“Good Morning Heartache” | Stories of Standards

“Good Morning Heartache,” first recorded in 1946 by Billie Holiday, is the result of a collaboration between Irene Higginbotham, Dan Fisher, and lyricist Ervin Drake. Higginbotham numbered among the few successful women in the songwriting industry during the first half of the 20^th century.

Due to the male-dominated nature of the industry at the time, scant interest was expressed in her life until recently. In fact, information regarding Higginbotham’s career is so sparse that for years, she was confused with Irene Kitchings, the wife of pianist Teddy Wilson.

Higginbotham may also have published work under the pseudonym Glenn Gibson, but beyond her almost 50 tunes registered with the ASCAP, little else is known about her musical career.

Billie Holiday picked up “Good Morning Heartache” in the post-WWII period, but the song lapsed into obscurity in the subsequent years until Diana Ross’ 1973 rendition put the song on the charts. During 1973 alone, artists including Kenny Burrell, Lou Donaldson, Sonny Rollins, and Hank Crawford showcased “Good Morning Heartache” in studio sessions.

As with many of Holiday’s songs, “Good Morning Heartache” is a favorite among jazz vocalists. Ervin Drake’s lyrics personify heartache as both a haunting presence and old friend, capturing the persistent pain of loss and resonating with the passionate melodic phrases throughout the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Yz-fIUMrM

 

Tenor saxophone players also favor the number, with notable recordings produced by George Coleman, Houston Person, and Paul Motian.

Tune in to First Take with Chavis and Lando – weekdays from 6-9 am MT – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!

https://youtu.be/BN_VMeJEvWA