Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Dave Pell first played in his teens with the big bands of Tony Pastor, Bob Astor, and Bobby Sherwood, and then moved to California in the middle of the 1940s. There he played on Bob Crosby's radio show in 1946, and was a member of Les Brown's band from 1947 to 1955.
In 1953 he began working with his own ensembles, mostly as an octet: Pell on tenor sax, another saxophone (either a baritone or an alto), trumpet and trombone, guitar, and a piano-bass-drums rhythm section). Among the octet players were Pepper Adams, Benny Carter, Mel Lewis, Red Mitchell, Marty Paich, Art Pepper and, early his career, John Williams. These ensembles recorded in the 1950s for Atlantic, Kapp, Coral, Capitol, and RCA Victor; alongside this, he played as a sideman for Shorty Rogers, Pete Rugolo, Benny Goodman, and Gene Krupa. He also produced in the 1950s and 1960s for Tops, Uni and Liberty; among his credits in production were some singles by Gary Lewis & the Playboys.
In 1961, Pell switched to alto sax and clarinet for I Remember John Kirby, a tribute album to bassist/bandleader Kirby who led a successful small group in the 1930s and '40s.
Pell was the recording session leader for the 1965 hit song "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)", performed by members of the elite Los Angeles studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew but attributed to The T-Bones.
In the 1970s he assembled the group Prez Conference, a Lester Young tribute ensemble. In the 1980s he returned to the octet format, and played on and off into the 1990s.
While living in North Hollywood, Dave Pell was married to Babette and had two daughters, Sandra and Suzanne. He died on 8 May 2017 at the age of 92.
Like Young
Dave Pell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get loose then I start to make my rounds
Well, that's right, I like the party life
In Downtown everybody knows my name
They line up just to watch me play my game
Oh, that's right, I like the party life
All you gotta do is take a look at me
You know I let the good times roll
Party right to my soul
When I dance everybody steps aside
I romance, everybody wants to ride
Well, that's right, I like the party life
Daylight, I find a place to go to bed
Well, I sleep but I'm still dancing in my head
Oh, that's right, I like the party life
She's alright, she likes to party
I like the party life
She's alright, she likes to party
I like the party life
She's alright, she likes to party
Oh, I like the party life
All you gotta do is take a look at me
You know I let the good times roll
What you're gonna get from me is what you see
Party right to our soul
When I dance everybody steps aside
I romance, everybody wants to ride
Well, that's right, I like the party life
Well, that's right, I like the party life
Well, that's right, I like the party life
Well, that's right
The lyrics to Dave Pell's song Like Young convey the message of embracing and enjoying a carefree party lifestyle. The singer seems to revel in the nightlife, taking pleasure in the atmosphere and attention that comes along with it. They take pride in their ability to make people enjoy themselves, being a center of attention and charm. The singer likes to dance and takes themselves very seriously as a symbol of the party scene. They even dream of the party lifestyle and continue to enjoy it even in their sleep. The inclusion of “She’s alright, she likes to party” in the chorus suggests that the singer is not alone in their love of the party lifestyle.
The song seems to embody the essence of youthful vigor and nostalgia for the free-spirited behavior of youth. The vocal performance by Dave Pell is a mix of suave and cool, which matches the theme of the song. The music has an upbeat tempo with classic jazz elements infused in the arrangement.
Overall, the song captures the attitude of a person who is living in the moment and is not bothered about the consequences of their actions as they party away. The lyrics celebrate the party lifestyle, giving the audiences a glimpse of the excitement, freedom, and fun of the party scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Looka here, I love it when the sun go down
I enjoy going out when nighttime falls
I get loose then I start to make my rounds
I relax and begin my night of socializing
Well, that's right, I like the party life
I am fond of living it up and being around people
In Downtown everybody knows my name
I am well-known and recognized in the city center
They line up just to watch me play my game
People eagerly gather to observe and participate in my festivities
All you gotta do is take a look at me
My demeanor and appearance show that I'm having a good time
You know I let the good times roll
I fully embrace and enjoy the fun moments
What you're gonna get from me is what you see
My attitude and actions are transparent and honest
Party right to my soul
I feel joy and fulfillment from celebrating and socializing
When I dance everybody steps aside
My dance moves catch everyone's attention and make room for me
I romance, everybody wants to ride
My charm and charisma attract many admirers
Daylight, I find a place to go to bed
Once the night winds down, I search for a spot to rest
Well, I sleep but I'm still dancing in my head
Even though I'm sleeping, my mind is still recalling the good times I had
She's alright, she likes to party
The woman I'm with enjoys socializing like I do
Oh, I like the party life
I thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle of having fun and being around people
Well, that's right, I like the party life
Once again, I have confirmed that I cherish the energetic and celebratory atmosphere
Writer(s): Paul Webster, Andre Previn
Contributed by Bella R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert Sorrentino
First heard Dave Pell's version of this when I was about 11 or 12, and it is STILL the best version of Andre Previn's jazz classic I will ever hear. Dave's band and singers really make this work.
Johnnralph
Rip : David Pell (February 26 1925 – May 8 2017)
Tom Martin
Stirred, but not shaken. An ode to the swingin' damn sixties. It doesn't get any better than this,well,not much,anyway!
Robert Sorrentino
@librarybob1958 And P.S.: That Bob Florence arrangement doesn't exactly hurt things, either.