Album of the Day — June 24
King Pleasure — Moody’s Mood For Love
24.June.2020
King Pleasure
Moody’s Mood For Love
1992
Born Clarence Beeks in Oakdale, Tennesse, he found success as a jazz musician under the name of King Pleasure.
King Pleasures instrument was his voice.
He sang using a type of singing referred to as “vocalese” — singing in which words are added to a soloist’s improvisation.
Where jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald employed a “scat” method, which uses nonsense words such as “bap ba dee dot bwee dee” in solos, “vocalese” singers like Pleasure uses lyrics set to pre-existing instrumental solos.
The words to “Moody’s Mood for Love” were written and first sung by vocalese pioneer Eddie Jefferson. The lyrics matched the be-bop stylings of Jazz saxophone player James Moody’s 1949 solo in “I’m in the Mood for Love.” However, it’s Pleasure’s 1952, his first after signing to Prestige Records, that is considered the classic.
The list of artists who have covered the song include:
- Aretha Franklin on the 1973 album Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)
- George Benson on the 1980 album Give Me the Night
