'I put a spell on you': "standards" as a product of recorded music culture

A "standard" is a musical number that has achieved immense popularity over an extended period of time. This occurs when a song, or some portion of it, has been repeatedly subjected to the versioning process (or "covered"). The “standard” is most commonly associated with African-American musical innovations (i.e. jazz and blues). However, "standards" are applicable to all genres and may even become synonymous with a particular genre, performer or both. Some may even "crossover" into different genres and take on a life of their own—as in the case of Screaming Jay Hawkins’ ‘I Put a Spell On You’. This paper examines the role of recorded “standards” as a modern score by discussing the varied functions that they serve, such as a tribute or as a framework for improvisation. While some artists record "standards" by mimicking or copying a previous recording—especially one that was successful—others use these familiar musical numbers as a starting point from which they can differentiate themselves as performers. For the latter, "standards" are often performed with an understanding of their history and come to represent benchmarks against which the artists’ skills and imagination are measured.