Doc Severinsen - A Song For You

Doc's iconic recording from his 1973 album Rhapsody For Now - displaying the spectrum of his command of the instrument in service of a fantastic musical performance. Superb arrangement by Harry Betts.

This upload has better audio than the previous one I had up. Taken off a better copy of the album and uploaded in HD to take advantage of better audio processing.

[artvandelay]

If there ever was a GOAT of ANYTHING, it's Doc Severinsen and his trumpet playing.

[mattc]

I wish more people in today's world could listen and appreciate such good music such as this

[daking]

I didn't think Doc could go that high damn! 😮Beautiful 🎵 😊🎺🎼✨️👏🏾👌🏾I wonder how old he was on this recording.

[nrcg]

Wow!! I cant even begin to describe the greatness of Doc Severinsen. It isn't just the Eb above double C at the end...It is his clarity and articulation. My goodness!!

[waynebritton]

This man is simply the best ever. And how anyone can put a thumbs down to beautiful flawless music. I love all the greats but I’ve never heard anyone play all facets of music like Doc. I’ve never heard anyone play in the extreme upper register and be so beautiful. I saw one person comment he would give his left testicle to play like Doc, well I’ll give the guys right too if I could play like that. Truly a blessing from God to play like this.

[Mrgop]

I bought this album in 1977 at K Mart.

[ronnieboozer]

When I was in high school I was fortunate to have a great band director and history teacher Mr Tom Thornley. I met Harry James when I was 16. I went to Al Hirt's concert in Columbia, SC and later saw him in Las Vegas but I always did consider Doc the best trumpet player ever and he still is!!!

[marcusthompson]

I've always been so blown away by the last note that I never stopped to appreciate the fact that Doc goes from a double-c at 3:20 followed by a 3-octave drop to low C. True virtuosity.

[davidyoung]

I bet Ive listened to this song over a thousand times over the years! I bought this album in the late 70's I think.... and every single time I hear it I'm just blown away.

[bobkain]

I've seen Doc three times in concert. He was my idol when I was a high school trumpet player and he always will be. He's 90 now and still playing concerts...unbelievable.

[tomoverton]

The whole Rhapsody album is amazing, but this cut is the showstopper! I played this track thousands of times when the album was released. As a young horn player, I learned the first few lines, but not much more. (I even bought a flashy blazer to wear for performances. It's still hanging in my closet nearly 50 years later) It's now 2021, and the Doc is still playing, and I am still in awe!

[bleuShoErn]

The time was in the late 70's; I had played this album over and over. I learned Doc was going to be in Louisville and I had to go. He was, I believe, at the Brown Theatre downtown. Walking down the street and rounding the corner to the theatre, I heard him playing. The doors of the theatre were open, realizing he was on stage inside from a block away. I'll never forget the power he had in that horn.

[wythetrumpet]

No one plays quite like the Doctor. He is certainly one of the finest trumpet players of our time! I certainly miss those great evenings with The Tonight Show Orchestra! Certainly a different time when late night TV was fun to watch!

[EricJamesHanson]

Even though I was already a big fan of Doc, when I found this album in 1974, this song still blew me away. It is perfection in range, tone, intonation, technique, inventiveness...

[BrianJonson]

I have a live recording of this from Las Vegas, 1973. An older friend gave me a copy. Doc nailed the E-flat just as he did in the studio. He is my favorite trumpeter without question.

[marcprovencal]

Fantastic in every way, on of the best trumpet player ever, musicality, tone control, power breathtaking ending with e perfect double hi Eb ( minor third over the famous double hi C)  WOW
The 2 persons who don't like it are ignorant ass holes  !!!!

[paulmcgoveran]

I think it was 1975. Doc came to the Canadian National Exposition. Heard him play this flawlessly two nights in a row outdoors, nailing the double Eb, then letting go of the horn with one hand, and holding the double Eb taking out the band as we often saw on the tonight show. Breathtaking trumpet playing.

[bestvinesfromthebeginning]

I just met him today when he walked in the store I work at

[jokinboken]

It's Doc's world - we just live in it.

[Tmanaz]

Maybe it's the influence of Harry James, but Doc has an excitement to his sound that's hard to explain. Many artists lose that edge in the studio, but Doc always has it.