My friend Amy Freeman, who knows from music, considers this one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Me? I'd maybe go with "Our Love Is Here To Stay" -but, you knew it would be Gershwin -a genuis melodicist. So ehere is a bunch of reviews of the same song.
1. Amy Winehouse – near the beginning? When she sings "with regret" Grade: A
2. Rod Stewart – Overwarm -cool it. Grade: B
3. Wilie Nelson – I know but i can't bar him (as Helen would say: I juuuus cannn stand himmm) Grade: B
4. Brian Wilson – Great vocal! Grade: B+
5. Linda Ronstadt – And remember who orchestrated it! Plus: she sings in the intro. Grade B+
6. Chet Baker Grade: A
7. Etta James – Too r&b Grade: B
8. Gladys Night And The Pips Grade: The intro sucks. Grade: B
9. Frank Sinatra – It's Sinatra -what's not to like? Grade: A
10. Ella Fitzgerald – Speechless wonderful young Ella Grade: A+
11. Rickie Lee Jones – I once stood in line to get her autograph (at the 4th street Tower). This is why. Grade: A- (? she takes it too slow)
12. Manhattan Transfer -Yes. No Grade: C+
13. Art Garfunkel – Damn that voice is gorgeous. Grade: B
14. The Platters – Doo wop but sounds like modified ska. Grade: C+
15. Georgie Fame – Not funny Grade: C-
16. Barbra Streisand – Absolute magnificence. Grade: A+
17. Sammy Davis Jr – Is this guy forggoten? He takes it slow and he lets the jazz inflections play in the distance so he gets both. Grade: A-
18. Charlie Parker – Not prime Grade: B
19. Lena Horne – This is where Amy got her version. Grade: A
20. Oscar Peterson – I saw this guy (with my niece Louba) at carnegie Hall and one of his hands were paralyzed. Hand to heart -I swear it. He was magnificent. Ella takes the vocal, but this version was about Oscar. Grade: B+
21 Sarah Vaughn – Ms. Vaughan is the A-Rod of jazz. I know she is one of the greatest but I can't warm up to her. Gdade: B+
22. Don Mclean – What's with the piano circle jerk? Grade: C- (and I love Don Mclean)
23. Fats Weller and Lee Wiley – Her timing here? Holy hell. She just holds back and holds back. Perfection. Waller hangs the beat all the way through. Grade: A
24. Liberace – he was so baroque, it is easy to forget he was a great pianist Grade:B
25. Sheena Easton – Love the way she doubles back at the end. Grade: B
26. Les Paul – Why am I listening to piano?? Grade: C+
27. Rosemary Clooney – I saw her near the end of her career, when she wasn't as sexy. Grade: B
28. Graham Parker -or else . Grade: B