Listening to Now: Maria Muldaur - "Squeeze Me"

By Richard K. Barry

Maria Muldaur has been around a long time and is still working. Many people know her best for her 1974 hit “Midnight at the Oasis.” Even before then she was performing with the likes of John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman and as a part of the early 1960s folk revival.

Her first solo album, Maria Muldaur, was released in 1973. From that album “Midnight at the Oasis” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Later in 1974 she put out the album Waitress in a Donut Shop, which included the Leiber and Stoller song “I’m a Women.” Though the song is more commonly associated with Peggy Lee, it was also a hit for Muldaur, her last.

Also on the album is “Squeeze Me,” a 1925 jazz standard by Fat Walter.

According to JazzStandards.com:

The music for “Squeeze Me” was written by Thomas “Fats” Waller, based on an old bawdy blues number entitled “The Boy in the Boat.” Waller’s talent as a pianist and accompanist had been recognized by music publisher Clarence Williams (generally credited as the lyricist for the song), and Williams encouraged the young man to try his hand at composing. “Squeeze Me” was only his second published piece but his first real success.

Nice version here.

 

 (Cross-posted at Listening to Now.)