Mel Tormé: The Hut-Sut Song

Track

The Hut-Sut Song

Artist

Mel Tormé (vocals)

CD

Mel Tormé's Finest Hour (Uptown/Universal 549673)

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Musicians:

Mel Tormé (vocals), Conrad Gozzo (trumpet), Benny Carter (alto sax), Georgie Auld (tenor sax), Babe Russin (tenor sax),

John Best, Mannie Klein (trumpets); Ed Kusby, Lloyd Ulyate, Ted Vesely (trombones); Matty Matlock (alto sax), Chuck Gentry (baritone sax), Al Pellegrini (piano), Allen Reuss (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), Nick Fatool (drums)

.

Composed by Leo Killian, Ted McMichael & Jack Owens. Arranged by Billy May. Conducted by George Cates

.

Recorded: Los Angeles, August 3, 1954

AlbumcovermeltormésFinesthour

Rating: 66/100 (learn more)

Although Mel Tormé's musicianship made him one of jazz's finest singers, on this track the Velvet Frog (well, Tormé is a French name, isn't it?) seems to have temporarily taken leave of his senses. The mock- Swedish doubletalk "Hut-Sut Song" was an annoyingly ubiquitous novelty hit in 1941, but there was no excuse for continuing to inflict it upon the American people, especially in a collection improbably dubbed Mel Tormé's Finest Hour. It might cop an award in the "What Was He Thinking?" category, except there's no evidence of thought anywhere, from Billy May's growling brass mindlessly lifted from Glenn Miller to Tormé's witless recitation. It ain't even dumb fun. Just dumb.

Reviewer: Alan Kurtz

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Related Links

Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dek-tette by Thomas Cunniffe
The Velvet Fog Still Rolls In . . . by Ted Gioia

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