Old Count Basie Is Gone
| PROFILE | |
| Songwriter | Joseph Vernon Turner, Jr. (Big Joe Turner) |
| Year Written | late 1940s |
| About Old Count Basie Is Gone(Old Piney Brown Is Gone) | |
| Old Count Basie Is Gone is an adapted lyric to Joe Turner’s classic blues song from the late 1940s “Old Piney Brown Is Gone.” Joe Turner, a native of Kansas City, first played in a nightclub owned by Piney Brown who nurtured the young singer. Turner wrote “Piney Brown Blues” in his honor and later wrote “Old Piney Brown Is Gone” when Brown passed away. | |
Lyrics
Well, I went back to Kansas City
And Old Count Basie was gone, wow
I went back to Kansas City
Old Count Basie was gone, wow
It’s a mean old world
I hope he’s got a better home
Down on Eighteenth and Vine
Old Count Basie got his start
Down on Eighteenth and Vine
Where Old Count Basie got his start
Sure was a good-timer
Played piano from his heart
Then he went to California
And soon the news got around
They heart that sound
Yeah, he went back to California
Soon the news got around
And the girls jumped and shouted
Count Basie, the baddest man in town
Well the last time I saw Count Basie
He was standing on Eighteenth and Vine
The last time I saw Count Basie
He was standing on Eighteenth and Vine
I’d love to tell the whole world
He sure was a friend of mine.
Session / Album Information
2001
“Old Count Basie Was Gone” was recorded in May, 2001 and released that same year on Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The vocals were arranged by Rob Mathes.
This recording released on:
- 2001: Columbia CD: CK 85833 — Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues
- 2011: Disc #67 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK65) Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues