Why Don't You Do Right?
Context
Derived from "The Weed Smoker's Dream," cut by the Harlem Hamfats in 1936, the tune was rewritten by Kansas Joe McCoy from a woman's point of view and recorded by Lil Green in 1941 with Big Bill Broonzy. Peggy Lee, who played this record on a loop, recorded it with Benny Goodman in New York on July 27, 1942. Ranked no. 4 on Billboard and sold in more than a million copies, it became her signature song, revived in 1988 in Roger Rabbit.
In the genealogy of jazz
This track belongs to Swing, big bands, Vocal jazz, scat, vocalese. Among the origins and influences of Swing, big bands: Chicago, Stride (Harlem piano), Harlem: Henderson, Redman, Ellington, Kansas City, Boogie-woogie, Symphonic jazz, dance orchestras.