The Steel Guitar Forum

Voted Song-Most-Likely-To-Be-Played-On-A-Lap-Steel-Guitar.

Poinciana

Craig,

If you keep producing; I will keep playing them.

Thanks for your generosity and time to all of us.

Don

Nice one Craig, you stayed "True" to the lyrics..
It makes a refreshing change to see arrangements that are respecting the "Song" they're taken from...

------------------

<SMALL>Steel players do it without fretting</SMALL>

Great tune, Craig. I worked it out in A6th once but never wrote it down.The last time I tried to play it I was completely blank ... so thanks!

Craig thanks for all the great charts.I have been enjoying them.

Craig, what's the history behind that song as far as what movie or time of year it was a hit? My girlfriend and I have heard it before but can't place it? Thanks...

What can I say Craig?..except Thank You! Those January trades must be stirring your creative juices with a vigor...Sure wish I was there instead of here in rainy Seattle! Mahalo and Aloha friend ... dan

Thank you everyone for your kind words.

My goal is 10 tabs of the standards variety (not that Waikiki is a standard, but you know what I mean). I'm specifically aiming for the guy or gal who picks up a nice Supro on Ebay or one of those Artisans (a black one!) but who isn't sure what to play on it. That person can look to this tablature section for some nice C6 heads that are reasonably easy to play.

Jesse, I'm not sure of the story behind Poinciana. I first heard this tune when I played bass with an easy-listening band in the late '70s and I fell in love with it. It was our most requested tune... because I'd always request it!!

Craig.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Craig Prior on 21 January 2006 at 03:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

This is what I found on the Net: Poinciana was composed by Buddy Bernier and Nat Simon in 1936. Bing Crosby had an enormous hit with it in 2-26-44, which went to #3 on the billboard hit charts. This is also the signature tune of jazz piano great Almad Jamal, who had a huge hit in the late 50' with it. A lot of well known people have recorded it over the years including David Sanborn! Heres a partial list of the people who have recorded it and the lyrics:

POINCIANA (SONG OF THE TREE)
(Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon)

Kay Kyser & His Orch. - 1943
Vaughn Monroe & His Orch. - 1943
Bing Crosby - 1944
Benny Carter & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1944
David Rose & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1944
Glenn Miller & The AAEF Band (vocal: Johnny Desmond) - 1944
Jack Teagarden & His Orch. - 1944
Frank Sinatra - 1946
Steve Lawrence - 1952
Chet Atkins (Instr.) - 1960
Nat King Cole - 1961
The Three Sounds - 1961
Ted Heath Big Band - 1961
Percy Faith - 1962
Vic Damone - 1962
Johnny Mathis - 1964
The Ventures - 1979

Also recorded by: Caterina Valente; The Four Freshman;
Ferrante & Teicher; Charlie Spivak; George Shearing;
Cal Tjader; Michel Camilo; Ray Barretto; Xavier Cugat;
Dave Brubeck; George Braith; Brian Auger; Jorge Dalto;
Sonny Rollins; McCoy Tyner; Gary Burton; Ahmad Jamal;
Errol Farner; Victor Feldman; Alan Chase; Karl Boxer;
Les & Larry Elgart; Johannes Fehring; Lou Donaldson;
Gato Barberi; Michael Camilo; Bob Florence; Tom Grant;
Danny Gatton; Bert Kaempfert; Henry Mancini; Lou Stein;
Shelly Manne; Edmundo Ros; Sonny Stitt; Robert Goulet;
Pete Rugulo; Pony Poindexter; Red Rhodes.


Blow Tropic wind, sing a song to the trees
Trees sigh to me, soon my love I will see

Poinciana, your branches speak to me of love
Pale moon is casting shadows from above

Poinciana, somehow I feel the jungle heat
Within me there grows a rhythmic savage beat

Love is ev'rywhere, its magic perfume fills the air
To and fro you sway, my heart's in time, I've learned to care

Poinciana, though skies may turn from blue to gray
My love will live forever and a day

Poinciana, from now until the dawning day
I'll learn to love forever, come what may

Thanks Craig for teaching me a new song.
Your tab is very nice and well edited.
I recorded it informally to-day and will share it here if some may not be familiar
with the song as was the case with me. I had to go and search for a few midi files.
Here is a link to my effort. I do not repeat the opening and the ending as called for in the tab/music. http://freefilehosting.net/?id=q9v1ka7b

Thank you, Roy. That was beautiful!!

Craig.

Roy, that certainly has the vibe! Thanks guys...

Here's a version by Frank Sinatra:

Poinciana (Song of the Tree)
Words & Music by Buddy Bernier & Nat Simon
Recorded by Frank Sinatra, 1943(?)
<font face="monospace" size="2"><pre>

A7 DM7 D9 Dalt D9 C9
Poinciana, your branches speak to me of love,

C Bb9 Fdim(III) Fdim D A7
Pale moon is casting shadows from above.

A7 DM7 D9 Dalt D9 C9
Poinciana, somehow I feel the jungle heat,

C Bb9 Fdim(III) Fdim D
With - in me there grows a rhythmic savage beat.


Bridge:

Bb9 Fdim(III) Fdim Dalt
Love is ev'rywhere, its magic perfume fills the air,

Bb9 E7 Bb9 Fdim(II) Fdim E7 A7
To and fro you sway, my heart's in time, I've learned to care.


A7 DM7 D9 Dalt D9 C9
Poinciana, from now until the dawning day

C Bb9 Fdim(III) Fdim D C
I'll learn to love forever, come what may.

Coda:

Bb9 D6
Poinciana-----.


</pre></font>
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jesse Pearson on 19 January 2006 at 02:55 PM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks a ton Craig! Now this is music! Easy to view format.

I'll visit here more often, but I'll try to behave. I don't want Ricky Davis kicking my butt in Dallas....

Thanks Roy! You brought Craig's 'Poinciana', to life beautifully. An elegant song I remember from long ago. Thanks for sharing it with us! dan