The band formed in Benton Harbor, Michigan as the Four Sounds. The original line-up consisted of Gene Harris (September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) on piano, Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932 – June 2, 1999) on double bass and Bill Dowdy (August 15, 1932 - May 12, 2017) on drums, along with saxophonist Lonnie `The Sound' Walker, who dropped out the following year. The group moved to Washington and then New York, where as the Three Sounds, they cut a record for Riverside Records, before signing an exclusive contract with Blue Note.
Between 1958 and 1962, the group released nine LPs for Blue Note. They toured nationally during this period, building a large following in jazz clubs across the country. Later Three Sounds recordings were also released by Limelight and Verve Records.
The Three Sounds song "Put On Train", from the 1971 Gene Harris album The 3 Sounds was featured as the prominent background sample in the hip-hop group Beastie Boys song "What Comes Around" on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique. It previously stated here that this sample came from the Three Sounds album Live at the It Club, recorded in 1970, however this was not released (on Live at the It Club Vol. 2) until 2000.
A Foggy Day
The Three Sounds Lyrics
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Out of town were the people I knew
I had that feeling of self-pity
What to do, what to do, what to do
The outlook was decidedly blue
But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known
A foggy day, in London town
Had me low, had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
British Museum, had lost its charm
How long I wondered,
Could this thing last
But the age of miracles, hadn't past
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere
The Three Sounds' song "A Foggy Day" is a ballad that tells the story of someone who feels like a stranger in a city full of strangers. The singer is out of town and feels self-pity, unsure of what to do with themselves. The outlook is bleak and the morning seems alarming. The British Museum, a source of fascination for many tourists, has lost its charm. The singer wonders how long this feeling will last, but despite being lost in a foggy London town, the sun suddenly shines through when they see someone they know walking towards them.
The song captures the feeling of isolation and despair that can accompany being in a new and unfamiliar place. The singer is surrounded by people but feels alone, struggling to find their place in the city. The fog serves as a metaphor for the singer's confusion and uncertainty, representing a barrier that separates them from the things they know and love. However, the song ends on a hopeful note, as the singer finds someone familiar in the midst of their loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a stranger in the city
I didn't know anyone in the city
Out of town were the people I knew
The people I knew were not in the city
I had that feeling of self-pity
I was feeling sorry for myself
What to do, what to do, what to do
I didn't know what to do
The outlook was decidedly blue
I was feeling pessimistic about the situation
But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
As I walked by myself through the foggy streets
It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known
It ended up being my luckiest day
A foggy day, in London town
It was a day with fog in London
Had me low, had me down
I was feeling depressed
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
I was worried about the morning
British Museum, had lost its charm
I didn't find the British Museum enjoyable
How long I wondered,
I thought to myself,
Could this thing last
Will this go on forever
But the age of miracles, hadn't past
Miracles can still happen
For suddenly, I saw you there
Suddenly, I saw you
And through foggy London town,
Even with the fog in London
The sun was shining everywhere
Everything looked better because I saw you
Everywhere
All around me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind