Song of the Day: Ain’t Misbehavin’

The song of the day for Saturday, June 8, 2013 is “Ain’t Misbehaving.” (And I ain’t either.)

About This Song

“Ain’t Misbehavin'” was written in 1929 by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks, with lyrics by Andy Razaf. Louis Armstrong recorded it the year it was written, as did Waller. The highly successful 1978 musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ helped to reintroduce Waller’s music to the American public.

In the documentary film The Zen of Bennett, Tony Bennett relates the story that Waller was paid two bottles of gin for writing this song. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happened to many jazz musicians and composers in the early part of the 20th century. Today, composers rights are represented by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), who work to ensure they are treated fairly for their creative works.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Ain’t Misbehavin'” is from Tony Bennett’s 1964 album with the Ralph Sharon Trio, When Lights Are Low.

http://open.spotify.com/track/39twrUHk5VAIIaaHFYnSP4
“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” as well as the remastered When Light Are Low album, is available from iTunes.

As today is Saturday and with hopes that you may have a little extra time to listen to some music, we present Fats Waller and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”