Don't Explain (song)

"Don't Explain"
Single by Billie Holiday
B-side	What Is This Thing Called Love?
Released	1946
Format	78 rpm
Recorded	November 8, 1944
Genre	Jazz
Length	2:53
Label	Decca
Writer(s)	Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.

"Don't Explain" is a song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.^[1]

Overview

It is said Billie wrote "Don't Explain" after her husband, Jimmy Monroe, came home one night with lipstick traces on his collar.^[2]

Recording Session

Session #52: New York, November 8, 1944, Decca, Toots Camarata and His Orchestra, with Russ Case (trumpet), Hymie Schertzer, Jack Cressey (alto saxophone), Larry Binyon and Dave Harris (tenor saxophone), Dave Bowman (piano), Carl Kress (guitar), Haig Stephens (bass), George Wettling (drums), Billie Holiday (vocals), and six strings.^[3]

Notable cover versions

• George Shearing (1956)
• John Coltrane (1957)
• Abbey Lincoln (1957)
• Charlie Byrd (1958)
• Wes Montgomery (1959)
• Dinah Washington (1961)
• Dexter Gordon (1962)
• Nina Simone (1964)
• Carmen McRae (1965)
• Lou Rawls (1966)
• Diana Ross (1972)
• Grover Washington, Jr. (1973)
• Rosemary Clooney (1978)
• Dos (1989)
• Dusan Prelevic (1991)
• Natalie Cole (1993)
• Miki Howard (1993)
• Diana Ross (1993)
• Etta James (1994)
• Regina Carter (1995)
• Dakota Staton (1996)
• Sarah Vaughan (2001)
• Angela McCluskey (2002)
• Rita Reys (2004)
• Molly Johnson (2004)
• Herbie Hancock with Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan(2005)
• Nnenna Freelon (2007)
• Cat Power (2008)
• Oleta Adams (2009)
• DeeDee Bridgewater (2010)
• Others^[4]

References

1. ^ Jacobs, Dick & Harriet. Who Wrote That Song?, Writers Digest Books (1994), page 57 - ISBN 0898796393
2. ^ Alagna, Magdalena. Billie Holiday, The Rosen Publishing Group (2003), page 61 - ISBN 0823936406
3. ^ Billie Holiday Songs
4. ^ All Music: Don't Explain Artist List^{[dead link]}

External links

• Billie Holiday discography
• "Don't Explain" lyrics
• "Don't Explain" at Jazz Standards