Summertime

i really like this song. she sings it so well. i think it was originally part of a musical, and so it prolly had something to do with that story.

i'm not sure if it was ever in a musical, but it is one of my favorite songs of hers, she has so much passion in her voice.

Yeah I dont know about the whole musical thing but its an amazing song.

It was originally by Billie Holiday. (At least that is the earliest recording I can find.) One of my friend's grandmother's told me it was originally a duet of some sort. I'm not really sure. Anyone that knows, I would very much like to know.

Anyway, Janis does this song better than any version I've heard. She's so unique. Also, does anyone know if Jimi Hendrix did guitar for this song?

It's from the opera "Porgy and Bess" (1934), composed by George Gerswhin with the lyrics for "Summertime" written by DuBose Heyward. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong used to sing it as a duet, but I don't know if it was one in the opera. As for for the earliest recording, I have no clue. It could easily be Billie Holiday, but I've heard a version by Bessie Smith that might predate it.

As for this version, no it's not Hendrix but Sam Andrew and James Gurley on guitar.

This version differs from the Gershwin original, not just in the lyrical content, but also in the style. I sing the original while I work (along with a great number of numbers), and could not possibly get myself around Janis' version. It is so damn soulful; I hope I never get so low, and wonder if I can get that high.

i really love the intro guitar solo its so beautiful this song has so much feeling

I'd love to get this one. The Ella and Louis version of it has been one of my favorites, it's beautiful.

sooo good. it's my song.

A lot of Janis stuff from around this time sounds like Hendrix stuff. They probably influenced each other, but it's interesting that such a unique guitarist should sound so like somebody else, if you see what I mean.