Invitation

[Allan Johnston]

I don't know if the movie is any good, but anyone interested in hearing familiar jazz standards in their original setting might be interested in catching the movie "Invitation" (1952) on Turner Classic Movies this morning - or at least the opening theme, anyway, by the great Bronislau Kaper. Which reminds me - I was watching a clip of Hedy Lamarr in "Samson and Delilah" the other day and recognised a familiar theme on the soundtrack: "Delilah" by Victor Young, familiar from Clifford Brown and Max Roach's version. It made me wonder if ANY of the soundtrack themes from today's films could ever make Standard status...

[bverkerk]

I haven't seen the movie, but Invitation is one of my favourite tunes.

Stan Getz plays a great version on his "Live" at the Left Bank CD, but I think the first version I heard that turned me on to the tune was on Mike Allen's One Step Closer CD a dozen or so years ago.

[Gavin Walker]

I love Getz' version from that Left Bank album Ben but for me Joe Henderson's version caps it. Joe's version is on "Tetragon". As a matter of fact....I'll open next week's The Jazz Show (June 21) with Joe's version!

[Nou Dadoun]

Ok, I'm game, I vote for the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers' version on Impulse with Wayne Shorter & Lee Morgan:



N.

[Gavin Walker]

I remember the first time I ever heard that track.....Wayne Shorter's solo gave me a near heart attack.

[bverkerk]

I'd forgotten about the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers version — or even that I had that CD. I agree — it's wonderful! Thanks for the reminder.

I look forward to hearing Joe Henderson play it, Gavin.

[Allan Johnston]

Just to get deeper into the question I posed at the top of this thread...what was the last movie theme to acheive actual "Standard" status, let's say to be recorded in more than 3 memorable jazz versions? I'm going to go out on a limb here and credit the last of the old-time "themesters", Henry Mancini - maybe "Days of Wine and Roses"? Gavin?

Al

[Gavin Walker]

Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster's "Love Theme from 'The Sandpiper'......we know it as "The Shadow of Your Smile". Recordings by Dexter Gordon, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, Helen Merrill, Bill Evans and so it goes.

[Brian Nation]

I believe the first song written specifically for a movie that became a huge hit and a standard was "Laura" from the movie of that name. Great movie, great song. Composed by David Raksin.

From NYT:

In ''Laura,'' a detective played by Dana Andrews falls in love with a woman who has apparently been murdered (Gene Tierney). The score, based on that single recurring melody, was a sensation. After the release of the movie, Johnny Mercer was hired to put words to Mr. Raksin's melody, and the song became No. 1 on the Hit Parade. Mr. Raksin, whose wife had left him the day before he sat down at the piano, often said the theme touched people because it was about the yearning that comes with unrequited love.

[Allan Johnston]

You may be right about that. www.imdb.com is a great site. I was able to search a few titles/composers off the top of my head; here are some songs written as movie title themes that became standards. Somebody feel free to bring this up to date

1944 Laura - David Raksin
1947 Green Dolphin Street - Bronislau Kaper
1948 Night Has a 1000 Eyes - Jerry Brainin
1949 Samson and Delilah(?) Victor Young (I'm not sure if "Delilah" is the title theme)
1949 My Foolish Heart - Victor Young
1952 Invitation - Bronislau Kaper

[Allan Johnston]

Stella by Starlight (Victor Young) is also from a 1944 movie (the same year as "Laura") but it's not the title theme. The movie is "The Uninvited".

[Allan Johnston]

This is from the imdb soundtrack entry for the classic Karloff movie "The Mummy" (1932)!

"Beautiful Love"
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Victor Young
Played during the ball sequence where Helen is telepathically called to the museum

[Allan Johnston]

Originally Posted by Gavin Walker

Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster's "Love Theme from 'The Sandpiper'......(...)... Bill Evans and so it goes.

Bill's version of "Suicide is Painless" (theme from "M.A.S.H.", Johnny Mandel) blows my mind.

[Nou Dadoun]

Here's a jazz standards website with one very thin page for 70s to date:
http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions/index-06.htm

Interesting list of standards and their origins though, mostly show tunes for the early ones; how do you define a standard anyway? Real book? Different tunes might be standards in different communities, Haden's First Song (for Ruth)? The Peacocks? ... N

PS. I'll take the challenge and play the Blakey/Shorter version of Invitation on the A-Trane this week, who says radio doesn't listen?

N.