The Start of Something Big

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Like you, I often find myself fixated on a single song. Some songs are like that. For me, Steve Allen's This Could Be the Start of Something Big knocks me out, no matter who records it. The punchy, uplifting song has a swinging, "let's put on a show" feel, and I can't get enough of it. Published in 1956, Allen wrote it for a TV musical production of The Bachelor. Then it became his theme on the Tonight Showuntil he left in 1957. Hey, that's one way to collect an annuity! Naturally, I went YouTube hunting and came up with 10 (make it 11) great versions...

Here's Jennie Smith...

Here's Mark Murphy...

Here's Sammy Davis Jr....

Here's Grant Green...

Here are two guys on trombone playing the Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson duet from The Great Kai & J.J....

  

Here's Judy Garland...

Here's Gary Konas on an organ...

Here's Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan...

Here's Bobby Darin...

Here's Steve Peterson on banjo...

And here's a bonus: Steven Allen with Ann Sothern, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme and Dinah Shore. I've posted this one before, but it's too good to leave out...

Used with permission by Marc Myers