Yesterday we heard Charlie Shavers’ Dawn on the Desert, so let’s tug that thread a little further and find Charlie’s best‑known composition — the standard Undecided.
📡 Title by Telegram
As with Dawn on the Desert, Charlie wrote the tune while playing trumpet with John Kirby’s small band. He submitted it to his publisher without a title, and when they wired him asking what to call it, Charlie wired back: “undecided.” They took him literally — and the tune had a name. And if that story isn’t true… it ought to be!
Let’s hear Charlie and the rest of the Onyx Club Boys on their 1938 Decca recording:
They had a great sound — they really were The Biggest Little Band in the Land.
🥁 Red Rolls In
The catchy tune started making the rounds, and Red Norvo cut a version for Brunswick later in 1938:
Sounds good!
🎙️ Sauter’s “Job Interview”
I’m presuming Eddie Sauter wrote the arrangement for Red’s recording, though the paper trail is a little fuzzy. What’s clearer is that Sauter did arrange a version of Undecided as something of a “job interview” for Benny Goodman — who recorded it for Victor only a week after Red’s take.
Let’s spin BG’s version:
Interesting that both Benny’s and Red’s records jump straight into the melody with no introduction. A clue… or just coincidence? Whatever the case, Eddie got the job!
The Goodman band was in a transitional period here: Gene Krupa had recently left to form his own band, and Harry James would soon follow. BG also shifted from Victor to Columbia within a few months. But the records? They always sounded great.
💃 Ella Makes It Easy
As with many popular instrumentals, Undecided quickly acquired lyrics — courtesy of Sid Robin (he of the alternate Harlem Nocturne lyrics) — and the tune began circulating as a vocal number.
In early 1939, Chick Webb recorded a knockout version for Decca with Ella Fitzgerald:
The song fits the Chick/Ella combination like a glove.
🎹 Fats Has His Fun
Then Fats Waller took a turn for Bluebird:
Fats was an interesting character. His version here feels a bit tongue‑in‑cheek, as he toys with the tune. I always wonder whether he did that with songs he liked… or with songs the A&R folks told him to record.
📈 The 1951 Revival
Like many songs, Undecided kept popping up over the years — but it roared back in a big way in 1951 when The Ames Brothers recorded a smash version for Coral, backed by Les Brown and his Band of Renown:
I absolutely love this one. It’s been a favorite of mine forever — just a blast!
🌟 Capitol Can’t Resist
With the tune hot again, Capitol had Ray Anthony record it:
Ray’s version, featuring Tommy Mercer, Gloria Craig and The Skyliners, was also popular and also fun.
🎷 Benny Brings it Back
Let’s close with a 1952 version that brings the tune back toward its roots: an extended arrangement by the Benny Goodman Sextet on Columbia:
A solid workout and a great sendoff.
One thing we’re not undecided about: it’s a great tune!
