BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Music: Harold Arlen- Lyrics: Ted Koehler
Year: 1931
Origin of the song
The first recordings of ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ that I know are the ones carried out in London: Jack Payne's BBC Dance Orchestra, with Jack Payne as singer and conductor of the orchestra (27 January 1931), Jack Hylton’s Orchestra, with the voice of Part O’Malley (28 January 1931), and Roy Fox & His Band, with the vocalist Al Bowlly (29 February 1931).
A little time later, in March 1931, the musical revue Rhyth-Mania premiered at the Cotton Club of New York, whose star was Cab Calloway, who performed before his orchestra. The singer Aida Ward performed ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ in that occasion. Two other songs from the show, also composed by Arlen and Koehler, were very popular in the top charts: ‘Kickin’ the Gong Around’, with Cab Calloway’s and Louis Armstrong’s versions, and ‘I Love a Parade’, performed by Arden-Ohman Orchestra.
Among the numerous collaborations between Arlen and Koehler, ‘Get Happy’ (1929), ‘I've Got the World on a String’ (1932), ‘I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues’ (1932), ‘Stormy Weather’ (1933), ‘Let's Fall in Love’ (1933), ‘Ill Wind’ (1934), ‘As Long As I Live’ (1934), and ‘When the Sun Comes Out’ (1941) stand out.
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DAY OF
ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
Cab Calloway Orchestra |
1931.10.21 |
1931.11.27 |
3 |
15 |
Cab Calloway (voc) |
|
1932.01.25 |
1932.03.12 |
2 |
12 |
Louis Armstrong (voc) |
|
|
The Boswell Sisters |
1932.03.21 |
1932.05.07 |
3 |
13 |
Connee, Martha & Helvetia
Boswell (voc), Dorsey Brothers Orchestra |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1935.06.25
|
Benny Goodman (cl, dir), Bunny Berigan, Nate Kazebier, Jerry Neary (tp), Red Ballard, Jack Lacey (tb), Toots Mondello, Hymie Schertzer (as), Arthur Rollini, Dick Clark (ts), Frank Froeba (p), George Van Eps (g), Harry Goodman (b), Gene Krupa (d) |
|
|
1937.02.08
|
Bob Crosby (dir), Andy Ferretti, Yank Lawson (tp), Ward Silloway, Mark Bennett (tb), Gil Rodin, Matty Matlock (cl, as), Noni Bernardi (as), Eddie Miller (cl, ts), Dean Kincaide (ts), Bob Zurke (p), Nappy Lamare (g), Bob Haggart (b), Ray Bauduc (d) |
|
|
Coleman Hawkins All Stars Jam Band |
1937.04.28
|
Coleman Hawkins (ts), Benny Carter (tp, as), André Ekyan (as), Alix Combelle (ts, cl), Stéphane Grappelli (p), Django Reinhardt (g), Eugene d'Hellemes (b), Tommy Benford (d) |
|
|
1937.07.07 |
Dicky Wells (tb, dir), Bill Dillard, Shad Collins, Bill Coleman (tp), Django Reinhardt (g), Richard Dick Fullbright (b), Bill Beason (d) |
|
1937.11.12 |
Teddy Wilson (p) |
|
|
Mary Lou Williams Trio |
1954.01.14 |
Mary Lou Williams (p), Buddy Banks (b), Jean Louis Viale (d) |
|
Modern Jazz Quartet |
1957.04.05 |
Milt Jackson (vib), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d) |
|
1957.05.12 |
Sonny Stitt (as, ts), Bobby Timmons (p), Edgar Willis (b), Kenny Dennis (d) |
|
|
1960.11.11 |
Donald Byrd (tp), Pepper Adams (bars), Duke Pearson (p), Laymon Jackson (b), Lex Humphries (d) |
|
|
1967.01.10 |
Thelonious Monk (p) |
|
|
Ellis Larkins Trio |
1977.07.21 |
Ellis Larkins (p), George Duvivier (b), J.C. Heard (d) |
|
André Previn Trio |
1990.03.09 |
André Previn (p), Mundell Lowe (g), Ray Brown (b) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
|
1931.10.21
|
Cab Calloway (voc, dir), Edwin Swayzee, Lammar Wright, Reuben Reeves (tp), DePriest Wheeler (tb), Arvill Harris (cl, as), Andrew Brown (as), Walter Thomas (ts, fl), Bennie Payne (p), Morris White (bjo), Jimmy Smith (b), Leroy Maxey (d) |
|
Louis Armstrong Orchestra |
1932.01.25
|
Louis Armstrong (tp, voc), Zilner Randolph (tp), Preston Jackson (tb), Lester Boone (cl, as), George James (r), Albert Washington (cl, ts), Charlie Alexander (p), Mike McKendrick (bjo, g), John Lindsay (b), Tubby Hall (d) |
|
1932.03.21
|
Martha, Connee & Helvetia Boswell (voc), Tommy Dorsey (tb), Jimmy Dorsey (cl, as), Mannie Klein (tp), Babe Russin (ts), Martha Boswell (p), Eddie Lang (g), Artie Bernstein (b), Stan King (d) |
|
|
|
1939.11.07
|
Count Basie (p, dir), Ed Lewis, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton (tp), Dickie Wells, Dan Minor, Benny Morton (tb), Earle Warren (as), Jack Washington (as, bars), Lester Young, Buddy Tate (ts), Freddie Greene (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes (voc) |
|
1955.04.27 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Decca Orchestra, Benny Carter (dir) |
|
|
1957.09.12 |
Blossom Dearie (p, voc), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d) |
|
|
Mel Tormé |
1957.11.01 |
Mel Tormé (voc), Marty Paich (p, dir), Don Fagerquist
(tp), Vincent DeRosa (tpa), Hymie Gunkler (cl, as), Bob Enevoldsen (cl, ts), Ronnie Lang (cl, as, bars), Bill Pitman (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Mel Lewis (d), string
section |
|
1958.02.17 |
Annie Ross (voc), Chet Baker (tp), Gerry Mulligan (bars), Henry Grimes (b), Dave Bailey (d) |
|
|
1961.01.16 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Billy May Orchestra |
|
|
1964.09.04 |
Tony Bennett (voc), George Siravo Orchestra |
|
|
Anita O’Day |
2005.??.?? |
Anita O'Day (voc), Joe Wilder (tp), Tommy Morimoto (ts), Lafayette Harris, Jr. (p), Chip Jackson (b), Eddie Locke (d) |
On cinemas
The song 'Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL
TITLE |
TITLE IN
SPAIN |
YEAR OF
PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? |
Danzad, danzad, malditos |
1969 |
Background music |
|
City Heat |
Ciudad muy caliente |
1984 |
Eloise Laws |
|
Did You Hear About The Morgans? |
¿Qué fue de los Morgan? |
2009 |
George Harrison |