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.
Just Friends
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just friends, but not like before
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
Two friends drifting apart
Two friends, but one broken heart
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
The lyrics of Earl Hines's song Just Friends depict a situation where two individuals who were once lovers have decided to give up on their relationship and remain as just friends. The song talks about the feelings of two friends who have drifted apart after experiencing the ups and downs of love. The opening line “Just friends, lovers no more” clearly states that although they have decided to remain friends, they are no longer in a romantic relationship. The following line “Just friends, but not like before” shows the change in their relationship and the awkwardness that may exist between them.
The lyrics further explain that although they were once deeply in love, they cannot go back to what they had before. The line “To think of what we've been and not to kiss again, seems like pretending it isn't the ending” illustrates this point. The song reflects on the sadness that comes with losing a love and the struggle to remain friends without the intimacy they once shared. The line “Two friends, but one broken heart” captures the pain and heartbreak that one of the friends may be feeling.
Overall, the song portrays the emotional complexities of a breakup, and how even after the love is gone, two individuals can still remain friends.
Line by Line Meaning
Just friends, lovers no more
We were once in love but now we are just friends
Just friends, but not like before
We are still friends, but our relationship has changed
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
It's difficult to think about our past and not want to kiss again
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
We are trying to act like our relationship isn't over
Two friends drifting apart
Our friendship is slowly coming to an end
Two friends, but one broken heart
Our friendship is strained because one of us is hurting from the breakup
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
We had a great relationship filled with love and emotions, but it ended abruptly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN KLENNER, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wadecottingham
I forgot how much I love Earl Hines. And this is one of his best solo recordings!!! Thanks!!!!!!!
David Eastlee
Just such a good feeling... he is telling a story. Just amazing and beautiful poetry
Hugo Roberto Salazar
I found this and liked it: "according to one source, Earl Kenneth Hines is one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".
Longwing Seagull
Nice quote. Fatha Earl Hines was the protagonist of the jazz piano. Without him, there would be no Art Tatum, Errol Garner, Teddy Wilson and so on. Hence his title, `Fatha` since he birthed them all.
Roberto Luiz Cauduro
"Monstro" !!!!!