Cast Your Fate to the Wind
Encyclopedia
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is an American jazz piece written and originally recorded by Vince Guaraldi
, with lyrics later added by Carel Werber. It won a Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition
in 1963. It was included on the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
, released on April 18, 1962 by the Vince Guaraldi Trio on the Fantasy Records
label.
It has been extensively covered. In 1965, the British easy listening
group Sounds Orchestral
took it to number five in the UK, reached number ten on the US pop chart
and number one for three weeks in May on the US Easy Listening chart. In 1966 North Hollywood singer Shelby Flint
had her second hit with the song. West Coast folk-rock bands We Five
and The Sandpipers
, and pop singer Johnny Rivers
cut vocal versions and there were further instrumental ones from Earl Klugh
, George Benson
, David Benoit, Chet Atkins
and Nelson Rangell
. The tune was also featured on Guaraldi's own album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, one side of which featured his versions of music from the film of that name
. In 1970, the rock group, James Gang
, covered the song as part of a three-song medley ("The Bomber Medley") on their album James Gang Rides Again
. In Australia, a vocal version by Mel Torme was a hit in 1963.
The song was heavily featured in the 1988 film The In Crowd
. In 2007, the alternative-rock band They Might Be Giants
spoofed the song's title by issuing "Cast Your Pod to the Wind," a bonus disc to their new album The Else
. It consisted of songs which had only been heard until that point on their podcasts.
Vince Guaraldi
Vincent Anthony "Vince" Guaraldi was an Italian American jazz musician and pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements and for composing music for animated adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip...
, with lyrics later added by Carel Werber. It won a Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition
Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition
The Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition was awarded from 1961 to 1967. In 1961 the award was called the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Composition of More Than Five Minutes Duration...
in 1963. It was included on the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus is an album by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, released in 1962 on Fantasy Records. The album contains both original compositions and covers of songs from the 1959 film Black Orpheus...
, released on April 18, 1962 by the Vince Guaraldi Trio on the Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
label.
It has been extensively covered. In 1965, the British easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
group Sounds Orchestral
Sounds Orchestral
Sounds Orchestral was a British studio-based easy listening group, assembled by John Schroeder with Johnny Pearson in 1964.-Career:John Schroeder had worked with Johnny Pearson previously over at Oriole Records, producing Johnny Pearson's first solo album. Moving to Pye, Schroeder was quick to...
took it to number five in the UK, reached number ten on the US pop chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number one for three weeks in May on the US Easy Listening chart. In 1966 North Hollywood singer Shelby Flint
Shelby Flint
Shelby Flint is a singer who had two top-100 hits, "Angel on My Shoulder" in 1961 and "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" in 1966....
had her second hit with the song. West Coast folk-rock bands We Five
We Five
We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart...
and The Sandpipers
The Sandpipers
The Sandpipers were an American easy listening trio/quartet, who carved a niche in 1960s folk rock. They are best remembered for their cover version of "Guantanamera", which became a transatlantic Top 10 hit in 1966, and their Top 20 hit "Come Saturday Morning" from the soundtrack of the film The...
, and pop singer Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
cut vocal versions and there were further instrumental ones from Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, David Benoit, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
and Nelson Rangell
Nelson Rangell
Nelson Rangell is an American velvet-smooth jazz musician and composer originally from Castle Rock, Colorado. Although Rangell is known for his work with the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, his primary instrument is the piccolo flute, which he began playing at the age of 15...
. The tune was also featured on Guaraldi's own album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, one side of which featured his versions of music from the film of that name
Black Orpheus
Black Orpheus is a 1959 film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which is an adaptation of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, setting it in the modern context of a favela in Rio de Janeiro during the Carnaval...
. In 1970, the rock group, James Gang
James Gang
The James Gang was a rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. Though the band was not a huge commercial success, except in the Northeast Ohio area, the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Walsh has since made the group more notable.- History :...
, covered the song as part of a three-song medley ("The Bomber Medley") on their album James Gang Rides Again
James Gang Rides Again
James Gang Rides Again is the second album by American band James Gang, released in 1970 . This was the first album after Dale Peters replaced Tom Kriss.-Reception:...
. In Australia, a vocal version by Mel Torme was a hit in 1963.
The song was heavily featured in the 1988 film The In Crowd
The In Crowd (1988 film)
The In Crowd is a 1988 film directed by Mark Rosenthal and written by Rosenthal and his long time writing partner Lawrence Konner. The period piece set in the 1960s features music of the era, including "Land of a Thousand Dances" and the instrumental "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" by Vince...
. In 2007, the alternative-rock band They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
spoofed the song's title by issuing "Cast Your Pod to the Wind," a bonus disc to their new album The Else
The Else
The Else is the 12th studio album by rock duo They Might Be Giants, released by Idlewild Records in 2007. The album was produced in part by The Dust Brothers, along with Pat Dillett and the band....
. It consisted of songs which had only been heard until that point on their podcasts.