Tuesday, April 17, 2012: TWOfer Tuesday - The "It's About Time We Featured Miles Davis" Edition

From the second ever post on Cool Song Of The Day: August 10, 2012:

"If someone wanted me to define cool, I would first point them to Miles Davis."

From the very outset, this blog has used Mr Davis as the very highest standard of cool. He is the cool plumbline, the unit if measurement for which all thing cool must be set against.

And, trust me, all cool things put up against Miles Davis are weighed, measured and found wanting.

Even if you don't like Jazz, you will like Miles Davis.

If you don't own Birth Of The Cool, get it.

If you don't own Kind Of Blue, get it now.

If you don't own Sketches Of Spain, drop everything you're doing and get it right now.

If you needed any more persuading, here is some Live Miles for you

Spanish Key, recorded at Isle Of Wight Festival, August 29, 1970

Lord Have Mercy.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012: Sammy Davis Jr. - The Lady is a Tramp

I got such a positive response from my posting of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrew Sisters, that it seems I have struck a chord with

I don't want to necessarily turn Wayback Wednesday into a permanent feature, but I am more than happy to continue to visit the archives now and again.

Up today, is cool personified.

When he was around, he was known as The Greatest Living Entertainer In The World.  Here was someone who could do it all--sing, dance, play instruments, act, do stand-up - and all as good as anyone else ever had. Or has since.

And as much as he was known for his talent, he was also as influential as any in confronting racism in the entertainment world - especially in tightly closed markets like Las Vegas.

And all that while smoking 4 packs of cigarettes a day.

Here's to you, Mr Davis. You jumped so high.

And I'm pretty sure no one has danced and sang like that since.