The award winning composer and jazz pianist has died in Paris at the age of 86. He has an impressive list of compositions but I want to highlight just one memorable song The Windmils of Your Mind that won an Oscar for the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair. Despite so many years having passed since I first heard it, I have never forgotten the beautiful evocative poetry of the lyrics and the haunting melody, which is surely a testament to its power.
The song was covered by many, many artists. Noel Harrison sang the original version in the film and here he is reprising it.
Terrific song. I’ve heard so many versions -- Sting’s cover to go with the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair was good -- but the one that sticks with me is this one that I know only from Youtube, but which appears from context to be from a VERY late-period Two Ronnies show. Alison Moyet is for me one of the quintessential voices of the 80s, and there’s an intriguing and very slight adjustment to the lyrics that totally works.
I’ve always loved the song, but the first time I heard it was the version used on The Muppet Show…
It’s not quite as evocative, or at least not in the same way.
I had a look, and I noted that the melody is LeGrand’s, but the lyrics are not.
(So, he only co-wrote the song, which is comprised of both the lyrics and the melody)
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I do like it, but.