[78-L] April In Paris

[Kristjan Saag]

Wild Bill Davis recorded "April In Paris" in 1953, issued on a 78 rpm 
Okeh single 6946 (CO 49284). The recording was also featured om Davis' 
first (10'') album, "Here's Wild Bill Davis" (Epic 9137).

He was supposed to record it with Basie in July 1955, but couldn't make 
it to the session; Basie recorded the song without him, the single was 
released in December that year, and became a minor hit for Basie in 1956.

In December 1955 Billboard also announced the release of a new Davis' 
version of the song, with the same flip side as on the 1953 release 
("Lullaby Of Birdland"). The mx numbers now were CO 54121 and CO 54122 
and the song was about 30 seconds longer than on the 1953 recording, 
including one reprise - "one more time!" - a ploy guitarist Floyd Smith 
claimed he invented when he became member of the Davis trio. (Smith 
replaced Bill Jennings in 1953, after the first recording of "April In 
Paris").

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find the 1955 version online - but 
there is a version of "April In Paris" featured on reissues of the 1955 
12" compilation album "Wild Bill Davis At Birdland", which inlcludes the 
same titles as the original 1955 album (Epic LN 3118), but has a 4'55 
version of "April In Paris" with two reprises. According to Jepsen, 
however, it is the 2'45 1953 recording that is featured on both original 
albums: "Here's Wild Bill Davis" and "Wild Bill Davis At Birdland".

So, if anyone could bring order to this I'd be grateful. An original 
copy of the 1955 BIll Davis album could be of help, as well as a copy of 
the 1955 single.

Or does anyone know when the long version of "April In Paris" was recorded?
Kristjan






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