Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Monday, August 24, 2015 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 blues album Playin’ With My Friends, which featured duets with blues and jazz artists including B.B. King, Ray Charles, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder and Bonnie Raitt, among others. And yes, Tony Bennett sings the blues and sings them really well. The album was produced by Phil Ramone.

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