Eckstine was an American jazz singer and bandleader who also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar. He also performed briefly as Billy X. Stine. His nickname was Mr. B. Although best known as a singer, his openness to new music made him a strong influence on modern jazz, particularly bebop, as he gave employment to many of the musicians who founded the style.
After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including:
Saxophones: Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Lucky Thompson, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Budd Johnson, Leo Parker
Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro
Drums: Art Blakey
Singers: Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan
Eckstine later formed an octet, then went solo, becoming a popular ballad singer while remaining an important figure in jazz. His huge, distinctive baritone made him one of the first African American singers to have mainstream success. He was the composer of the blues classic "Jelly, Jelly" and also recorded the R&B top hit "Stormy Monday Blues" in 1942 (not to be confused with T-Bone Walker's 1947 "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)"). Most of his success as a singer came with ballads, including "Everything I have is Yours", "Blue Moon", "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "That Old Black Magic". His last hit was "Passing Strangers", a duet with Sarah Vaughan released in 1957.
Eckstine was a style leader and noted sharp dresser. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a Mr. B. Collar. In addition to looking cool, the collar expanded and contracted without popping open, which allowed his neck to swell while playing his horns. The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1984, Eckstine recorded his final album, I Am A Singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo.
Very Thought of You
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The song "The Very Thought of You" by Billy Eckstine is a romantic ode to someone special. The song describes how the mere thought of this person causes the singer to forget about the little things in life that everyone ought to do, and how the very idea of this person causes the singer to daydream and feel happy as a king.
The first stanza of the song illustrates how the singer becomes so wrapped up in their thoughts of this special someone that they can't even be bothered to do the mundane tasks of daily life. The singer is living in a daydream, and to them, that feeling of happiness is everything. The second stanza continues to describe the power this person has over the singer's thoughts and emotions. The longing for this person causes the singer to feel as though time moves more slowly until they are near them. The singer even sees this person in nature, with their face in every flower and their eyes in stars above.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and the powerful effect that someone special can have on our lives. It conveys the idea that even the mere thought of someone can bring joy and happiness into our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you and I forget to do
The mere idea of you is so intoxicating that I lose focus on my daily routine
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
The mundane tasks of everyday life that bring little excitement
I'm living in a kind of daydream
My thoughts are consumed by you, and nothing else matters
I'm happy as a king
Your presence and the thought of you brings me immense joy and happiness
And foolish though it may seem
Some may view my obsession with you as irrational or foolish
To me that's everything
But to me, you are everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
My yearning for you and the mere thought of you dominates my mind
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
Time seems to crawl by until I am able to be near you again
I see your face in every flower
Your beauty and image is the standard by which I view all other beauty
Your eyes in stars above
The vastness of the universe and all its wonder pales in comparison to the beauty in your eyes
It's just the thought of you
The mere thought of you is enough to bring me immense joy and happiness
The very thought of you, my love
Your thought consumes me, and I am deeply in love with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maryla Piskorska
The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
Hari Madray
Voices such as Billy Eckstein, Arthur Prysock, Johhny Hartman are simply pure gold. How much we miss hearing those great voices with their velvety, smooth tone.. These were truly Manly voices. We truly miss them!! Thank you YouTube for bringing back such memories.
Joe Fitz
Amen...
patrick ryan
Hari Madray: I totally agree w/your observation and appreciate especially your including in your comment Johnny Hartman (listen to his "When I Get The Time"; it's a beautifully transporting type of song and so right for these retirement years that many of us are now experiencing. Have a nice evening - September 2017.
Thebes50
Although this was recorded after Billy's prime, everyone who knows and understands real music will agree that he was one of the greatest crooners that ever lived.
Beth Kennedy
thebes50 o
TheRudydog1
thebes50: I mostly agree but please don't forget that all of the years of experience and living also show up in that older voice of Mr Eckstine's. He also maintains great range and tone. I actually think he may be even better here than in his earlier years. Peace.
Guy Whitlock
In fact I think he was THE best!
Thebes50
Thanks Richard!
Richard Russette
thebes50 you are so right
Jd Jennings
Mr Eckstine, Mr Prysock, Mr Nat Cole, Mr Mathis and the balladeers of that era left us such a great body of work to enjoy. Thanks to them and thanks to those who post these great works today.