The selection for this week’s  Instrumentals Tuesday is “Last Date” by Floyd Cramer. The piece was written and performed by Cramer. He was one of the architects, as it were, of the Nashville sound, and the slip note style of piano playing.  The slip note is a musical ornament in that an added note leans on and quickly resolves to the principal note. “Last Date” is a fine example of slip note playing.

The tune was released in 1960 and became an international hit. It went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the U.S. Country chart. It also went to #4 in Canada, #1 in New Zealand, and #8 in Australia.  The number of covers is legion, with instrumental versions and those with lyrics. Instrumental versions include those by Lawrence Welk and his orchestra, The Ventures, Ace Cannon, Duane Eddy (along with Floyd Cramer), Al Hirt, and Little Willie LIttlefield, Skeeter Davis recorded a version with lyrics by Boudleaux Bryant as “My Last Date (with You).” Conway Twitty wrote lyrics for it and recorded it as “Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date.”

Floyd Cramer played the piano, organ, and harpsichord. He was one of the busiest studio musicians in Nashville, playing piano for Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, The Everly Brothers, and many more. Cramer released a number of albums and compositions  under his own name. He performed for many years as well, sometimes with Chet Atkins and Boots Randolph.

Floyd Cramer (1933 – 1997).

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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