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1951 single by Frankie Laine
"Jezebel " is a 1951
popular song written by American songwriter
Wayne Shanklin . It was recorded by
Frankie Laine with the
Norman Luboff Choir and
Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951 and released by
Columbia Records as catalog number 39367. The record reached number 2 on the
Billboard chart and was a million seller. The
B-side , "
Rose, Rose, I Love You ", was a hit too and reached number 3.
[2]
Background
The title refers to the biblical woman
Jezebel , a wicked,
Baal -worshipping
Phoenician princess who ruled
Israel as
queen consort to King
Ahab . Jezebel's story is recounted in
1 Kings 16 -20 and
2 Kings 9 , books of the
Old Testament .
Covers
In November 1951
Edith Piaf recorded the French-language version, with lyrics by
Charles Aznavour .
In 1951
Winifred Atwell charted in the UK with an instrumental version.
[3]
In 1956
Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps performed their version of the song on their debut album.
In 1961
The Everly Brothers performed the song on their seventh album "
Instant Party ".
In 1962,
Marty Wilde had a UK Top 20 hit with his version of the song.
[4]
In 1963,
Rob E. G. (Australian steel slide guitarist), took his instrumental version into the Australian top 5.[
citation needed ]
In 1965, Johnny Kendall & the Heralds released a version which reached No. 29 on the Dutch chart.
[5]
In 1967,
Herman's Hermits included their version on the LP
There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World .
In 1994,
The Reverend Horton Heat included his version on the LP
Liquor in the Front .
In 1995,
Dave Vanian of
The Damned included his version on the LP
Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords .
The French language version by
Édith Piaf , had lyrics by
Charles Aznavour , and was recorded by Piaf the same year as the Frankie Laine version. The Aznavour version was released in 1963.
[6]
In 2011, English singer-songwriter
Anna Calvi recorded a cover which blends both Laine's English and Piaf's French iterations, released as a single.
[7]
References
Studio albums Compilations Singles Related