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Our Desert Caravan Brings Jazz Love
Although the original recording of Caravan was made in 1936 by Barney Bigard And His Jazzopators, Duke Ellington composed the music for this jazzy cover song recorded it many times. Then again, Irving Mills wrote the lyrics and the song was based on a ten-bar improvisation by Ellington's trombonist, Juan Tizol, so you can give credit to many people for making Caravan a standard.
Here, you'll find the lyrics for Caravan, music videos for several versions (including Greats like Oscar Peterson and Valaida Snow as well as a rockabilly cover of the song from Brian Setzer), samples from dozens of covers, and sources for guitar tabs and sheet music so that you can play Caravan yourself (or with your favorite jazz ensemble).
Lyrics for Caravan
The Ella Fitzgerald Version
The beauty of many Duke Ellington/Irving Mills songs lie not in the lyrics but in the way that the words and the music work together, giving individual performers plenty of room to play inventive solos and display their scat chops. Caravan offers a terrific example of that interplay and flexibility.Night and stars above that shine so bright
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
This is so exciting
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan!
My Favorite Version of Caravan
From the Amazing Ella Fitzgerald
Caravan
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 12/25/2009)
While I love rockabilly and trombone-laden versions of this standard, Ella Fitzgerald's evocative rendition remains the definitive version, for me. Everyone and their brother and sister has recorded Caravan, but Ms. Fitzgerald managed to make this one her very own.
Music Videos for Caravan
Including The Ventures and the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Try This Romanian Caravan from Fanfare Ciocarlia
Sample Dozens of Cover Versions of Caravan
From Tony Bennett to Harry Connick, Jr.
Which Version of Caravan Do You Like Best?
Did Ella Fitzgerald or Benny Goodman Swing You?
With so many different interpretations of the song, there's a version for everyone. Please vote for your favorite performer of Caravan! If you pick "Other", please let me know you think performs the best cover in the guestbook below. Thank you!
Sheet Music/Arrangements for Caravan
And Where to Find Caravan Guitar Tabs, Too.
Caravan - by Duke Ellington (Sheet Music)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
CARAVAN (Piano Vocal, SHEET MUSIC)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Caravan (An Educational Service from Hammond Organ Company, NO. 100)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Caravan Sheet Music
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
How Did You Start Swingin' with Caravan?
Did you start with Duke Ellington or Brian Setzer?
Share your thoughts on the great jazz standard, Caravan, the folks who have recorded cover versions, and what you think of the lyrics or music videos.
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Reply
- Not-Pop Not-Pop May 26, 2009 @ 8:29 am | in reply to freakyeyesart
- Thank you so much! I've been piling up lenses about jazz, blues, and swing standards that get little feedback, so it's doubly nice to hear such kind words. I'm a huge fan of Ella Fitzgerald. Her voice and her scat talents hooked me on swing when I was a kid and she still ranks as one of the best ever. Now I'll have to go find that Black Sabbath song...
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Reply
- May 25, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
- Wow, really nice lens. But, gee, I thought you were talking about the song Planet Caravan by Black Sabbath-no, just kidding. I haven't heard the song, but I'm definitely going to check it out. Have you heard Ella Fitzgerald's version of The Very Thought Of You? Man, what a voice, huh?
I'm a fan of the more traditional Jazz stuff, so this definitely appeals to me. I used to listen to a local station, WWOZ, all the time. But, I don't really know the names of most of the people who played the songs.
Anyway, your lens is awesome, and there's a lot of stuff here to check out. Darn it, you've got such a professional look here. Now if I could only be half as creative....
Other Jazz and Swing and Standards
If you liked Caravan, try these other standards.
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Something's Gotta Give
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Johnny Mercer wrote Something's Gotta Give for Fred Astaire's movie "Daddy Long Legs", released in 1955. From there, the song has taken on a life of its own. It was covered and reimagined by The McQuire Sisters that same year and various versions fro...
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I've Got You Under My Skin: A Cole Porter Standard
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Cole Porter wrote I've Got You Under My Skin in 1936, as part of the score for the movie "Born to Dance", which fans of Jimmy Stewart may remember as starring Eleanor Powell. (Trivia tidbit: Virginia Bruce actually performed the song in the movie.) T...
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It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
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Irving Mills explained to the world, in 1931, that It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got that Swing, and the world listened. Duke Ellington kicked off the Swing Era with the song in the thirties and big bands all around the country picked up this fun...
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Mack the Knife: A Swingin' Standard
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For a complete explanation of where Mack the Knife came from (and why you ought not be too taken with the scoundrel), check The Straight Dope. This lens picks up at the point where Louis Armstrong recorded the smash hit swing version of the song in 1...
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Sweet Georgia Brown: A Whistlin' Jazz Standard
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Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard got together and composed a little ditty, for which Kenneth Casey wrote some saucy lyrics. Thus, Sweet Georgia Brown was born, a song which Bernie and His Orchestra recorded in 1926, at the height of the roaring 20s, and...
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It's all about music - lyrics, my song recommendations blog, cover songs, and artist profiles. Please take a look around and let me know if there's something you'd like to see (or hear). I also have an alter ego that blogs about grammar and writing and creates environmental and cooking lenses.
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