Feature Songs: “‘S Wonderful” / “Route 66”
Welcome to October! The reason I am featuring two songs for this week’s installment is because of the cover versions done at a live show in London by Natalie Cole and Diana Krall. The second reason for this choice is of a personal nature, with one of the songs and one of the artists… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
This past July (DUTC#80), I featured the Gershwin brothers and the song “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, which, not surprisingly, is now recognized as one of the most significant American musical compositions of the twentieth century. This time around the song is “‘S Wonderful,” composed by George, with lyrics by Ira, and introduced in the 1927 Broadway musical, Funny Face, with Adele Astaire and Allen Kearns. The song is now considered a “standard” and has been recorded by many artists over the years, especially by jazz artists. In 1928, Adele Astaire, who introduced the song on stage in 1927, recorded one of the earliest versions of the song with Bernard Clifton. Some of the earlier covers include Bing Crosby, Sun Ro, Brain Wilson, Anita O’Day, Gene Kelly, and Ella Fitzgerald, just to name a few. The song also makes an appearance on the original Broadway cast recordings of My One and Only (1983), and Nice Work if You Can Get It (2001).
Nathaniel Adams Cole (1919-1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. His career as a jazz and pop vocalist started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades, during which time he recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. He began his career as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s when he formed The Nat King Cole Trio, which became a top-selling group (and the only black act) on Capitol Records in the 1940s. He transitioned to become a solo singer, billed as Nat King Cole starting in 1950, coincidentally the same year his daughter, Natalie Cole, was born.
“(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” is a popular rhythm and blues song composed in 1946 by American songwriter, Bobby Troup. The lyrics relate to a western road trip on U.S. Route 66, a highway which transversed the western two-thirds of the U.S., from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. More specifically, it ends on the famous Santa Monica pier. Troup got the idea for the song on a cross-country drive from Pennsylvania to California. At the time, Troup wanted to try his hand as a Hollywood songwriter, so he and his wife, Cynthia, packed up their car and headed west. The trip began on US 40 and continued along US 66 to the California coast. Troup had initially considered writing a tune about US 40, but his wife suggested the title “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” Thank you, Cynthia! I wrote “transversed” above, because even though you can still travel on this famous route, it is not continuous anymore, having been replaced incrementally between 1950s-1980s by I-55, I-44, I-40, I-15, and I-10. The last section was replaced by I-40 in 1984, which led to the official decommissioning of Route 66 in 1985.
Cole, with The King Cole Trio, first recorded the song in 1946 in Los Angeles. Capitol Records released it as a single. Cole later re-recorded the song for the albums, After Midnight (1956) and The Nat King Cole Story (1961). The lyrics of the song mention several cities and towns that the Troup’s encountered along their journey; Cynthia later commented: “What I can’t really believe is that he doesn’t have Albuquerque in the song.” Gee, I wonder why? If an image of Bugs Bunny just popped into your head, saying: “I knew I should have made a left turn at Albuquerque,” you are either old or watch the Cartoon Network! Or, as my wife just pointed out to me, perhaps that city rings a bell from the 1970 song by The Partridge Family, “Point me in the Direction of Albuquerque.” I know that I sometimes provide “bonus” tunes that relate to my post, but I will not be doing that this time. However, I promise you it will pop up in a future Annoying Songs and their Covers post. I might even make it a “special feature” post and use the entire album of cringe-worthy songs!
And now for the first of the “personal” connections I mentioned above. I must have been around 11 or 12 when I first heard Nat King Cole’s “Route 66,” most likely from the album, The Nat King Cole Story. I can’t remember if I heard it on the radio or at home on my parent’s Hi-Fi, but what I do remember is not having a clue as to what or where Route 66 was, which is not surprising for an 11 or 12 year-old Canadian. I also remember absolutely falling in love with the song and vowing one day to find out more about this road. Well, it took 55 years, and not only did I find out more about this iconic highway, but in May of 2017, at the age of 66 (it would appear that serendipity is alive and well), I took off on my Harley and travelled Route 66 from Los Angeles (where I currently live) through Albuquerque, and on to Santa Fe, New Mexico, before returning home. Time constraints, not to mention body constraints, kept me from going all the way to Chicago. It was everything I expected and more.
Natalie Maria Cole (1950-2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. As mentioned above, she was the daughter of Nat King Cole. She rose to prominence in the mid-1970s with the release of her debut album, Inseparable (1975), which included the song “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” as well as the album’s title track. The success of that first release led to her receiving the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, becoming the first African American recipient as well as the first R&B act to win the award. After releasing several more albums of R&B, she left that sound behind and re-invented herself as a pop singer on her 1987 album, Everlasting. In the 1990s, she sang traditional pop songs, some written by her father, which resulted in her biggest success, Unforgettable… with Love (1991), again breaking new ground, winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first African American woman to do so.
The transition from R&B to pop came to its fullest fruition, though, with her 90-minute, 18-song performance (available on DVD) that was recorded in London with a full orchestra. The 2002 show, originally airing on PBS, celebrates the release of Cole’s CD, Ask A Woman Who Knows, also the title of the DVD. For that show, Cole is joined by Diana Krall for two numbers, with Krall singing “’S Wonderful” solo, and then a duet with Cole of “Route 66.”
Diana Jean Krall (1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her amazing contralto vocals. She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. In 2009, Billboard magazine named her the second greatest jazz artist of the decade (2000-2009), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time. Krall has the distinction of being the only jazz singer to have had eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. To date, she has won two Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammys). On her first album, Stepping Out (1992), released in 1993, she was accompanied by bassist, John Clayton and drummer, Jeff Hamilton. The album caught the attention of producer, Tommy LiPuma, who produced her second album, Only Trust Your Heart (1995). Coincidentally, LiPuma also produced Cole’s DVD mentioned above. In 2000, Krall partnered with Tony Bennett for a 20-city tour, and in 2008-09, they worked together again for a song on the TV series, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… (Krall and Costello were married in 2003). Krall’s work with Bennett pre-dates Lady Gaga’s and Bennett’s album release in 2014.
Lastly, personal connection number two. Although I could also include a connection to Natalie Cole, as we were both born in 1950, this connection has to do with Diana Krall. As mentioned above, she was born and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, which is on Vancouver Island, a short ferry ride away from the city of Vancouver, which I called home from 1983-2005. Krall has performed at many jazz festivals over the years in both the US and Canada, and she had a special relationship with the Vancouver International Jazz festival, especially after performing there at 17 in 1981. More than a decade later, while I was working on my Masters at Simon Fraser University, one of my fellow students at the time was the transportation coordinator for the jazz festival and asked me if I wanted to volunteer my time as a driver picking up acts from the airport, taking them to venues, and anything else that a driver was needed for. Needless to say, my answer was a resounding yes. It was, if I am remembering correctly, the summer of 1993, after the release of her first album, Stepping Out, and I was informed that I would be picking up Diana Krall and her band at the airport. Two vans were needed for this because of the amount of gear they had, with one van taking the gear and some band members to the venue, and the other first dropping Krall off at her hotel, and then dropping off the remaining gear at the venue. I was the lucky guy who got Krall all to myself for the 45 minute drive to her hotel. It was a memorable ride, and we talked about everything from music, to growing up on Vancouver Island, and everything in between. But the really amazing part of this story happened the following year, when I returned as a volunteer, and just by chance was again tagged to pick up Krall from the airport – this time she was there on her own. I was standing outside of my van holding a card saying Diana Krall, when she exited the terminal, walked up to me and said: “Hi Irwin, nice to see you again.” I was speechless.
I apologize for this rather lengthy post, but the summer ended just over a week ago, so what else have ya got to do? Enjoy the music.
Adele Astaire. “’S Wonderful” with George Gershwin on piano 1927/8.
Nat King Cole. “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” recorded live with his trio, 1951.
Natalie Cole & Diana Krall. “’S Wonderful” and “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” Recorded live in London 2002.
Los Angeles 2024
Great post North, love the Harley pic, you are some dude! Very nice song collection and artists, it’s little wonder songs like this are recorded even today, they are true classics.
Thanks Randy. Classics will always be classics!
Great post! I mostly enjoyed your personal Route 66 and Diana Krall stories.
Getting my kicks on Route 66 is something I’d love to do as well at some point. It wouldn’t be on a Harley since I don’t know how to ride a motorbike like this – not to mention I don’t have a license. Perhaps a cool Mustang convertible would be fun as well. Granted I don’t have this kind of car either. I guess in theory I could rent one. Heck, I’d even take that California trip with a boring car!
“Route 66” also is a great song. I first knew it by the Stones and Chuck Berry. Them also did a great version!
Thank you! It’s a trip worth taking.
A great post that elicits so many reactions, Irwin. First off, I loved both Nat and Natalie Cole (and never knew his full name was Nathaniel Adams Cole), and must have played the album Unforgettable… with Love more than a thousand times over the years. I’ve sadly never followed Diana Krall or her music very closely, but have always liked what I’ve heard by her. I really need to listen to more of her music catalog. And how cool that you got to meet her – twice! – and that she remembered you! Their duet is ‘s wonderful.
As I mentioned previously, I lived in St. Louis 17 years, where I owned and operated a B&B with my life partner. Over the years, we hosted a lot of guests, many of them from Europe, who either began in Chicago or St. Louis, and drove Route 66 to Arizona or even all the way to Los Angeles. I myself drove parts of it in Oklahoma and New Mexico on a trip from St. Louis to Phoenix in 2006.
Thank you!
I loved all of this, Irwin! As you say, classics are always classics for a reason – they have timeless appeal beyond any particular generation. And Diana Krall and Natalie Cole together are such a treat. Thanks!