John Coltrane - "My Favorite Things (part 1)" - My Favorite Things (1960)
achieved Gold in 2018, the single was a hit in 1961
Hugh Masekela - "Grazing In the Grass" - The Promise of a Future (1968)
#1 on Billboard Hot 100, sold 4 million copies
Chet Baker - "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker Sings (1954)
A financial success that spawned follow-ups and launched Baker into stardom - voted both best trumpeter and best male vocalist in Downbeat Magazine's Audience Polls following the album's release.
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" - Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (1962)
Actually a B-side, radio disc jockeys loved it and it propelled to #22 on the Pop Chart and #9 on the Easy Listening chart. It also helped secure him the Charlie Brown cartoons soundtracks for which he's remembered most today.
Mel Tormé - "Comin' Home Baby!" - Comin' Home Baby! (1962)
Like a few of the selections in this series, the artist had reservations about recording the song, but it revived his career and hit #36 on the pop chart and #13 on the UK singles chart. Tormé's performance was nominated for two Grammys. The arrangement is by Claus Ogerman (!) and the vocal group are The Cookies.
Bill Evans - "Waltz for Debby" - Waltz for Debby (1961)
Don't know how much this sold, but Evans did sell albums and this is considered his best selling. According to Wikipedia, the song has been covered over 300 times.
Deodato - "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" - Prelude (1972)
#2 on the Hot 100, #3 in Canada and #7 in the UK. The song won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Pop Performance for 1973.
Herbie Hancock - "Chameleon" - Head Hunters (1973)
Words can barely describe the success of this album or it's influence. #13 on the Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the R&B chart. It was the first jazz album to sell (over) a million copies. It is certified in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. It was #1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart from 2-9-1974 to 8-3-1974. That is a really, really long time.
Herb Alpert - "Rise" - Rise (1979)
#1 on the Hot 100, #1 Billboard Jazz Chart, won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and the album sold more than 3 million copies. The title song was famously sampled by Notorious B.I.G. on "Hypnotize".
Dakota Staton - "The Late, Late Show" - The Late, Late Show (1957)
The artist's debut album and single was a big hit reaching #4 on the album charts.
Cal Tjader - "Soul Sauce (Guachi Guaro)" - Soul Sauce (1964)
This album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200, not bad for a jazz album in the midst of Beatlemania. The single was also a hit.
Diana Krall - "The Look of Love" - The Look of Love (2001)
Her first #1 album in Canada, receiving the Juno Award for Album of the Year. #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart (#1 Jazz Chart), the album was a worldwide hit and the 5th best selling jazz album from 2000-2009. The single hit #22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
Stanley Turrentine - "Pieces of Dreams" - Pieces of Dreams (1974)
The single was a hit and the album peaked at #69 on the Billboard 200, on the chart for 21 weeks in 1974.
John Coltrane - "My Favorite Things (part 2)" - My Favorite Things (1960)
Coltrane had better selling albums - we will get to them in future episodes.
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