Get Out Of The Car (MP3)

Sammy Davis Jr.  -  Get Out Of The Car

In 1956, Sammy Davis Jr. headed for Broadway to headline a musical production called Mr. Wonderful, written expressly for him and giving him the opportunity to transplant his talents from the nightclubs he usually played to what is sometimes called the "legitimate stage."  In any event, the other side of this 45 featured Without You, I'm Nothing, a song featured in the play.  We're not going to worry about that one.  Instead, here's Sammy Davis' take on Get Out Of The Car, The Treniers' irredeemably insensitive song made a bit less appalling here by adding an extra verse (invoking Sgt. Joe Friday!), in which it's made clear that the young lady in question won't have to walk back to town after all.

Joyeux Anniversaire à la Reine du Rock Français!

Édith Giovanna Gassion, 19 December 1915 – 11 October 1963

     I refer of course, to the "Little Sparrow", Édith Piaf, who would have been 96 today, though realistically, everyone knew she was never going to get that far (as it is, she was lucky to have made it almost halfway). You may question my characterization of her in the above title, but to that challenge, I offer her 1956 rendition of a popular Leiber & Stoller composition about the life and death of a leather-clad motorcyclist thug... and what's more Rock 'N' Roll than that? 

Edith Piaf - "L'Homme á la Moto"*

     Also: Happy Birthday wishes to the great Professor Longhair (he'd have been 93) and to Phil Ochs (who'd have been a mere 71, but like our featured artist, has now been gone as long as he was here).

* Pairhops zis ees bettair known to you feelthy Americain peegs undair eets original title, "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots", as first recorded by ze Cheers.