In 1928 (on his 25th birthday) Hines began leading his own big band. For over 10 years his was "The Band" in Al Capone's Grand Terrace Cafe — Hines was Capone's "Mr Piano Man". Hines recorded for Victor in 1929, then after a gap for Brunswick from 1932-1934, Decca from 1934-1935, then after another gap, Vocalion from 1937-1938 and Bluebird from 1939-1942 (nearly all among the best Black Jazz of the era). From the Grand Terrace, The Earl Hines Orchestra (or "Organization" as he more happily referred to it) broadcast on "open mikes", sometimes five nights a week and over many years, coast to coast across America — Chicago being well placed to deal with the U.S. live-broadcasting time-zone problem. Hines's band became the most broadcast band in America. Sometimes Nat "King" Cole was Hines's relief pianist (though Cliff Smalls was his favorite) and it was here with Hines that Charlie Parker got his first professional job...until he was fired for his time-keeping — by which Hines meant Parker's inability to show up on time despite Parker resorting to sleeping under the Grand Terrace stage in his attempts to do so. Hines led his big band until 1947, taking time out to front the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1944 while Duke was ill...but the big-band era was over. (Thirty years later, Hines's 20 solo "transformative versions" of his "Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington" recorded in the 1970s were described by Ben Ratliff in the "New York Times" as "as good an example of the jazz process as anything out there".)
At the start of 1949 Hines rejoined Armstrong in the latter's "All Stars" "small band", where Hines stayed through 1951. He then led his own small combo around the States and Europe. At the start of the jazz-lean 1960s he settled in Oakland, California, opened a tobacconist's, and came close to giving up the profession. Then, in 1964 Hines was "suddenly rediscovered" following a series of concerts in New York. He was the 1965 "Critics' Choice" for Down Beat Magazine's "Hall of Fame". From then till he died he recorded endlessly both solo and with jazz notables like Cat Anderson, Buck Clayton, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Greer, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Jimmy Rushing, Stuff Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Venuti and Ben Webster. Possibly more surprising were Elvin Jones, Peggy Lee, Charles Mingus, Dinah Washington — and Ry Cooder. But his most acclaimed recordings of this period were his dazzling and endlessly inventive solo performances, which could show him at his very best, "a whole orchestra by himself".[12] Solo tributes to Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin were all put on record in the 1970s. Hines also toured Europe again regularly at this time, and added Asia, Australia and the Soviet Union to his list of State Department–funded destinations. At the top of his form, Hines also displayed his endearing quirks (not to say grunts) in these performances. Sometimes he sang as he played, especially his own "They Never Believed I Could Do It - Neither Did I". In 1975 he made an hour-long "solo" film for British TV out-of-hours in a Washington nightclub: the "New York Herald Tribune" described it as "The greatest jazz-film ever made". He played solo in The White House and played solo for the Pope — and played (and sang) his last job a few days before he died in Oakland, quite likely somewhat older than he had always maintained.
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
Earl Hines Lyrics
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But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
Since everyone spread the story
With his own little personal touch
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
The lyrics to Earl Hines' "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" depict a story of gossip and the dangers of trusting hearsay. The song acknowledges the power of rumors and how they can be spread with personal embellishments, ultimately causing harm to those involved. The singer advises their romantic partner to not pay attention to the rumors being spread about them being unfaithful because they are untrue. They ask their partner to wait until they hear it from the singer themselves before jumping to any conclusions.
The lyrics also express a fear of being misunderstood and losing the chance to continue their romance. The singer admits to being seen with someone new but emphasizes that it does not mean that they are unfaithful. They reassure their partner by revealing that the words in their heart convey their true feelings about them, even when they are apart. The song ends with the singer pleading with their partner to wait until they hear from them directly and assuring them that they never will hear anything other than the truth from them.
Overall, the lyrics are cautionary and emphasize the importance of not letting rumors and gossip affect one's relationships. They urge listeners to be cautious and not jump to conclusions before hearing the truth from the source.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone told someone and someone told you
Rumors may have spread about me, but they likely originated from a distant source and have been distorted through each person who repeated it.
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
The rumors are likely harmless and shouldn't be cause for concern.
Since everyone spread the story with his own little personal touch
As the rumor has spread from person to person, it has been embellished and altered to fit each individual's perspective.
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't take any action or make any assumptions until you have heard my side of the story.
Pay no attention to what's said
Ignore any gossip or hearsay that you may have heard.
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
I don't understand why some people enjoy spreading rumors and causing strife in others' lives.
At least consider our romance
Before making any decisions or jumping to conclusions, think about the feelings we have for each other and our relationship.
If you should take the word of others you've heard, I haven't a chance
If you believe the rumors without hearing my side of things, our relationship doesn't stand a chance.
True I've been seen with someone new
It's true that I have spent time with someone else, but that doesn't mean I have been unfaithful or that my feelings for you have changed.
But does that mean that I'm untrue
Just because I have spent time with someone else doesn't automatically make me unfaithful.
When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
When we're not together, my thoughts and feelings about you are clear and unwavering.
Some kiss may cloud my memory
Perhaps I have shared a kiss with someone else, but it doesn't change my feelings for you or diminish the memories we have shared.
And other arms may hold a thrill
While I may have been physically close to someone else, it doesn't compare to the emotional connection I feel with you.
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
Again, please don't make any decisions or assumptions until you have heard my side of things.
And you never will
I trust that you will not believe any rumors that you hear and will always give me the opportunity to explain myself.
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind