I Love to Laugh - Louis Prima & Gia Maione

To finish off Mary Poppins Week (which also happens to be Obscure Disney Song Friday) I am posting a cover of one of the lesser remembered Mary Poppins, the song sung by the gravity-defying Uncle Albert, I Love to Laugh.

Uncle Albert was played by Ed Wynn, a comedic Broadway actor and radio personality in the 30s and 40s who went on to have on of the very first comedy variety shows on television.

Ed Wynn first worked for Disney in 1951 as the voice of the Mad Hatter. Other Disney credits include Mr. Hofstedder in That Darn Cat and Rufus in the Gnome-Mobile, but it is his role in Mary Poppins that most people remember.

Wynn died of throat cancer two years after the release of Mary Poppins.

This cover of I Love to Laugh is by the husband wife team of LOUIS PRIMA and GIA MAIONE of their album LET'S FLY WITH MARY POPPINS.

I Love to Laugh Louis Prima & Gia Maione 1965

When You Wish Upon a Star - The Swingfield Big Band

This month's cover of When You Wish Upon a Star is from a disc called BIG BAND LOVE SONGS. The CD features big band versions of love songs mostly from the movie world.

BIG BAND LOVE SONGS is one of those cheap CDs you find at Wal-Mart in a rack that lets you sample the tunes and THE SWINGFIELD BIG BAND is a group that has recorded dozens of albums for the label that produces these value discs. They are very much a studio band.

However, don't let that jade your thinking. This version of When You Wish Upon a Star has a great arrangement and is performed better than a lot of other jazz versions of this song. Listen for yourself and you will probably find that you want to hear more. The same album also contains a version of Some Day My Prince Will Come.

When You Wish Upon a Star The Swingfield Big Band 2005

Whistle While You Work - Artie Shaw and His Orchestra w/ Leo Watson

Today's track is by ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA featuring LEO WATSON. Waton, a jazz musician from the 30s and 40s, was primarily a vocalist but also played the drums and the trombone which made a valuable player in many bands, Artie Shaw's and Gene Krupa's bands in particular, as well as the Spirits of Rhythm.

If you are a fan of Looney Tunes, you may be interested to know that Leo Watson provided the voice for Prince Chawmin' in Bob Clampett's Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, a cartoon that has gone on to be part of the infamous Censored Eleven, forever in the Warner Bros. vaults never to see the light of day (except on youtube).

This song was recorded in 1937, probably just after the movie was released.

Whistle While You Work Artie Shaw and His Orchestra w/ Leo Watson 1937

Alice in Wonderland - Dave Brubeck Quartet

It was on this day in 1951 that Alice in Wonderland was released to theatres for the world to enjoy!

The title track which was written by Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain and was performed by the Jud Conlon Chorus, was recorded a few years later by jazz musician DAVE BRUBECK and his quartet in 1957.

This version is a bit different than the Bill Evans version I posted before. The Evans version keeps the 6/8 feel of the original, but Brubeck speeds up the song a bit and plays it in 4/4.

Alice in Wonderland Dave Brubeck Quartet 1957

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Kei Kobayashi

KEI KOBAYASHI has been surrounded by jazz his whole life. His dad, a jazz pianist, and his mom, a jazz vocalist, kept him constantly surrounded by the music they loved.

When he was sixteen he performed with Herbie Hancock in a benefit performance for victims of the Kobe earthquake. This was his big break. Soon after he released his indie album PS I Love You which sent Kobayashi into a bidding war between major labels!

He has now signed with Toshiba EMI and has released a few albums including JUST YOU in 2000 which includes a nice jazz cover of A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Kei Kobayashi 2000

Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat/The Siamese Cat Song/The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room - On the Record Cast

It's been a few months since I posted a track from the On the Record Broadway Musical.

The main bulk of this song is Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat from the Aristocats but you will also hear a sample of the Siamese Cat Song from Lady and the Tramp as well as the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room from the Enchanted Tiki Room ride in Disneyland.

Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat/The Siamese Cat Song/The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room On the Record Cast 2005

The Magic Song (Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo) - Mary Martin

MARY MARTIN is an artist who has recorded many Disney songs and this is the first one to grace the pages of Covering the Mouse.

A star of Broadway, Mary Martin is most well known for her roles as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music, two characters that she had the pleasure of portraying for the first time for the original Broadway performances. She is also quite well known for her portrayal of Peter Pan for the Broadway show as well as her famous Peter Pan television special. Martin won a Tony Award for all three roles.

In 1958, Martin recorded HI HO! MARY SINGS AND SWINGS WALT DISNEY FAVORITES for Disneyland Records. The wonderful arrangements are by Tutti Camarata who produced hundreds of records for Disneyland records over his 19 year association with them. I love his arrangements and this album is full of his great work.

Included on the album is this cover of Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo which is a noteworthy cover because it is the first time the song is called The Magic Song. Here is an excerpt from the liner notes:

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Walt Disney's Cinderella got a new title for this album - The Magic Song and Tutti Camarata's arrangement, like many in this album, is full of surprises from the low-down New Orleans-style verse in the beginning to the gentle slip into samba half way through to the Bibbidi-Bop-iddi burst of brass at the end.

The Magic Song (Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo) Mary Martin 1958

Some Day My Prince Will Come - Sun Ra and His Intergalxtic Arkestra

Welcome to another addition of Terrible Track Friday. Today, I have chosen a track that I hope will not bring a bunch of hate mail my way. SUN RA and his Intergalaxtic Arkestra has a large cult following due to their unique genre of jazz and unusual origins (Sun Ra claims to be a man from Saturn).

Sun Ra formed his group in the 60s and even though he has passed away the group lives on.

Some of their material I really like. They are extremely creative, good musicians and tons of fun. But there is one element that I can't stand and that is the crazy squeaking and squawking that comes from the saxophonist, Marshall Allen. There is no need for it to be there, Allen is a great saxophonist and he really just does it because it is different. I can understand why people may like it, but in my opinion, it ruins the song and I usually skip this track.

Some Day My Prince Will Come Sun Ra and his Intergalaxtic Arkestra 1989

Bella Notte - Steve Tyrell

Based on Ward Greene's short story Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog, Walt Disney's 15th animated feature film, Lady and the Tramp, has gained a solid place in the history of the studio.

The most memorable song in the film has got to be Bella Notte, a love ballad that is sung to the titular characters as they shared the same plate of spaghetti. This scene, even though it was created for the film and was never in the original story, has become a well recognized scene. It is argued to be the most romantic moment in Disney animation and has been parodied many times over the years.

This version is by pop jazz artist STEVE TYRELL and is a classy reworking of the song. I particularly like it when he breaks into Italian toward the end.

Bella Notte Steve Tyrell 2006

When You Wish Upon a Star - Louis Armstrong

I know I just posted a remix of When You Wish Upon a Star last week and it is my practice to post only one cover of a song per month, but this is an exception. Today is When You Wish Upon a Star Friday so I have to post this cover, but it is quite different than last week's.

This cover is off LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S 1968 tribute album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY.

In 2000, The Manhattan Transfer released their own cover of this song on a Louis Armstong tribute album called THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS. In an interview Manhattan Transfer member Janis Siegel seemed to think that When You Wish Upon a Star is one of Louis' greatest hits.

The first task was digging into Armstrong's extensive catalog as a spotlight artist, spanning from his mid-1920's recordings with the small Hot Fives and Hot Sevens ensembles, up to his death in 1971. "We wanted to include a couple songs that are really associated with Armstrong," says Siegel, "ones someone on the street would name if you went up to them and said, 'Name two Louie Armstrong tunes!'" From that column, the quartet chose A Kiss To Build A Dream On and When You Wish Upon A Star.

While I think Louis' version is a great one, I don't think it would be the first one that most people would say if asked to name two Satchmo songs.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend.

When You Wish Upon a Star Louis Armstrong 1968

A Spoonful of Sugar - Harry Connick, Jr.

Today is the birthday of a very important person in Disney history. RICHARD M. SHERMAN celebrates turns 80 today!
To celebrate I am sharing a version of a song he wrote for Mary Poppins. This is HARRY CONNICK, JR. singing A Spoonful of Sugar.

Richard M. Sherman is one half of the ultimate songwriting duo known as the Sherman Brothers. Together, the brothers have written songs for over two dozen films, both Disney (Mary Poppins, Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh) as well as non-Disney (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Snoopy Come Home, Charlotte's Web), as well as countless other songs for musicals, theme parks and TV shows over the last forty years.

The Sherman Brothers have 9 Academy Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Grammy Award nominations and 23 gold and platinum albums. And even though Robert Sherman now lives in London and Richard is still in California, they still collaborate on many projects together.

A Spoonful of Sugar Harry Connick, Jr. 2001

Under the Sea - Squirrel Nut Zippers

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the recording of Under the Sea by the swing band from North Carolina, SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS. Apparently, the Squirrels recorded the track for the release of The Little Mermaid on DVD in 1999. Disney was in the middle of purchasing Mammoth Records, the band's label, both all parties involved seem to have a different idea of what should happen with the song.

To make a long story short, the song got shelved and never saw the light of day until 2002 when it was released on the band's greatest hits album.

Under the Sea Squirrel Nut Zippers 1999

Sister Suffragette - Gia Maione

There are so many songs in Mary Poppins that it's easy to forget a few that are being overshadowed by Chim Chim Cher-ee, Stay Awake and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. So for Obscure Disney Song Friday I have chosen a classic Mary Poppins tune that often gets overlooked.

Sister Suffragette is about the Women's Social and Political Union that was formed in London in 1906 in order to give women the chance to be heard, particularly in the form of political votes. The group was formed to rally for suffrage, the right to vote, for women in the UK and all the members were called suffragettes.

Since Mary Poppins takes place around this time it is perfectly logical for Mrs. Banks to be active in this group and having her sing this song at the beginning of the film shows that she is more interested in being a suffragette than being a mother for her children.

This song was covered by GIA MAIONE, the fifth wife of the Jungle Book's Louis Prima. They married and, a year after the release of Mary Poppins recorded their first album together, LET'S FLY WITH MARY POPPINS, a collection of all the songs from the film in Prima's classic jazz style.

Sister Suffragette Gia Maione 1965

Winnie the Pooh - Yasuharu Konishi & Pizzicato Five

Now we go to the other end of musical styles and take a listen to a jazzy rendition of Winnie the Pooh. I know it sound completely different than yesterday's track but when listening to the album as a whole it's not really a shock to hear it.

This album sort of reminds me of the soundtrack to the anime Cowboy Bebop by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts which switches from jazz to country to techno to rock in a heartbeat but for some reason all seems to fit together. That is what a well produced album sounds like and I believe READYMADE DIGS DISNEY to be just that.

Winnie the Pooh Yasuharu Konishi & Pizzicato Five 2003

Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) - Louis Armstrong

I haven't done many weekly themes that focus on a movie. Usually I focus on a musical style, but this time I want to feature the music of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with a different musical style everyday.

A movie soundtrack automatically comes packaged with the release of a movie these days. Fans wonder and even get upset if a companion soundtrack is not released. But back in 1937, when Snow White was released, this was not the case.

Disney had the brilliant idea to release a set of three 78 RPM records that contained one song from the film on each side. He thought that people would be interested in listening to songs after hearing them in the movie.

He was right! Victor released Songs from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (with the Same Characters and Sound Effects as in the Film of That Title) in January 1937 and every songs featured on the records became top 10 hits a month later!

Here is LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S take on Heigh-Ho from his album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY.

Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) Louis Armstrong 1968

When You Wish Upon a Star - The Manhattan Transfer

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER has been one of the more influential groups in modern jazz. Their vocal arrangements are world renowned and highly regarded. Since forming in 1969, the group has gone through many transformations, both in roster and in style but always delivered highly innovative jazz records.

In 2000, when the group was planning to record their final album on the Atlanic record label, they decided to record a tribute album to Louis Armstrong. They carefully selected ten songs from Armstrong's incredibly huge catalog and for some reason they selected When You Wish Upon a Star as the closing number for the disc. THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS was released and fans either hailed it as a genius reinvigoration of jazz or a sloppy, under-produced piece of garbage.

While Louis did record the song for DISNEY SONG THE SATCHMO WAY in 1968, I don't think I'd think of When You Wish Upon a Star as one Armstrong's greatest hits as MT member Janis Siegel seems to think in this article taken from The Manhattan Transfer Fan Club Webpage:

The first task was digging into Armstrong's extensive catalog as a spotlight artist, spanning from his mid-1920's recordings with the small Hot Fives and Hot Sevens ensembles, up to his death in 1971. "We wanted to include a couple songs that are really associated with Armstrong," says Siegel, "ones someone on the street would name if you went up to them and said, 'Name two Louie Armstrong tunes!'" From that column, the quartet chose "A Kiss To Build A Dream On" and "When You Wish Upon A Star."

But finding new ways to approach those best-loved selections wasn't simple. "It's almost easier doing songs that are more obscure," admits Paul. "Steering away from the saccharine side of songs like 'When You Wish Upon A Star,' which is so well know, was really challenging. Because the tendency is to go melodically and arrangement-wise, where you think it should go, where people are used to hearing the song go. And we didn't want to do that."

"Steering away" is right! This version of the Pinocchio classic is quite different than what you normally hear when this song is covered. The sparse use of instrumentation mixed with odd harmonies and departure from the timing of the melody makes this arrangement quite unique. Is it good? Is it bad? You decide.

When You Wish Upon a Star The Manhattan Transfer 2000

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat - Brian Setzer

The famous Rockabilly singer and guitarist BRIAN SETZER turns 49 today and I have chosen his cover of Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat from the Aristocats for today's post.

Setzer has been in the music scene since the early 80s when he fronted the rockabilly act known as the Stray Cats. After the group broke up in 1984 and Setzer released a solo album, Setzer decided to take a more swing approach to his next project. He formed the 17 piece BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA which still performs across the country to this date. Setzer also wrote and recorded the theme song for Disney's House of Mouse

If you are a fan of cover songs like I am, then you should check out the Brian Setzer Orchestra if you haven't already. Since the band's style is taken from the Big Band era you will hear a lot of jazz standards on their albums (Jump, Jive and Wail, Mac the Knife, Pensylvania 6-5000). They also have two albums of Christmas music for all you Christmas cover lovers (You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Nutcracker Suite are two good ones)!

And to top it all off, last year the Orchestra released Wolfgang's Night Out, an album of classical music turned Rockabilly which won them a Grammy for Best Classical Crossover Album!

This version of Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat fits Brian's style perfectly, however, I would have like to hear him include the second half of the song and have the rest of the Orchestra kick in.

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat Brian Setzer 2004

Give a Little Whistle - Dave Brubeck Quartet

Here is another track from the wonderful Disney tribute album DAVE DIGS DISNEY. This time the DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET tackles the Pinocchio classic Give a Little Whistle.

Here is an excerpt the ablum's producer, George Avakian, from the album's liner notes. It mentions counterpoint which is a musical style in which two different time signatures are played at the same time. In this case, it is Dave Brubeck on the piano playing in 4/4 and Paul Desmond on the sax playing 3/4.

"Give a Little Whistle" also features some counterpoint work by these two remarkable musicians. It is one of the earliest Disney tunes in the Dave Brubeck repertoire, and contains one thoroughly unexpected twist-possibly brought on by the fact that the boys have been playing it so long-which is the surprise ending. It's just one of those things that happened in the studio, and we liked it.

Give a Little Whistle Dave Brubeck Quartet 1957

Cruella De Vil - Steve Tyrell

To coincide with the DVD release of 101 Dalmatians that hits the stores today, I have posted a cover of Cruella De Vil to fit in with this week's theme, Villains Week.

Cruella is one of the most glamorous villains in the Disney Villains legacy. She is rich and a diva, but she is also completely insane! Her obsession with the dalmatians sets her apart from other villains who seem to keep their mind when pursuing their goal. Cruella is just plain crazy and her over the top expressions and outbursts a really fun cartoon character.

The scariest thing about Cruella is that she is a person. She is not a witch or a monster or something out of your imagination. She could actually exist in reality. I think the car chase scene is more frightening than Ursula growing gigantic or Maleficent turning into a dragon because it is an action that can be replicated in real life. She is truly a scary person.

Many artists have covered Cruella's theme song, including STEVE TYRELL who released a whole album of Disney songs in 2006. Steve is a jazz artist who got his start singing a song for the Father of the bride soundtrack. He has since gone on to become a popular modern jazz musician.

Cruella DeVil Steve Tyrell 2006

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf - Henry Hall & the BBC Dance Orchestra feat. Les Allen

Mrmunkeepants wanted to have a villains week and I think this week would be a great week to spotlight some of the greatest Disney villains and the songs about them!

I'm kicking off the week with a look at one of Disney's oldest villains: The Big Bad Wolf from the 1933 Silly Symphony, The Three Little Pigs. This film is often said to be one of the first animated films to bring unique characteristics to characters that look the same (the pigs).

The Wolf, also known as Zeke Wolf in the Dell published Disney comics in the 40s, was seen as an allegory for the Great Depression and the pigs represented the way people reacted. Later in the 40s, the Wolf represented Hitler and the Nazi movement. Many other animation studios of the time also characterized Hitler as a wolf.

This version of Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf was recorded shortly after the film was released by the famous British bandleader HENRY HALL and the BBC Dance Orchestra. Another British musician, Les Allen, provides the vocal work.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Henry Hall & the BBC Dance Orchestra feat. Les Allen 1933

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo - Louis Armstrong

Here is another track from the LOUIS ARMSTRONG Disney album from 1968. In this track, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella, Louis takes this bouncy, happy tune and gives it a laid back jazz swing.

I'm a few days behind on this blog so I'm just giving you something quick to catch you up! If you want more info on this album, click here

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Louis Armstrong 1968

You've Got a Friend In Me - Robert Goulet

There are not many sequels out there that I like better than the original. The Empire Strikes Back, Spider-Man 2 and X2: X-Men United are a few of them. Toy Story 2 also has to be on this list because when I walked out of the theatre I couldn't believe how good it was. This week is Sequel Week and I'm posting a song from Toy Story that was covered for Toy Story 2.

The elements were all right to make this a good movie. The characters were strong, the animation was way better, the new characters were there for a reason and it featured When She Loved Me, one of my favourite modern Disney songs.

But I think the biggest reason this movie was so good was the story. Most Disney sequels are just a re-hash of the first film. For example, The Little Mermaid told the tale of a mermaid who longed to have legs and live on land. The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea was about Ariel's daughter who longed for fins and to live under the sea. Toy Story 2 was not like this at all. Instead, they took a look at the other side of the toy world, the collector. It was smart, funny, dramatic and adventureous.

The end of the movie featured a squeeze toy named Wheezy who just had his squeaker returned which meant he could sing. So he sang a big band version of You've Got a Friend In Me! Wheezy was voiced by ROBERT GOULET who just died last October. The movie only contains a short clip of the song but you can find the whole version in two places: The Toy Story 2 soundtrack and here at Covering the Mouse!

Toy Story 2 isn't the first time Goulet has provided a voice for animation. You can also hear him in Gay Purr-ee and Recess: School's Out.

You've Got a Friend In Me Robert Goulet 1999

Thomas O'Malley - Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen

Hi folks! Jamie here once again from Fong Songs. Today I've got a cover for you from the 1970 feature The Aristocats. Probably my favourite all-time Disney song is Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat and even though I have about eight covers of that kicking around, I wanted to share a rarely covered track from the same film.

Today's track is Thomas O'Malley sung in the original by the inimitable Phil Harris whose voice you should recognize as Baloo from The Jungle Book and Little John from Robin Hood. This is the song where we're introduced to the singing, strutting alley cat Thomas (full name: Abraham de Lacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley) who lends a paw to the kidnapped Duchess and her kittens.

This cover is performed by KENNY BALL & HIS JAZZMEN who released an all-Disney cover album in 1996 called IN DISNEYLAND. Kenny Ball is a legendary trumpet player from Britain who formed his jazz band in 1958 and still performs to this day even as he approaches his 78th birthday this year-- kinda like the Rolling Stones! If you like dixieland jazz like me, then this collection of Disney jazz covers is for you. I'll have to give this CD to Kurtis since it's got some uncommonly covered Disney tracks on there... fodder for future posts.

Thomas O'Malley Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen 1996

Alice in Wonderland (Take 1) - Bill Evans Trio

Today I'm posting the third song from Alice in Wonderland this month! Joe, whoever you are, you must be happy now! Not only does this continue to fill Joe's request, but it also fills an anonymous request for this version of the title song by the BILL EVANS TRIO.

Bill Evans is one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century. His use of syncopated and polyrhythmic melodic lines changed the way many jazz pianists interpreted melodies. He also took a new approach to soloing that often meant two people would solo together in a sort of 'conversation'.

Alice in Wonderland (Take 1) was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in July 1961. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD collects the best of the five sessions recorded that day and is often said to be one of the best jazz recordings of all time. You'll notice that there is also Alice in Wonderland (Take 2) on this album. Last year a box set came out collecting all of the recording from these sessions.

The Bill Evans Trio featured bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD is the last time this trio would play together as LaFaro was killed in a car accident ten days later.

I chose to post this song because today marks the anniversary of Lewis Carrol's death in 1898. And in two weeks, on January 27th, marks the anniversary of his birth in 1832! No wonder I'm playing so much Alice in Wonderland this month!

Alice in Wonderland Bill Evans Trio 1961

A World of My Own - Ed Harcourt

Finishing up Big Band Week we have a Terrible Track that comes from a live concert in London last year.

English alternative rocker, Jarvis Cocker, thought it would be a great treat to put on a two and a half hour concert of Disney music by some of the UK's most alternative musicians as part of his Meltdown festival in June 2007. He called it Forest of No Return and his main influence was Hal Willner's 1988 compilation album STAY AWAKE.

I didn't get to go to this show but a friend found a bootleg copy of it and sent it to me. The bootleg really is just a guy with a recording device in his jacket pocket. The sound quality is awful and that is one big reason why this is a terrible track.

ED HARCOURT, an English singer-songwriter sang a few numbers throughout the night but this one was probably his weakest. There are parts where I question if even knows what the melody is supposed to be. And about three minutes in, when he starts getting more...creative with the melody, it causes me to skip to the next track.

However, his piano playing is quite excellent and I read a review that said he had a whole-head rabbit mask put on his head right before his piano solo. Ed was still able to pull of a good solo.

The big band arrangement of this piece sounds great but the crappy recording and bad singing causes me to put this on the "terrible" list. I would love to hear a studio recording of this song! Will we get it? Maybe in a world of my own.

A World of My Own Ed Harcourt 2007

The Bare Necessities - Harry Connick, Jr.

We're almost at the end of Big Band Week and today is the last good post of the week because tomorrow is Terrible Track Friday.

Today I'm posting a song from a modern jazz artist who often uses the big band sound in his work. HARRY CONNICK, JR. Disney was keeping an eye on this young talent from the start. In 1991 Harry was asked by Disney to record The Bare Necessities for SIMPLY MAD ABOUT THE MOUSE, a compilation album of famous pop musicians. This was only a year after Harry found success recording the soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally.

I'm surprised that more people haven't used this song in this fashion. The mood seems to fit so well as a jazz piece but it gets over shadowed by the jazzier I Wan'na Be Like You. Harry's version is really nice but he cuts out the "When you look under the rocks and plants" pa