Nuages
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Sample of "Nuages"
 From a 1946 recording by Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. |
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"Nuages" (French pronunciation: [nɥaʒ]) is one of the best-known compositions by Django Reinhardt. He recorded at least thirteen[1] versions of the song, which is a jazz standard and a mainstay of the gypsy swing repertoire. English[2] and French lyrics have been added to the originally instrumental piece. The title translates in English as "Clouds"; though the English lyric adaptation is titled "It's the Bluest Kind of Blues". Reinhardt's 1946 recording (as can be heard in the sample to the right) is in the key of G major.
Background
The song "Nuages" was released by Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France on the French Swing label as a 78 single, SW88, OSW.146, in 1940. The flip side was "Les Yeux Noirs".
Selected list of recorded versions 1940-1953
- 1940, 1 October - Django Reinhardt with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. First recording of "Nuages".
- 1942 - Lucienne Delyle. Vocal version of "Nuages" with lyrics in French by Jacques Larue.
- 1942 - Denny Dennis with the Stanley Black Orchestra. Vocal version titled "It's the Bluest Kind of Blues My Baby Sings", with lyrics in English by Spencer Williams
- 1946 - Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour and his Orchestra. Vocal version titled "It's the Bluest Kind of Blues". This recording was not issued until 2000.
- 1947 - Monica Lewis. Vocal version titled "It's the Bluest Kind of Blues".
- 1953, 10 March - Django Reinhardt. His final recording of "Nuages".
Other Recordings
Tony Bennett used the music with new lyrics that he wrote for a song entitled "All For You" released in 2004 on The Art of Romance album. Joe Pass has also recorded the song in 1964.[3] Guitarist Charlie Byrd, Michel Legrand, Tal Farlow, Willie Nelson, and the Gipsy Kings have also recorded the song.