THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

315-Dinah Washington-What a Diff’rence a Day Makes,

1959-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.15. The legendary Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191) said of Dinah Washington,’She had a voice that was like the pipes of life. She could take the melody in her hand, hold it like an egg, crack it open, fry it, put the egg back in the box and back in the refrigerator and you would’ve still understood every single syllable of every single word she sang.’

Dinah Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones on August 29th, 1929, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, she is remembered as the most popular black female singer of the 1950’s, and helps to link the bridge between Bessie Smith (see also best songs 345) Billie Holiday (see also best songs 624) and Aretha Franklin (see also best songs 644 and 366.) Washington’s breakthrough came in 1942 when she was spotted by the Jazz artist manager Joe Glazer (1896-1969) performing at the ‘Garrick Bar’ in Chicago, on Glazer’s recommendation she joined Lionel Hampton’s (1908-2002) band. It was either Glazer or Joe Sherman, who owned the Garrick Bar, who gave Jones her stage name, no one is quite sure.

During her short but full life Dinah Washington released 30 Albums between 1947-1963, a further five official compilations have been issued since her death. She released 68 singles between 1944-1964, with 47 of them reaching the United States R&B chart, and 11 of them also charting on the Billboard top 40 singles chart. In the UK her only charting single was ‘September in the Rain’ which made Number 36 in 1961. Dinah Washington was married at least six times, and had suffered insomnia, and weight problems for much of her life. She died on December 14th, 1963, at the age of 39 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs for insomnia, and her diet, which had caused a fatal heart attack.

‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’ was originally written in Spanish by Maria Grever in 1934. The song was called ‘Cuando vyelva a tu lado’ (‘When I Return to Your Side.’) The English lyrics were written by the American songwriter Stanley Adams, (1907-1994) with the first English version recorded by the ‘Dorsey Brothers’ in 1934. Maria Grever was born on September 14th, 1885, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, she died after a prolonged illness in New York City, at the age of 66. Grever was the first female Mexican composer to achieve international acclaim, writing over 1000 songs.

‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’ gave Dinah Washington her first top 10 hit on Billboard when reaching Number 8 in 1959. The song has been covered on countless occasions by many of the worlds top artists, with the most successful in the UK being a ‘Disco’ version recorded by Esther Phillips (1935-1984) in 1975, reaching Number 6, her version also peaked at Number 20 on the Billboard singles chart.

‘There’s a rainbow before me, skies above can’t be stormy since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss. It’s heaven when you find romance on your menu, what a difference a day made, and the difference is you.’