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.
I Can
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from
simply rotten to something worse
Who knows, some day I will win too.
I'll begin to reach my prime.
Now though I see what our end is,
I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find
Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.
Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
You have a lifetime before you.
I'll adore you, come what may.
Please don't be blue for the present,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say
I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find
Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.
In Earl Hines's song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," the singer is speaking to their loved one, acknowledging the difficulties they are currently facing due to their financial situation. The singer recognizes that they can't offer expensive gifts or possessions, but assures their loved one that they have plenty of love to give. Despite their struggles, the singer remains hopeful that their luck will soon change and they will be able to provide their loved one with all the things they desire.
Throughout the song, the singer encourages their loved one to keep dreaming and scheming for a better future together. They remind their loved one that happiness and all the things they have always wanted are within reach if they continue to work towards them. The singer also expresses their devotion and loyalty, promising to always adore and cherish their loved one no matter what.
The lyrics of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" speak to the universal theme of love being more important than material possessions. The song highlights the struggles and hardships that come with being broke and emphasizes that true happiness can still be found in love and companionship. The message is both optimistic and romantic, encouraging listeners to focus on what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
Being penniless is hard, my child.
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
This is not funny, but a terrible affliction.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from simply rotten to something worse
Things were bad, but now they're getting worse.
Who knows, some day I will win too. I'll begin to reach my prime.
Hopefully, I will succeed someday and become more successful than ever.
Now though I see what our end is, All I can spend is just my time.
I realize that we are not wealthy, so all I can offer is my time and attention.
I can't give you anything but love, baby. That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby.
Although I have little, I offer love, as that is all I have in abundance.
Dream awhile, scheme awhile We're sure to find Happiness and I guess All those things you've always pined for.
Let's not give up hope, but instead, dream and plan for a better future where we will find happiness and achieve our desires.
Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby. Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I would love to see you looking your best and to give you the most exceptional gifts, such as unique jewelry that can't be found at Woolworth's.
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby. I can't give you anything but love.
Until the day when I can give you what you deserve, I pledge to give you all the love I'm capable of offering.
Rome wasn't built in a day, kid. You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
Great things take time and effort, and you must be willing to do the work to earn what you desire.
But I am willing to wait, dear, Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
I'll wait patiently because I want to be with you, and I won't forget the love we've shared.
You have a lifetime before you. I'll adore you, come what may.
You have your life ahead of you, and I will love and support you, no matter what happens.
Please don't be blue for the present, When it's so pleasant to hear you say.
Don't worry about the present, as hearing your voice brings me great joy and happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MEMORY LANE MUSIC GROUP
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnrothfield6126
Beautiful! 1928 Piano solo
@thendrjazz
Recorded while Hines is working with Louis Armstrong on his last records in Chicago in Dec. 1928. Both Hines and Armstrong were working with Carroll Dickerson's big band at the Savoy Ballroom on Chicago's South Side in the center of the very important African-American community. which had just in Nov. made Oscar DePriest the first African-American elected to the US congress in the 20th century.
@henrymichaelwilson8107
Was this one of the Grand Terrace recordings of 1928.
@thendrjazz
Hines's band opens at the Grand Terrace on the South Side of Chicago in Dec. 1928 but the only records he makes at this time are the small group work with Louis and some piano solos. The first version of the Grand Terrace band records in Feb. and Oct. 1929. The new expanded version of that band begins recording in June and July 1932 and would keep recording through the rest of the 1930s..
@OnlyOneKenobi
WDW Port Orleans French Quarter brought me here! 😉