My Funny Valentine (and a little sampology)

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In honor of Valentimes (sic) Day, here’s a few versions of a classic.  This song, a tune from the Broadway show Babes In Arms, has been covered dozens of times, mostly by jazz artists, but also pop and R&B vocalists.

The first rendition I’ll use is from cool jazz trumpeter, singer, and total mess, Chet Baker.  In addition to being impeccably coiffed, Chet had a heroin addiction that kept his career from ever really taking off, despite the fact that it lasted for around 40 years.  Still, he made several very good records, both in Gerry Mulligan’s group, and as a bandleader.  but Chet’s 1952 recording is the first time the song made it into popular consciousness, and probably the signature performance of it.  His breathy, haunting vocals sit in the quiet piano and bass arrangement.

Next comes Frank Sinatra’s version of the song on his album, Songs For Young Lovers (Capitol, 1955).  Sinatra lightens the mood a bit relative to Baker, with a fuller string arrangement, and his rich tenor vocals.  This song became a fixture of his live set for decades to come.

My favorite instrumental performance of the song is by the Miles Davis quintet off their album Cookin’ (Prestige, 1955).  The song is as unique for the situation under which it was recorded as the song itself.  Cookin’ was one of four albums recorded in two days by the group, so that they could get out of their contract.  There were very few second takes, and as such, the songs are very raw expressions of cohesion between the very talented players.  This particular one featured only Miles, drummer Philly Joe Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, and pianist Red Garland.  John Coltrane, present on other recordings on the dates, sat this particular track out.  Miles’ sparse, distant solo does an excellent job of capturing the irony of the song.

Fast forwarding to the 1990′s, Chaka Khan did an excellent job with the song on the Waiting To Exhale original soundtrack.  A Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds production, it has a nice 1990′s R&B ballad feel to it, and Chaka puts it down on vocals.

Finally, there is Etta James.  I was not able to find much info about this recording or where it came from.  It has a Joe Pass-like acoustic guitar backing it.  Also, you’ve probably noticed from the line, “Make me smile with my heart,” that this song was sampled in Kanye West’s Addiction.

There are a zillion versions of this song out there, though, and if you have a favorite I haven’t mentioned, let me know.  Hope everyone had a great V-Day!

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