Song of the Day #2062

Song of the Day: M*A*S*H (“Suicide is Painless”), music by Johnny Mandel, lyrics by Michael Altman, made its first appearance in the 1970 film “M*A*S*H”, based on the 1968 Richard Hooker novel that takes place during the Korean War (with a clear Vietnam War subtext). It also became the theme to the CBS TV series, starring Alan Alda, which ran from 1972 to 1983. (M.A.S.H. stands for “Mobile Army Surgical Hospital“, which is the backdrop for the novel and its adaptations.) Check out the instrumental and vocal versions [YouTube links]. As a rare second Song of the Day, I post it tonight to highlight a wonderful jazz rendition by the legendary pianist Bill Evans, who was born on this date in 1929. Recorded in August 1977, it appeared on a 1981 album, “You Must Believe in Spring,” a year after Evans’s tragic death at the age of 51. It includes a terrific trio, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Eliot Zigmund on drums. Check it out here [YouTube link]. [16 August 2023]