I Cover the Waterfront (song) explained

I Cover the Waterfront
Cover:	Sarahvaughanicoverthewaterfront.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Sarah Vaughan
Genre:	Jazz blues
Producer:	Johnny Green

"I Cover the Waterfront" is a 1933 popular song and jazz standard composed by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman. The song was inspired by Max Miller's 1932 best-selling novel, I Cover the Waterfront.^[1]

Recordings and interpretations

• Lucky Thompson - The Complete Vogue Recordings Vol. 1 (1956)

The song became popular, and many artists have recorded it since 1933.^[2] Notable artists include:

• Billie Holiday^[3]
• Frank Sinatra^[4]
• Sarah Vaughan^[5]
• Annette Hanshaw^[1]
• Abe Lyman's California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra^[1]
• Connee Boswell^[1]
• Harry James^[6]
• The Lester Young Trio with Nat King Cole^[7]
• Ray Conniff recorded the song in 1958, and was included on his "Awful Nice" LP.^[8]
• Buddy Rich^[9]
• Louis Armstrong^[1]
• Years later, Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song in her 1979 live album Digital III at Montreux on Pablo Records.^[10]
• Annie Lennox gave her interpretation of the song on her 2014 studio album Nostalgia.^[11]
• John Lee Hooker recorded several versions of the song. One appears on the 1991 compilation The Ultimate Collection^[12] and another with Van Morrison on Hooker's 1991 album Mr. Lucky.^[13] Hooker's versions make such changes from the original melody and lyrics that his label credits him as the songwriter.^[1]
• In 2017, the musicians Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau collaborated on an album recording of the track.^[14]

Film role

A 1933 motion picture, also inspired by Miller's book and also titled I Cover the Waterfront, was re-scored at the last minute to include the tune. Sheet music publishers later used the film's success by claiming that the song was "[i]nspired by the United Artist Picture of the same name".^[2]

Radio program theme

• I Cover the Waterfront was the theme for the Johnny Modero, Pier 23 radio program, which starred Jack Webb and was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1947.^[15]

Popular culture

• R&B/soul singer/actress Miki Howard, portraying Billie Holiday, performed the song in the 1992 bio film Malcolm X.^[16]

See also

• List of 1930s jazz standards

Notes and References

1. Web site: I Cover the Waterfront. Songbook1.wordpress.com. March 28, 2010. May 31, 2021.
2. Web site: Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (I Cover the Waterfront). Jazzstandards.com. May 31, 2021.
3. Web site: CD Album: Billie Holiday - The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve - 1945-1959 (1992). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
4. Web site: Vinyl Album: Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Greatest (1962). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
5. Web site: 78 Record: Sarah Vaughan - Once In A While (1953). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
6. Web site: America Swings: The Great Harry James - Harry James | Songs, Reviews, Credits. May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
7. Web site: Vinyl Album: Lester Young - Archives Of Jazz - Vol. 1 (1972). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
8. Web site: www.rayconniff.info. www.rayconniff.info. June 15, 2021.
9. Web site: CD Album: Buddy Rich - Rags To Riches (1989). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
10. Web site: Digital 3 at Montreux - Ella Fitzgerald | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
11. Web site: Nostalgia - Annie Lennox | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
12. Web site: The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990) - John Lee Hooker | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
13. Web site: Mr. Lucky - John Lee Hooker | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
14. Web site: Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau - Chris Thile, Brad Mehldau | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
15. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. 2003. McFarland & Company, Inc.. Jefferson, NC. 978-0-7864-4925-5. 123.
16. Web site: Malcolm X (1992) - IMDb. May 31, 2021. IMDb.com.