Sarah Vaughan - Baubles, Bangles And Beads (Live from Sweden) Mercury Records 1964

"Baubles, Bangles & Beads" is a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet, credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest. Like all the music in that show, the melody was based on works by Alexander Borodin, in this case the second theme of the second movement of his String Quartet in D. The "Kismet" setting maintains the original's 3/4 waltz rhythm; pop music settings change the rhythm to a moderate four-beat accompaniment. Jazz musicians are especially drawn to the song's beguiling melody and advanced harmonic structure. The familiar AA'BA+Coda structure of the song is energized by a key change up a major third interval for every section; the transition is marked by a bracing harmonic progression from the central major key of one section to the tritone minor key of the following section. Jazz players and singers have enjoyed the musical challenges of this song for decades.

The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee in 1954. Other versions were recorded that year by Lu Ann Simms, Georgia Gibbs, and Frank Sinatra. The Kirby Stone Four re-make hit the Billboard Top 100 in 1958 and remains a favorite on adult standard stations. (Eumir) Deodato recorded an instrumental in a hit LP of 1973.

But the most curious version is that one that mixed the scherzo of Borodin's string quartet No. 2 with this piece of music, arranged by the Argentine Ernesto Acher under the name Borodin, Bangles & Beads in 1987 on his album "Juegos"

Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 -- April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century." Nicknamed "Sailor" (for her salty speech), "Sassy" and "The Divine One", Sarah Vaughan was a Grammy Award winner. The National Endowment for the Arts bestowed upon her its "highest honor in jazz", the NEA Jazz Masters Award, in 1989.

Vaughan was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Asbury "Jake" Vaughan, a carpenter by trade who played guitar and piano, and Ada Vaughan, a laundress who sang in the church choir, migrants from Virginia. The Vaughans lived in a house on Brunswick Street in Newark for Vaughan's entire childhood. Jake was deeply religious. The family was active in New Mount Zion Baptist Church at 186 Thomas Street. Vaughan began piano lessons at the age of seven, sang in the church choir, and played piano for rehearsals and services. Sarah and her family were all registered Democrats.

She developed an early love for popular music. In the 1930s, she frequently saw local and touring bands at the Montgomery Street Skating Rink. By her mid-teens, she ventured illegally into Newark's night clubs and performed as a pianist and singer at the Piccadilly Club and at Newark Airport.

Vaughan attended East Side High School, then transferred to Newark Arts High School, which opened in 1931. As her nocturnal adventures as a performer overtook her academic pursuits, she dropped out of high school during her junior year to concentrate more fully on her music.

In 1989, Vaughan's health began to decline, although she rarely revealed any hints of this in her performances. She canceled a series of engagements in Europe in 1989, citing the need to seek treatment for arthritis of the hand, although she was able to complete a series of performances in Japan. During a run at New York's Blue Note Jazz Club in 1989, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and was too ill to finish the last day of what would turn out to be her final series of public performances.

Vaughan returned to her home in California to begin chemotherapy and spent her final months alternating stays in the hospital and at home. She grew weary of the struggle and demanded to be taken home, where at the age of 66 she died on the evening of April 3, 1990, while watching Laker Girls, a television movie featuring her daughter.

Her funeral was held at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Following the ceremony, a horse-drawn carriage transported her body to Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Sarah's accompanied by Kirk Stuart (piano), Charles "Buster" Williams (bass), and Georges Hughes (drums). Recorded in Sweden, 1964. (Mercury Records)

Baubles, bangles, hear how they jing, jinga-linga
Baubles, bangles, bright shiny beads
Sparkles, spangles, my heart will sing, singa-linga
Wearin' baubles, bangles and beads

I'm just a glitter and gleam so
Make somebody dream so that

Maybe he may buy me a ring, ringa-linga
I've heard that's where it leads
Wearin' baubles, bangles, and beads

Baubles, bangles, hear how they jing, jinga-linga
Baubles, bangles, bright, shiny beads
Sparkles, spangles, my heart will sing, singa-linga
Wearin' baubles, bangles, and beads

I'm just glitter and gleam so
Make somebody dream so that

Maybe a he may, buy me a ring, ringa-linga
I've heard that that's where it leads
Wearin' baubles and bangles, sparkles, spangles
Loads and loads of baubles, just give me those bangles
I gotta have sparkels, bangles and beads

[gourmandrex]

The arrangement of this song is so inventive and clever, not to mention sung masterfully. Am I surprised? Oh, wait. It's Sarah Vaughan....nah, she's just brilliant again!

[UnientityYoutube]

This is real singing. Soul touching. Makes my soul inside my body want to come out and sit in a Smokey room and chill.

[necktieguy]

She is brilliant. Her musicians are amazing. Thanks for this post.

[vova]

First class rhythm section makes it all possible for Sarah to shine.

[ladyluvbon]

This is how it is done. Ms. Vaughn was simply melodic perfection!

[unclealand]

Sarah Vaughan sure understood melodic line and she instinctively knew how to ride a good tune without wringing it dry.

[dave]

Pure jazz coolness...thanks, Miss Sarah.

[tzazzy]

Yes. This is how to render a song. Key changes like nobody's biz. Love it, her and everything about this performance. Thanks Sarah.

[cissiesimpson]

How gargantuan is this, then? Her husky tone, range and power, plus the trio - from another galaxy, they are. So excellent.

[cosmo]

I feel unworthy just to comment on this 20th century master musician.

[robertoballati]

Totally, absolutely, beautifully unique. She was perfect and let me speechless every time with her incomparable voice!

[silvanagiambagno]

wow she had such control and range in her voice just like Ella! the two greats in my opinion, heart felt, harmonious, no wrong they could do! melodic and poetic! perfection

[akrenwinkle]

I keep going back here, crack it open, like a treat.

[fritzbustamante]

Such a marvelous rendition. Sarah Vaughan was such a splendid performer.

[rodchisholm]

Thanks! So it is Kirk Stuart (piano), Charles "Buster" Williams (bass), and Georges Hughes (drums).

[tangorraannick]

Extraordinary .... she kills me ! What a musician  !

[deanosan]

Is there anyone now who sounds like Sarah Vaughan??? This woman is so God gifted with such a unique voice.

[gustavocazorla]

rhythm ....beautiful voice....beautiful woman!!!

[richardgornalle]

No equivalent singer today. She is soooo good!

[b.walter]

In the US, we didn't save footage of great musical performances from the 50s and 60s. No foresight shown at all to save these performances for future generations to view. Thankfully, Europe wasn't so ignorant about this and saved a number of great performances. An example of Europe having respect for art and music and the US being too pigheaded to care.