Summer time

Today is the 28th of November. It’s still autumn, close to winter. Today is also the birthday of Simon our brilliant drummer. We’re playing together since 1993. Looking forward for next years celebration of standing for 30 years on stage together. This tune is livicated to you.

This tune may help warming up all things a little bit.

This one came along the way. The original recording is by Ernest Ranglin on his album Mr. Ernie Ranglin With Soul from 1969. I heard his version and was fascinated. What an ease and brilliant guitar. While listening with headphones I realized, that his solo is only on the left channel while the band is on the right channel.

I isolated the right channel only and played with the flute over it. That was about in june 2019.

The flute is recorded live in the rehearsal room at Sedel in 2019 on 23rd of august. Then I mixed it at my secret laboratory.

Ernest Ranglin didn’t play the melody itself he improvised over the theme.

I really love the theme itself. George Gershwin composed the melody in 1934 inspired by an Ukrainian lullaby. The whole opera was first played in Boston 1935. Because it’s one of the most covered tunes, there are too many to name. But my interpretation is first published here.

I’m really sorry to steal the backing track from Ernest Ranglins band. It was published on RCA Victor and in 2013 on Dub Store Records in Japan.

Another version of that melody I love is played by a friend of Ernest Ranglin in 1961 with Monty Alexander & The Cyclones. I was re-released on the compilation Coxsone’s Music (The First Recordings Of Sir Coxsone The Downbeat 1960-62).

Yet another extraordinary version of Summertime is sung by Prince Buster. A very rare recording, that was brilliantly first-released by the Japanese label Rock A Shacka in 2019 on the Roll On Charles Street compilation.

Then there is Lloyd Clarks classic Ska version. On the Original Ska Explosion Vol. 1 compilation this version felt into my ears many years ago on a very special Ska compilation.

The same Lloyd Clark made a few years later another brilliant version in Rock Steady mood.

Different and amazing is the Lee Perry produced Errol Walker version In These Times from 1979 re-released on the must have Arkology from 1997.

But without this studio one version with Jackie Mittoo this list wouldn’t be fully satisfying. This killer version is released in 1967 on Jackie Mittoo In London. But also in 2007 on the Soul Jazz compilation Mojo Rocksteady Beat as by Sound Dimension.

And just because, the melody originally was a lullaby here the Booker T. & The MG’s. I have it on this compilation: The Best Of Booker T. & The MG’s.

Hope you like this little excursion on Summertime version.

Let me know if you like my version over the Ernest Ranglin take.

 

Yours

Ras Claude

another standard can be heard here: Exodus

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