Basin Street Blues
Louis Armstrong
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Now won't you come along with me To the Mississippi? We'll take a trip to the land of dreams Blowing down the river, down to New Orleans The band is there to meet us Old friends to greet us That's where the line and the dark folks meet A heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street I said, Basin Street, Basin Street Where the elite always meet Down in New Orleans, the land of dreams You'll never know how nice it seems Or just how much it really means Just to be, yes, siree, in New Orleans The land of dreams where I can lose My Basin Street blues Now, you're glad you came with me Down the Mississippi We took a trip in a land of dreams And floated down the river down to New Orleans Where to, Basin Street, Basin Street Where the elite always meet Down in New Orleans, the land of dreams You'll never know how, how much it seems Or just how much it really means Just to be, yes, siree, yeah, New Orleans The land of dreams where I can lose My Basin Street blues
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Written by: Spencer Williams
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Jazz Origin"Basin Street Blues" is a classic jazz song, reflecting American music's romantic perception of New Orleans' jazz scene.
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Louis Armstrong ContributionLouis Armstrong performed a famous rendition of "Basin Street Blues". This was one of his signature songs, and he performed it on numerous occasions, infusing it with his unique jazz style.
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Glenn Miller's VersionGlenn Miller, an American big band trombonist and composer, also performed and recorded a memorable version of "Basin Street Blues".
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Song History"Basin Street Blues" was composed by Spencer Williams in 1926 and was originally performed by the Dixie Washboard Band.
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Song InspirationThe song Basin Street Blues is named for Basin Street, a main thoroughfare in New Orleans, which was a hotbed for early jazz.
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Louis Armstrong and His OrchestraIn 1928, Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra recorded a version of "Basin Street Blues", which is considered one of the prominent versions of the song.
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Louis Armstrong's documentariesArmstrong's version of the song was featured in the 1956 classic documentary "Satchmo the Great" and also in the 1958 film "St Louis Blues".
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Chart PopularityIn 1931, The Mills Brothers achieved a Top 10 hit with their rendition of "Basin Street Blues".
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Influence on Other ArtistsThe song has been covered by many artists from different genres including Ella Fitzgerald, Dr. John, Sam Cooke, Bing Crosby, Miles Davis, and Frank Sinatra.
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Historical SignificanceThe Basin Street referred to in the song was the center of the Storyville district, where legal prostitution was allowed in New Orleans between 1897 and 1917. A memorable line from the song is: "The place where old friends meet." After the practice was outlawed, the street's name was changed to North Saratoga.
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Glenn Miller and his orchestraOn May 17, 1938, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra put forth their version of “Basin Street Blues'' which was instrumental without vocals.
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Miller's InterpretationMiller's practice of fading in solos over the melody, called the Miller Sound, can be distinctly heard in his interpretation of "Basin Street Blues".
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Aesthetic of Armstrong's versionArmstrong's version of "Basin Street Blues" is characterized by his smooth vocal style and innovative trumpet playing, improvising with the melody and rhythm to create a distinctively personal interpretation.
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LegacyBoth Armstrong and Miller's versions of "Basin Street Blues" have become a staple in the jazz repertoire and have contributed to the enduring popularity of the song.
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Song InductionIn 2003, "Basin Street Blues" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. This award was established in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old.
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