Ebb Tide (song)

"Ebb Tide" is a popular song, written in 1953 by the lyricist Carl Sigman and composer Robert Maxwell. An instrumental version by organist Kenneth W. Griffin was played in the fifth season premiere of the TV drama Mad Men.^[1]

The song's build up is to illustrate the ocean waves coming in and out to and from the shores, due to the ebb tides.

The first three notes are identical to the first three notes of the Erroll Garner song "Misty" (1954).

This song is not to be confused with the title song from the movie Ebb Tide (1937), which is a composition by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger.

Recordings

• The best-known versions are by Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra (1953), Vic Damone (1953), Roy Hamilton (1954), Frank Sinatra (1958), The Platters (1960), Lenny Welch (1964) and The Righteous Brothers (1965). The Righteous Brothers vocal version was the most successful, peaking at number 5 in the US. Bobby Hatfield sang the lead on this song, and it was one of the last songs that Phil Spector produced for the Righteous Brothers before they departed. This was a follow up to their hit song "Unchained Melody" which was also recorded by Roy Hamilton.
• Buzz Clifford released a version of the song on his 1961 debut album, Baby Sittin' with Buzz Clifford.^[2]
• Sergio Franchi recorded this song at Webster Hall for his 1964 RCA Victor album The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi.^[3]
• In 1966, Italian pop star Mina recorded a version for her Studio Uno 66 album
• Checkmates, Ltd. released a version of the song on their 1967 debut album, Live! At Caesar's Palace.^[4]
• Jerry Colonna, Earl Grant, Matt Monro, Santo & Johnny and The Del-Satins featuring Johnny Maestro also recorded versions. In 1968 Ella Fitzgerald recorded it on her Columbia album, 30 by Ella.
• "Ebb Tide" was the intended A-side of a single by David Rose & His Orchestra. The Stripper, which became a number one hit, was the B-side.
• "Ebb Tide" was also covered by Erasure in 2003 in their album Other People's Songs.
• "Ebb Tide" appears as a hidden track on Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's 2006 album The Letting Go.
• A trumpet instrumental version is played by two clowns at the end of Federico Fellini's I clowns.
• John Lloyd Young includes his rendition on his debut album, My Turn... (2014).
• Strains of Frank Chacksfield's version is in the soundtrack of the 1950s period comedy Porky's, where the character 'Meat' slumps into a bowl of chili.
• An orchestral version of the song was recorded by the French orchestra of Paul Mauriat.

References

External links

• List of albums containing recordings of "Ebb Tide"