Hot under the covers

Here in Southern California we are going through a heat wave - and what better way to celebrate a heat wave than with a sexy, sultry song written by the quintessential Hollywood composer, Henry Mancini?

When a musical composition - or song - is recorded by another musician who puts his own spin on it, it's called a "cover version"  Here are some cover versions of Mancini's song, imprinted by some serious musicians. Which one do you like best?


Johnny Hartman. This was recorded in 1964.


Sarah Vaughn, recorded in 1965.


Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66, sung by the incomparable Lani Hall, in 1966.


Or you could get a little out there, with Pat Metheny,  released in 2011.

I'm waiting to discover the punk or heavy metal version. Meanwhile, here are the lyrics:

His gaze

Swept over me now
a slow hot wind

Some days
It's too warm to fight
A slow hot wind

There in the shade
Like a cool drink waiting
She sat with slow fire in her eyes
Just waiting

Some days
It's too warm to fight
A slow hot wind

Listen to them all and tell me which one makes you the hottest....or which is the coolest. (Hartman is pretty hot - and pretty cool - don't you think?)

UPDATE:   Well, it's just like Southern California weather to make a liar out of me - I scheduled this post to run a little while after writing it, and our weather has famously turned. Nonetheless, these jazz greats are worth getting hot and bothered over.