Song of Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Thursday, March 14, 2019, is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

“Undecided Blues” was written in 1941 by blues shouter Jimmy Rushing (also known as Five-by-Five, due to his stature). Rushing was born in Oklahoma City into to a musical family; his father was trumpet player and his mother a singer. He started his career as an itinerant blues singer in the early 1920s. He sang with Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz orchestras before joining the Bennie Moten band in 1929. When Moten died in 1935, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, which was his home for many years. Rushing with the Count Basie Orchestra first recorded “Undecided Blues” in 1941.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in 2001 for his delightful album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, which features some wonderful duets as well as several solos. “Undecided Blues” is one of my personal favorites from this album and features an arrangement by Rob Mathes.

Undecided Blues

Undecided Blues, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available from iTunes.