Dinah Washington & Brook Benton - Baby (You've Got What It Takes)

[dcrimmen]

@Nocaro I'm not tryin' to make you wrong here K? I do LOVE the history behind this music. I never heard of the rift between Dinah & Brook before. I've got a 78 R.P.M. record of Dinah doing a song called "T.V. Is The Thing This Year" from 1953. Year before "Baby" was made. it would appear to me that she was recording "Pop" music a long time before she met Brook.It's ceratinly not a Jazz record. How did you find out about the list of 18 songs? Sincerely, I'm curious about this Thanx :-)

[Nocaro]

@dcrimmen I don't think Dinah was anti-pop music per se, but she saw herself as a jazz diva first and foremost and a commercial pop artist somewhere else down the line. Dinah's vocal career started way before Brook started his, and perhaps she resented the Mercury producers coming up with this duo idea. I say "18 song" when it may have been 16 or less that I read, but these recording sessions with Brook were ultimately aimed at an album release.

[dcrimmen]

@Nocaro This is so cool. Where did you read about the list? Yes I realize that "The Lady" started WAaaayyyyyy before Brook did. I don't think 78's on Brook Benton exhist though I could be wrong. "T.V. Is The Thing This Year" very fun, and dare I say SEXY song! 1953 and the things they got past the censors of the day make me LOL! Just found out she had EIGHT husbands??????? Darn....she WAS a musician! ;-) So how did you find out about the list?

[Nocaro]

@dcrimmen I honestly can't recall where I read the story about this specific recording session, and who really knows what may have been going through Dinah's mind about it all. One of Dinah's last husbands was the great Detroit Lion defensive back, Dick "Night Train" Lane. I do know that it would have been typical to schedule at least 18 songs to record for any album project giving the producer and artists involved some leeway as to which to release on the album, however.

[Nocaro]

@dcrimmen I have a link to an in-depth look at the two recording sessions in which Brook and Dinah were involved, but YouTube will not allow me to publish the link in these comments. Send your e-mail address to me at nocaro@aol.com, and I'll send you the link to the story.

[dcrimmen]

@Nocaro Done. This could be really cool. Thanx TONS!

[dcrimmen]

Dunno if I buy all this controversy stuff here. Sounds like to me the're having a good time to me. Listen to the "Add Libs" on the follow-up single "Rockin' Good Way". Dinah even makes jokes about "You Got What It Takes" and cracks up Brook. I DO know one thing, in the recording industry, controversy SELLS RECORDS! Just ask Elvis Presley or Madonna. it's STILL a great record no matter what happened between the two of them. :-)

[Nocaro]

@dcrimmen When you have a list of 18 songs to record together and only 2 or 3 are ever completed, there's a problem!

[JODIMAR45]

Effortless from two singers at the top of their game......Pure magic!

[Webzlinger]

It's sad when a knockoff has more views than the original.

[drdonwhill]

One of the greatest R&B duets of all time.

[sauquoit13456]

On this date in 1960 {Jan. 25th} 'Baby (You've Got What It Takes' entered the Billboard's Top 100 chart, eventually it peaked at No. 5 and spent a total of 15 weeks in the Top 100!!!

[Mr007bozo]

Why all this talk about Michael Buble? He's an unemotional, talentless dweeb. I saw him recently on his Christmas Special sporting about 3 days growth of beard.....He thought he looked Macho, I thought he looked like a Hobo in a Tuxedo. Brook Benton had Class and Charisma and also he coud sing.

[Olaawsome]

i love buble with all my heart, but this version is just so much better

[MagicGary1960]

Dinah Washington was married to Detroit Lion Dick Night Train Lane and she had passed away on my 3rd birthday December 14th 1963! Loved Dinah Washington and Brook Benton together!

[myboylollipop09]

Some great standards are meant to be left alone! I could barely stand the disaster Michael Buble made of Darlene Loves big Xmas hit "Xmas baby please come home" this Xmas season..

[rdonaldsnyder]

Controversy or not, it remains a true classic.

[komatman]

oh yeeeeh

[dilseygirl]

Brook Benton is hands down better than Michael Buble on this one,

[sheltv100]

This sounds like a fusion of soul, country music and blues.

[LB9997]

"THE Queen" with Brook. What fun!

[Nijeta1]

These R Great Selections 4 the UPCOMING " Dinah Washington Tribute Album"Musicians interested in touring with us, ur set list is right HERE @ur fingertips!Start Rehearsing NOW!!! So u can be ready 2 tour &/or Play when u get the phone call There R opportunites 4 musicians all over the WORLD! Where Dinah Performed, We will b performing.Catch & RUN with the vision folks!Follow & Friend me on Facebook@(AngelMichelle And You) &(Queendinah Washington) Inbox me if you wanna PLAY PLAYAS : )God Bless

[Msginablueeyes]

What on earth is everyone arguing about.... peace and love  guys. Just enjoy the music. . Love these two and thanks for sharing ...great sound. xxx

[oscarshwartz]

Wonderful duet!! I didnt't realize that Dinah didnt' want to record it with Brook. Well, it became a classic!! I've always loved this song! I love all of Brook Bentons songs, and most of Dinah Washingtons!!--lee

[909chuck]

Dinah came up thru hard times the hard way and the toughness was necessary, she felt. I simply love these duets between the two. It's a shame more R&B duets weren't common. I was knocked out the first time I heard D. Gardner & DeeDee Ford's I Need Your Lovin'. In pop and C&W duets of the '50s were a mixed bag. But there is more to find if you explore! THANX!

[TheCathybrooks]

great song, two dynamic singers sorry they are not here to see how many people still enjoy their music.

[stefmagura]

One of my favorite 1960's duettes. :D They sound great together. And happy birthday to the fabulous Dinah Washington!

[drpreatorius]

Ok, I just listened to Buble with Sharon Jones singing this song. She rocked his world. He has a nice voice. He was just paired with the wrong singer.

[CJTELE]

Brook Benton and Buble I don't think so Buble hasn't got the range to really move this song Do you have any idea how respected Brook was When Tony Joe White wrote Rainy Night In Georgia He refused to let anyone record it until Brook got to hear it Brook finally heard it the rest is History Brook was the smoothest R&B singer ever with a long list of hits and History not even close my friend

[groovinwalrus]

They had what it took! The great Mr. Brook Benton, and the extraordinary Dinah Washington! From A little girl, I have loved this song!

Groovinwalrus

[elliecoffey]

Look, let's just get one thing straight: this music is fucking awesome and i'm yet to see a modern singer with alleged 'soul' that actually has it. It's not all about being serious and cool, and what you're wearing, and it's not all about crusading.. it's just about having heart and warmth and fun.. i.e. this song i.e. soulful r&b.

[ChrissieMc1]

class

[heidi1409741]

love this.;)

[MariaRossiTV]

ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITE SONGS! A GREAT DANCE SONG! THANKS FOR THE SHOWING!

Maria Rossi

[totalvicky]

The Queen (of her time) ... there is always one in every generation :-)

[brianestoll]

why can't popular (black) music this good now

[jg048]

This song is wonderful.  Two voices that harmonize together. Thanks for the post.

[bluesharp]

Well, to me this song cooks and the two singers worked well together. And this song is like a bottle of fine wine and has aged well.

[vanislefan]

@bluesharp

You are so right . If this came out today for the first time, it would shock the music world- and maybe help reinvent it.

[drpreatorius]

@vanislefan A new version was released two years ago by a decent singer. This just happens to be a one of kind song, that can't be topped.

[drpreatorius]

I love Brook Benton

[UnsweetenedPineapple]

I see a lot of arguing about this... but I love both Michael Buble, Dinah Washington and Brook Benton's voices.

I think they all have something special to them. I love both versions of this song. But I do love how some newer singers are drawing peoples attention to these classics that, in general, are being forgotten with each new generation.

Gosh, I love this <3

[10smpk]

My Mom used to play this all the time when I was a little girl and I loved it then and maybe even love it more today. We danced and sang along. I don't believe it gets any better than Benton and Washington!

[nomiclas]

nice song and nice commentary. dinah had 8 husbands and died at 39 from some addiction,i love her and felt brook was the best vocalist ever.take what you want out of this opinion.

[MissDellaReese]

I don't think it is entirely true that Dinah looked down upon Benton, merely because he was a "pop" singer. Dinah stirred a lot of controversy back then, because many people in the jazz genre felt that she herself was selling out by recording so-called "pop" music. There must have been a deeper reason behind their alleged conflict.

[Nocaro]

@MissDellaReese This very well could be but Mercury Records was in business to make money and with Dinah and Brook they had two huge talents although one (Dinah) resisted the pop scene. She probably would have objected to singing this song with anyone so it's not the slight to Brook that any comment made was meant to be since Brook was a super, super singer...Lanny (Nocaro)

[terreneserene]

@MissDellaRees ur right & Selling out is a constant theme in the music biz & not necessarily a bad move. Sarah Vaughn made Pop records back in the day..Broken Hearted Melody' is one that comes to mind. Aretha Franklin was a gospel artist who became a jazz artist then a R&B artist-sell out I don't think so! I have one painful peeve...desperate, fading music acts that take on jazz/american song book standards to revitalize their careers like Rod Stewart or wanna-be Hep Cats like Michael Buble'.

[juanitoelchico]

Love this Song, is the Best Ever!!!

[DylanGirl1963]

I never knew the reason why more duets weren't recorded! Thanks for the information and for the wonderful song...!

[Ericachild]

love it!

[stoneprincess]

Thank you for the background of this song and these two wonderful singers. I was only a little kid when Brook Benton was recording, but his voice has stayed with me all these years. (his 'You're All I Want for Christmas" is still my fave holiday song). This duet sounds great to me...even though Ms. Washington wasn't happy singing it, it still seemed like they had fun. Great song...thank you!

[1948BigCy]

I wore out my 45 rpm of this years ago...this is one of my favorite vocal duet cuts...just two great vocalists just havin' a ball and lettin' us share in their fun...year, I'm old...but they just make artists or records like these two...I love when Brook comes in at the wrong time, and Dinah, chides him "You're in my spot again honey"..."I like your spot!...

[anye76]

I must admit I only know this song from the Sandra Bullock & Hugh Grant movie "2 Weeks Notice". What a great song, you want to get up and dance. Nice post

[MrLions49]

they just work so well together!

[Nijeta1]

my duet partner needs to practice this please

[AnAngelOfMercy]

Great classic. This song plays at the end of the film, Blue Sky. Thanks for posting.

[annielouism]

I like both versions. I think this one of course is the classic but M Buble does justice to it, you have to admit.

[elamite66]

Dinah didn't think much of these songs like this and "Rockin' Good Way" as she was a Jazz singer just as Sarah Vaughn never liked "Broken hearted melody" but to me you can't beat it with a fuckin' stick I remember these songs from the next building just an alley away when I was 9 or 10 back in NY played again and again loved it but it drove my Dad nuts!!!!!

[kingcoach13]

@elamite66 find her singing what a difference a day makes at the apollo, the mc calls her the great BLUES singer. jazz.. not so much. she was a junkie.. and od'd.

ronald ray-gun opens the clip.

[bolder2009]

@kingcoach13 Yeah she was known as the 'Queen of The Blues' and 'The Queen Of The Jukebox', but she also recorded Jazz and Pop. She was versatile and could sing any style of music and make the song her own. Also she was a top notch piano player. Drugs was common amongst most musicians in that era. You could add a long list of names that were 'junkies'.

[kingcoach13]

@bolder2009 don't get me wrong!!she was my mom's favorite- "what a difference a day makes".. brings tears to my eyes every time. listen to all the other black female singers of her day sing all the standards then listen to her rendition-hers was always the most stylish the most soulful evoked the greatest emotions she was superior to all the others: billie,ella,sarah.in a class by herself.how she went at a song was unique-she took notes & gave them her own twist with her inflection/timing.

[bolder2009]

@kingcoach13 "she was superior to all the others: billie,ella,sarah." I don't agree at all. Great as she was, and she is one of the greatest, but to say she is SUPERIOR to BIllie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan?? No way. Those three are the pinnacle of the artform. Dinah stands alongside them. Once again that doesn't mean my opinion is right and yours is wrong. Whilst we all have our favourites, I can objectively say that each of these artists are unique in the history of Jazz.

[leitros]

@bolder2009 No one is better than Bessie.

[Banderuola66]

Soooo Cool !!! Love it !!! Thank you for posting.

All Thumbs Up !!!

[diddlejackson]

this song is fantastic and this recording is especially great. Isn't it strange how friction can sometimes create beautiful art?

[moodindigo22]

must be the best recording...ever......????

[AlphaCatholic]

Michael Buble is to R& B what Glenn Beck is to History.

[OnlyInNaziGermany]

@Nocaro you do relise Buble did this song? You twat.

[Nocaro]

@OnlyInNaziGermany LOL, Michael Buble can sing all the R & B tunes he'd like, but he's not an R&B singer, not even close, and this song was written by R&B composers and it was meant to be sung as rhythm & blues.

[BreutFawce]

@OnlyInNaziGermany Do you actually think Buble's version was the original? Jesus.

[OnlyInNaziGermany]

Prefer Buble to be honest

[Nocaro]

@OnlyInNaziGermany LOL, Buble isn't a rhythm & blues artist so why don't you simply say "I don'l like R&B" since there is no comparison between this recording and anything Buble has sung or will ever sing?

[Earthstorm989]

@OnlyInNaziGermany.......Do not get your point here.........Brook and Dinah did this song before Buble was even born.........preference is your choice.........badmouthing Nacaro for posting this song when buble did it too, years later, and ending with the word TWAT does not say much for your character......

[nichtsleezy]

@OnlyInNaziGermany True to your screen name!

[LB9997]

@OnlyInNaziGermany If I HAD to listen to a current artist do this song, between M. Buble and Harry Connick Jr. I'd pick Harry any day.

[LadyofWar1980]

Could somebody tell me why these two clashed so much? Please? 

[Nocaro]

@LadyofWar1980 The answer was in the notes attached to the song...basically, Dinah was a jazz diva and she viewed Brook as something less, a pop singer...Nocaro

[FCntertainr]

@Nocaro Dinah said she can sing anything! Like Sarah her training was in the church but after singing 2 songs with superstar Lionel Hampton she took stock in herself and had 100 jukebox hits from 1945-1955! She lived in opulence and furnished her mom who could not even go to church in what Dinah bought her to drive or wear! Brook Benton was a great RnB singer who like others crossed over easily, he just was not marketed to pop audiences. Neither was B.B. King until the 70s!

[pungooer]

@FCntertainr Thanks for the low down on these greats. Good to hear these snippets about the lives of these very talented people who make our lives that much richer.

[momsher1]

whatever their differences this song is hot & they show some fire there!

[nukes27]

Who cares if they got along- this song is amazing! Producers often know exactly what they are doing when they team up people that hate each other- the tension can create good music.

[punkiny1]

Love it!!!

[superbedst]

Can´t help lovin´ it.

[mkl62]

A #1 hit for Brook Benton & Dinah Washington on the Rhythm & Blues charts. It was the 61st #1 R&B song in the Rock Era.

[videogirlzzzzzz]

I thought she mean, he was "singing" in her spot. He did come in on her intented part....then later she say's "now it's you".

[LonWheels]

Damn, this is some goooooood music!

[MysticSojourner]

After more than 5 decades since I had listened so many times to this recording on the radio, I finally discover what Dinah meant by, "you're in my spot, baby". Thank you, Nocaro!

[BuzzBarber]

While it may be true that Dinah didn't necessarily work well with Brook, the oft-repeated story that "Dinah had already stormed out of the studio after the recording refusing to sing any further with Brook" doesn't hold water.

Just listen to the closing bars of "That's a Rockin' Good Way" and you'll hear clear references to lyrics in this recording and to "stay out of my spot." It 's fairly strong evidence that the two of them recorded that track ("Rockin' Good Way") AFTER this one ("Baby").

[Nocaro]

@BuzzBarber Yes, she was encouraged to return to finish the intended ALBUM of songs, and they did cut "That's A Rockin' Good Way", but she refused to finish this project with Brook, and ultimately left Mercury Records in a huff recording for a period with Roulette...Nocaro

[Nocaro]

@BuzzBarber I've done some research on this situtation, but there are many questions left unanswered. I'd love to know what other material was planned for this album and whether it was ever recorded by someone else, and also was Dinah aware that the Roulette label was a front for the Genovese crime family in New York and did it even matter to her? Sarah Vaughan also began recording for Roulette at about the same time. Dinah did return to Mercury before she died however.

[JustJaneWonderfalls]

I love this song, it makes me want to dance! Thanks for putting this up.

[aaronb825]

Brook likes her spot and I did too

you had to read between the  lines back in those days

for those sexual inuendos

[aaronb825]

Brook likes her spot  and I did too

you had to read between the lines back in those days

for those sexual inuendos

[BeachMusicLvr]

I love your histories, Lanny! And all this time, I thought Dinah was making a sexual inuendo(LOL)!