Monday Music: Georgia on My Mind (Billie Holliday)

Billie Holliday's 1941 recording of the song by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). Of all the recordings I have heard of this song, I think her phrasing of the lyrics is the best.

 

From the YouTube notes:

"Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or to a woman named "Georgia". Carmichael's 1965 autobiography, Sometimes I Wonder, records the origin: a friend, saxophonist and bandleader Frankie Trumbauer, suggested: "Why don't you write a song called 'Georgia?' Nobody lost much writing about the South." Thus, the song is universally believed to have been written about the state. 

The song was first recorded on September 15, 1930 in New York by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke on muted cornet and Hoagy Carmichael on vocals. The recording was part of Bix Beiderbecke's last recording session. The recording was released as Victor 23013 with "One Night in Havana". Billie's accompanied by Shad Collins tp; Leslie Johnakins, Eddie Barefield as; Lester Young ts; Eddie Heywood p; John Collins g; Ted Sturgis b; Kenny Clarke ds. Recorded in New York City, March 21, 1941. (OKeh Records)

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