Big Noise From Winnetka (album)

"Big Noise from Winnetka" is a jazz composition co-written by composer and bass player Bob Haggart, and first recorded in 1938, featuring Haggart and drummer Ray Bauduc, both members of a sub-group of the Bob Crosby Orchestra called "The Bobcats". The recording is remarkable for its unusual duet feature: Haggart whistles the melody and plays the bass, while only Bauduc accompanies him on the drums. Halfway through the solo, Bauduc starts drumming on the strings of the double bass, while Haggart continues to play with his left hand, creating a percussive bass solo. The original version was just bass and drums but many other arrangements have been performed including one by the Bob Crosby big band with the band's vocal group.

After the success of the initial recording, Haggart and Bauduc performed this song frequently for the rest of their careers, including in several films, most notably in 1941's Let's Make Music and 1943's Reveille with Beverly. The original recording was featured on the soundtrack of Raging Bull. Nick Nolte and Debra Winger danced to a version credited to Bob Crosby and the Bobcats in the 1982 film Cannery Row.

Composition
The song was a spontaneous composition, created at the Blackhawk in Chicago in 1938. When some of the band were late getting back from a break, Haggart and Bauduc started free improvising while they waited and "Big Noise" was the result. It was a joint composition, later formalized by arranger Haggart. Later, lyrics were written.

Cover versions

 * 1959: Jazz drum legend Gene Krupa covered the song on his live album "'Big Noise from Winnetka''".
 * 1963: In Eddy Mitchell sang a French version on his album "Voici Eddy... c'était le soldat Mitchell".
 * 1965: Chico Hamilton recorded his own version on the album "''The Dealer" (Impulse!).
 * 1966: Kenny Clare & Ronnie Stephenson - Drum Spectacular
 * 1979: The song was covered by Bette Midler for her album "Thighs and Whispers", and released as a single where it peaked at #98 on the US Dance Charts. The song was also performed in her concert film Divine Madness and is included on the soundtrack album. The song was included during her Las Vegas show, "The Showgirl Must Go On" (2008–2010).
 * 1984: The Australian teenage "indie band" the Lighthouse Keepers recorded a version of "Big Noise" featuring a C melody sax on their album Tales of the Unexpected.
 * 2002: The Japanese jazz group Ego-Wrappin' covered the song on their album Night Food.
 * 2005: Bassist Kyle Eastwood recorded an arrangement on his album Paris Blue.
 * 2009: In the UK, the song has been used in advertisements for direct.gov.uk