direfranchement (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I hate to digress from the topic of this video, which is Shaw's flawless recording of "Stardust", but I'm astonished at your evaluation. Crosby's recording was good, not exceptional. Cole's version was definitive and unforgettable. I say this as a fan of both-- Crosby's was recorded in 1931 when he was in great voice. However, his rather playful habits with the tempo detract from the beauty of the melody, as well as the longing description of the lyrics.

watcherofolde (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Oh how great they were---and we are losing it all, aren't we?

MOFOPSX (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Graet Version!

stillavril (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Here we go. Everyone has an opinion...........Am I the only one to think that this version is pitched much too high?!It sounds like hysteria.Beautifully played though :-)

comicstadt (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

S/W Film wär mal echt was, so echt voll

valkyrie2usa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Butterfield played the trumpet solo on "Stardust."

GordonMorrice (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I know this is going to sound heretical or crazy, but Liberace's instrumental version of "Stardust" is superb. Artie Shaw's version is iconic, though.

rmdoerfler (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think the vocal by Hoagy himself is the best rendition of this classic.

olafdavila (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think the best vocal version is Bing Crosby´s. He was great. Nat King Cole´s version is too slow and a bit "pale".

thechinadesk (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This is one of the better instrumental versions of Stardust. It preserves the melodic line. Other versions "deconstruct" the melody too much, destroying its beauty. I'll never understand why so many talented musicians feel compelled to depart from the score so far that the melodic spine is lost. I suppose they get bored playing it "straight." That's unfortunate. The Nat Cole version is the best vocal version. For the same reason.