was about. These bozos have it all wrong. Music through the laptop speakers actually works better for oldies than passe car FM. It’s one of the reasons listenership has plummeted.

So here it is, the mono, edited ‘Girl From Ipanema’, from my lovingly played 7″ vinyl, just as you remember it, no perfectly remastered stereo, no long jazz intro. Straight to the vocal and the hook.

Go see Astrud live. I did. She still has those bangs.