Ebb Tide (song)

"Ebb Tide" is a popular song, written in 1953 by the lyricist Carl Sigman and composer Robert Maxwell. The song's build up is to illustrate the ocean waves coming in and out to and from the shores, due to the ebb tides.

The first three notes are identical to the first three notes of the Erroll Garner song "Misty" (1954).

This song is not to be confused with the title song from the movie Ebb Tide (1937), which is a composition by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger.

Recordings

• The best-known versions are by Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra (1953), Vic Damone (1953), Roy Hamilton (1954), Frank Sinatra (1958), The Platters (1960), Lenny Welch (1964), The Righteous Brothers (1965), Gianni Morandi (Come il mar, 1968) and Tom Jones (1971). The Righteous Brothers vocal version was the most successful, peaking at number 5 in the US. Bobby Hatfield sang the lead on this song, and it was one of the last songs that Phil Spector produced for the Righteous Brothers. This was a follow up to their hit song "Unchained Melody" which was also recorded by Roy Hamilton. Originally peaking at number 48 in the UK in January 1966, it was re-issued there as a double A-side single with the re-issued "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in December 1990, reaching number 3.
• Buzz Clifford released a version of the song on his 1961 debut album, Baby Sittin' with Buzz Clifford.^[1]
• Sergio Franchi recorded this song at Webster Hall for his 1964 RCA Victor album The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi.^[2]
• Italian pop star Mina played a version in 1966 very successful TV show Studio Uno and recorded it for her Studio Uno 66 album also in 1966.
• The Norwegian band The Pussycats recorded the song in two versions, one single and one on the album PSST in 1966. The single version is regarded as the most emotional one, as guitarist Trond Graff was mourning over a girlfriends break up.The album version was recorded in the UK.
• Checkmates, Ltd. released a version of the song on their 1967 debut album, Live! At Caesar's Palace.^[3]
• Jerry Colonna, Earl Grant, Matt Monro, Santo & Johnny and The Del-Satins featuring Johnny Maestro also recorded versions. In 1968 Ella Fitzgerald recorded it on her Columbia album, 30 by Ella.
• "Ebb Tide" was the A-side of a single by David Rose & His Orchestra in 1958. The Stripper, which became a number one hit, was the B-side.
• "Ebb Tide" was also covered by Erasure in 2003 in their album Other People's Songs.
• "Ebb Tide" appears as a hidden track on Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's 2006 album The Letting Go.
• A trumpet instrumental version is played by two clowns at the end of Federico Fellini's I clowns.
• John Lloyd Young includes his rendition on his debut album, My Turn... (2014).
• Strains of Frank Chacksfield's version is in the soundtrack of the 1950s period comedy Porky's, where the character 'Meat' slumps into a bowl of chili.
• An orchestral version of the song was recorded by the French orchestra of Paul Mauriat.
• In 1960 Bobby Freeman covered the song.
• In 1998 Neil Diamond recorded the song which was released on his album The Movie Album: As Time Goes By. It was conducted by Elmer Bernstein on the 20th century fox scoring stage. Each song on the album was chosen for its association with a movie, Ebb Tide being associated with Sweet Bird of Youth (film).
• In 1999, Glen Campbell recorded the song on his album My Hits and Love Songs.
• An instrumental version by organist Kenneth W. Griffin was played in the fifth-season premiere of the TV drama Mad Men.^[4]

References

External links

• List of albums containing recordings of "Ebb Tide"