and he keeps it... outta sight...

So when gore_whore_5 informed me that she'd never heard the song "Mack the Knife," I decided to rectify this situation. I was just going to play her the Bobby Darin version, but then I thought I couldn't neglect the Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and certainly not Sinatra's either for that matter. Then I started searching around for more versions, and I decided, the hell with it, I'm gonna make a whole CD mix dedicated to all the best takes on "Mack the Knife" that I can find!

I'm at fifteen track right now, and still trying to find any more versions. If I left any versions out, it's usually because they were just unimaginitively aping Darin's version. It's understandable; I still think pound for pound Bobby Darin's is still the best out there. It's the purest, the swinginest, the most dramatic and ass-kicking version (aside from Frank and Sammy's duet version, but the Sinatra flourishes at the end keep it from being the iconic take on the song). I wanted to see just how many different styles of music could lend themselves to this song originally envisioned by Weill and Brecht in "Threepenny Opera." How many other songs have gotten this kind of love and treatment, I wonder? My "Mack the Knife" mix includes the following people:

Caterina Valente (in the original german)
Louis Armstrong and Louie Prima
Bobby Darin
Peggy Lee
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington
The Doors
Liberace
Marianne Faithful
Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
The Psychadelic Furs
Westlife
Brian Setzer Orchestra
Michael Buble
Nick Cave
Kevin Spacey

I may take the Westlife one off, as it basically sounds like a boy band doing the Darin version. Meh-tastic. Michael Buble and Peggy Lee's are the most "lounge" and that's not in the best way, but they grow on you. The Doors' segues into "show me the way to the next whiskey bar..." and the Psychadelic Furs sounds... well, exactly like you expect it might. Liberace's version is especially perfect for this mix, as he plays a few bars, then toys with what it would have been like if Strauss and then Mozart had played Mack.

(interesting note about Liberace: I discovered this track off his "Greatest Hits" album. I looked over the rest of the tracks to see if I'd recognize anything, and two particular pieces caught my eye. "Tammy" was the first track I noticed. Not surprising, of course, but just a coincidence. But wait, what's the second track I noticed? That's right. "Misty." Yep. Tammy and Misty on Liberace's Greatest Hits. In fact, those are the only "name" songs on the whole album, assuming "Misty" isn't an adjective. My brain is twisting itself into a pretzel trying to figure this one out, and I can't even think of anything witty to say.)

Making this mix has been a really fun and fascinating little musical adventure, reminding me once again why this is the song Johnny Go is going to sing just before he dies.

Misc. Thoughts

1.) For everyone who loved fishymcb's plug for KING JOHN, check out his journal for his latest plugging. It's a show most of you probably won't (be able to) see, but it's still ass-funny. Which is to say, as funny as ass. Which is damn funny. He rules.

2.) Because I'm a sheep: SERENITY MEMES!

Dear Diary,
Today I was pompous and my sister was crazy... today we were kidnapped by hill folk, never to be seen again. It was the best... day... ever.

You scored as The Operative. You are dedicated to your job and very good at what you do. You've done some very bad things, but they had to be done. You don't expect to go to heaven, but that is a sacrifice you've made for a better future for all. </td> Hoban 'Wash' Washburne 69% The Operative 69% Kaylee Frye 56% Capt. Mal Reynolds 56% Zoe Alleyne Washburne 56% Shepherd Derrial Book 50% Inara Serra 38% Simon Tam 38% River Tam 31% Jayne Cobb 31% Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Pff, well, I'm not so sure about that... I barely qualified as ANYONE according to this, and doesn't it technically say I'm Wash? Hmm. I wonder what the Firefly quiz says?

You scored as Simon, the Doctor. Simon Tam, a former well-to-do young surgeon and bachelor extraordinaire. You gave up everything to help your sister, which I respect. However, you are also pompous and talk too much, which I also respect. </td> Simon, the Doctor 100% First Mate Zoe 81% Captain Malcolm Reynolds 56% Inara, the "Companion" 50% Kaylee, the Mechanic 44% Shepherd Book 38% Wash, the Pilot 31% RiVER 25% Jayne Cobb, resident bad-ass 13% FiREFLY QUIZ created with QuizFarm.com

Hey now, that's... that's... well, that's not quite... erm... yeah, ok, that works.

******************************************

3.) So! I can put the following people down for "Mack the Knife" CD's:
jayel4192
chickenhat
eliyes
spirit_o_fire
slaversbane
disc_sophist
gore_whore_5
erzebetbathory
Shit, now I gotta buy more blank CDs. To Staples (or wherever else I can go that's close by)! Any other takers? *singsong* I just added Jerry Orrrrbach...!