
About This Album
Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse wrote this show tune for their 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, where Cy Grant delivered the first stage performance. Nina Simone transformed the piece with her 1965 recording on the album I Put a Spell on You, turning a theatrical number into a jazz anthem about liberation and rebirth. Her version set the standard, though the track later appeared on numerous compilations spanning genres from rock to electronic dance music.
Muse reimagined it as an alternative rock epic on their 2006 release Black Holes and Revelations, while Michael Bublé brought a crooner's polish to the arrangement in 2007. Avicii also sampled the melody in his electronic productions, proving the song's versatility across decades. The composition remains a staple for performers seeking to showcase vocal power and emotional depth.
Keywords
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Album Info
- Artist
- Cy Grant, Nina Simone, Muse, Michael Bublé, George Michael, The Pussycat Dolls, Avicii
- Type
- Compilation
- Released
- 1964
- Label
- Various
- Original Writers
- Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse
- First Performed
- 1964 by Cy Grant
- Definitive Jazz Version
- Nina Simone (1965)
- Rock Adaptation
- Muse (2006)
- Pop Revival
- Michael Bublé (2007)
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