Libby Holman sings "Body And Soul"

[getdowndog]

"....I'd gladly surrender....WHA WHA WHA WHA....myself to you, body and soul."

Has anyone else in the last 80 years thought that stupid bassoon or english horn or whatever it is ruins this otherwise lovely ballad. WHA WHA WHA WHA

[buzzbaybear]

@getdowndog... I think it's a muted trombone and now that you mention it...LOL

[Barrelhouseblues1]

Libby lead a tragic life...never heard of her before till I found "Dreams That Money Can Buy".... it seems that Raymond Chandler alludes to her husbands death in one of his stories....

thanks for helpin me hear who I am reading about!

[Barrelhouseblues1]

Libby lead a tragic life...never heard of her before till I found "Dreams That Money Can Buy".... it seems that Raymond Chandler alludes to her husbands death in one of his stories....

[rossharmonics]

Besides the great vocal renditions of this song, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and Thelonius Monk all did great instrumental improvisations on Body and Soul.

[operamichael]

Wonderful. Her rich, full sound and sensual phrasing are fabulous. For a perfect song for her. A sad life, though.

[waynebrasler]

Libby was a great singer, one of the greatest, but her art alas was overshadowed by her distraught life. The orchestration here became as famous as the recording and was widely imitated. For my money, Billie Holiday did the greatest versions of the song--I think she understood it the most. But well worth seeking is the Joni James version recorded at Abbey Road in London with a gigantic string ensemble because it is so innocent in approach.

[waynebrasler]

My favorite song. Did you know it was written on a trip to London, the lyricist left the lyrics in a cab and then had to rewrite them. Then the lyrics were found. So, the American version of the song has some words different in the bridge than performed in England. When Joni James recorded the song at Abbey Road, she was surprised to find the different lyrics. Also, the original countermelody in the first orchestration of the song later became "I Cover the Waterfront."

[baghend]

What a sophisticated song- always a favourite. Holman sings it the way it's 'sposed to be-

appreciate the words as well. Sigh- don't you miss the days when songs had LYRICS rather than mindless expletives deleted repeated over and over by people with no talent, no poetry and zero class? For people who wouldn't know any of those. And likely never will. I really honestly feel so sorry for many young people today who are being cheated and lied to by what passes for talent .

[Barrelhouseblues1]

@baghend The thirties had thier explaives just as today has talent. Listen to Lucille Bogan sing 'Shave em dry'...the dirty version.

[z978ady]

Great video of a wonderful singer.

[BuyBenco]

Is this from the original 1930 version in the movie?

[havisham3]

I had never heard of her ,but, rereading Appointment In Sammara ,by John O Hara ,I came across a brief reference to her.Interesting find ,and Woman!

[edwardjames50]

Libby introduced the song and her legendary vocal made it a standard. She was a fascinating woman, and I highly recommend the wonderful bio of her by Jon Bradshaw, "Dreams Money Can Buy". She lived enough drama for ten lives, including being a murder suspect in the mysterious death of her tobacco-heir husband, Zachary Reynolds. She was openly bisexual when it was virtually unheard of.

Thanks for posting this classic!

[albertgk]

This is really first rate! Thanks for posting this wonderful song.

[eeffoc2009]

Any idea when this was recorded?

Thanks for posting it...Hey, there is a verse to this song!

[JimmieBluffdweller]

The verse of this song is all but forgotten, so it's a treat to hear it in this recording. Thanks for posting it.

[Corrie121]

Libby was such a great singer, and here she is, singing a great song. absolutely adorable.

Thanks for posting.

[georgeiv2]

great song and a great singer, I'd never heard of this wonderful woman before. Thank goodness for YouTube and for people like you who are happy to share. Regards