42 Versions of Harlem Nocturne

This week saw the passing of the great Earle Hagen. His name may not be a household word, but his music is burned into your brain. He was a TV theme writer extraordinaire, whose credits include catchy ditties for The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, That Girl, and The Mod Squad to name a few. A bunch of his themes are available at AM Then FM's Hagen tribute post.

Hagen is also the composer behind "Harlem Nocturne", probably one of the most covered saxaphone songs in history (500 versions so far and counting). Writen in 1939 while Hagen was an arranger with the Ray Noble Orchestra, the song has lived on as a standard for every big band, bar band, R&B band, and instrumental band since. It is also of course a crime soundtrack staple.

Here are just a few versions of this song. First the bigger hits:
The Randy Brooks Orchestra regularly used it song as his theme song (1941)
Johnny Otis recorded it as an early single on Savoy (1945)
Herbie Fields made the first popular jazz version (1953)
and of course The Viscounts charted the highest with their guitar-driven hit version (1959)

And now for a few of the many many other Harlem Nocturnes, ranging from your standards to vocal versions to adaptations in classical, disco, a cappella, post-punk, exotica, organ, surf, ska, and what-have-you. This is one versatile song!   

Ray Anthony  |   Rene Bloch  |   Earl Bostic  |  Les Brown & His Band Of Renown  |   Chakachas  |   The Jake Concepcion Orchestra  |   Bill Doggett  |   Terry Edwards & the Scapegoats (paired with Lydia Lunch's "Cesspool Called History")  |   Les & Larry Elgart  |   Esquivel  |   Harold Faltermeyer (from the Tango & Cash soundtrack)  |  Flat Duo Jets  |   Illinois Jacquet  |  Quincy Jones  |  The Knickerbockers  |   Kustomized  |   Neil Lewis & His Quintet  |   Michael Lington  |   The Lounge Lizards  |   Herbie Mann  |   Charlie Musselwhite |   New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble  |   Louis Prima & Sam Butera  |   Quartet San Francisco  |   Boots Randolph  |   Brian Rodwell (at the Wurlitzer organ)  |   Vladimir Rusinov & The Jumping Cats  |   Stouxingers  |   Sam Taylor  |   Mel Taylor & The Magics  |   Mel Torme  |   Ulrich Tukur + Rhythm Boys  |   Archie Ulm  |   The Ventures  |   Carla White  |   Wildflower

Also, a simple Ukulele version via this YouTube user.

And let's not forget the Mike Hammer Theme (post prison cheesy 80s version).

Comments

[Listener Greg G.]

WOAH! This is outstanding, thanks. I hadn't heard the news about Hagen's death. By the way, as you probably already know, he also is the composer of the opening and closing music for Gomer Pyle, USMC.

[Jonathan Steinke]

Pretty snappy version by Kustomized there.

[Matilda Mother]

I have no proof, but SUN RA must have also done a version of the song

[Krys O.]

In tribute, you can listen to R. Stevie Moore's 1970s cover of Theme from Andy Griffith at this link http://www.rsteviemoore.com/cd/phonog4f.html

[evilpainclown]

here i have a version by the viscounts for download...also in another post on the same page i have a "cavalcade of caravan"

http://evilpainclown2.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2007-12-13T20%3A20%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=20

[Resolver]

Spike Jones did a version too, I believe. If memory serves, it was not a "gag" version, but played "straight," showcasing his band's abilities.

[Neil]

Danny Gatton did a nice semi-gonzo guitar version on his very first album, 1975's "American Music".

[ranchomo]

We used the Lounge LIzards version as one of our station sign-off themes at WNYU-FM in the early 80's. Very atmospheric music bed to read the FCC required lingo to.

[gak]

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet did a version too, originally on a 7" but included on their album "Savvy Showstoppers".

[GoFrostfire.com]

wow, great post, thanks

[telutci]

The Shadowy Men version is called 'Harlem By The Sea' by the way.

[Philip Chapman-Bell]

And let us not forget Yohko Ishino, belting out Teddy Boy Blues (spun off from an 80s era video game of the same name):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYG5cZBDgG4
Kind of up-tempo, kind of wtf, definitely Harlem Nocturne.

[mandocrucian]

"Harlem Nocturne" is used as the instrumental section on "Lonely Junkie" by Peter Stampfel & The Bottlecaps on their eopymous first album on Rounder. "Lonely Junkie" is sort of a "Lonely Blueboy" (Elvis) parody and "Nocturne" is pefect in the context! Funny lyrics about dropping his spike into the toilet etc.

[Glamourbrain]

What a great post! An Audio Daily Double using "Harlem Nocturne" resulted in an ignominious on Jeopardy for me some years back, which I've chronicled at http://www.glamourbrain.com/2008/10/drop-me-off-in-harlem.html - and sent readers here for the answer.

[guinness]

does anyone know if henry mancini did a version of this song?

i cant find one anywhere.

[Zoel Sylvester]

While Googling "Harlem Nocturne" by Earle Hagen, I came across WFMU's biog on Hagen and wonder of wonders, 42 beautiful versions of the song. Really great stuff. You're doing something really terrific here. Please keep it up.
Zoel Sylvester

[Yehoodi]

J.J.Jones also did a great R&B version on the Ebb Label..

[Michael Novak]

This is a great site for a great song. I have a nice version of "Harlem Nocturne" by a band called the "Jonny Cooper Orchestra," which was around in the late 30s and early 40s, I believe. I'd like to find the year they recorded it and the name of the saxaphone player. Any ideas?

[Andruikas]

Hi all,
I really like this site, esp this page.
Where can I find the 'Shadowy Mens' version?
I think it is this version which is used in the film 'Comic Book Confidential'. Its similar to the Viscounts version with the tremelo guitar intro, but the main riff is played on guitar also.
Thats where I first heard this tune and it has haunted me ever since.

[Farky]

i need a version from henry mancini...if someone has it pls email me at g0r1la@yahoo.com