Billie Holiday: Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town
Track
Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town
Group
Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra (featuring Billie Holiday)
CD
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 1: 1933-1935 (Columbia CK-40646)
Musicians:
Billie Holiday (vocals), Teddy Wilson (piano), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Chu Berry (tenor sax), John Kirby (bass), Cozy Cole (drums),
Dave Barbour (guitar)
.Composed by Arthur Freed & Bernie Hanighen
.Recorded: New York, October 25, 1935
Rating: 91/100 (learn more)
Making "Yankee Doodle" its official song was in keeping with Connecticut's Revolutionary spirit. As first sung by British redcoats to deride disorganized colonials, "doodle" meant fool. By adopting the ditty as their own, nutmeggers demonstrated impudent defiance. In 1935, however, investigative reporter Billie Holiday discovered that the backstory was phony. "Yankee Doodle never went to town," she revealed. "He didn’t even own a pony." State historical societies were understandably up in arms. Buoyed by Swing Era stalwarts, however, Billie stuck to her guns. This track doesn't aspire to be High Art, but its silly fun is thick as hasty pudding.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
If you liked this track, also check out
- Billie Holiday: Good Morning Heartache
- Billie Holiday: Mean to Me
- Madeleine Peyroux: Once In a While
- Nina Simone: I Loves You Porgy
Related Links
Billie Holiday: Rare and Live by Ted Gioia
The Dozens: Twelve Essential Billie Holiday Performances by Stuart Nicholson
”Billie Holiday” by Stuart Nicholson (from The Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians)
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