In the annals of jazz history, certain albums transcend mere collections of songs to become cultural touchstones. Swiss Movement, the live recording from the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival featuring Les McCann and Eddie Harris, alongside Benny Bailey, Leroy Vinnegar, and Donald Dean, is unequivocally one of these essential records. Its opening track, “Compared to What,” is more than just a song; it’s a sonic embodiment of the era’s restless spirit.
Swiss Movement LP cover featuring Les McCann and Eddie Harris. A legendary jazz album capturing the 1969 zeitgeist with 'Compared to What'.
Gene McDaniels penned “Compared to What,” and its lyrics are a potent cocktail of disillusionment and defiance. They grapple with hypocrisy and the chasm between stated ideals and lived reality – themes that resonated deeply in 1969, a year marked by social upheaval and questioning of established norms. The song’s enduring power lies in its unflinching examination of these uncomfortable truths, making it perpetually relevant across generations.
The lyrics, raw and direct, pull no punches:
I love to lie and lie to love
A-Hangin’ on, with push and shove
Possession is the motivation
that is hangin’ up the God-damn nation
Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now!)
Tryin’ to make it real, compared to what? C’mon baby!Slaughterhouses is killin’ hogs
Twisted children killin’ frogs
Poor dumb rednecks rollin’ logs
Tired old lady kissin’ dogs
I hate the human lover, that stinking mutt (I can’t use it!)
Try to make it real, compared to what? C’mon baby now!The President, he’s got his war
Folks don’t know just what it’s for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Have one doubt, they call it treason
We’re chicken-feathers, all without one gut. God damn it!
Tryin’ to make it real, compared to what? (Sock it to me)Church on Sunday, sleep and nod
Tryin’ to duck the wrath of God
Preacher’s fillin’ us with fright
They all tryin’ to teach us what they think is right
They really got to be some kind of nut (I can’t use it!)
Tryin’ to make it real, compared to what?Where’s that bee and where’s that honey?
Where’s my God and where’s my money?
Unreal values, crass distortion
Unwed mothers need abortion
Kind of brings to mind ol’ young King Tut (He did it now)
Tried to make it real, compared to what?!
Les McCann, as highlighted in a New York Times obituary, was a master of funk and groove, and “Compared to What” became a defining moment in his career. The track’s infectious energy is undeniably driven by McCann’s piano, laying down a foundation of irresistible rhythm. The rhythm section, with Vinnegar and Dean, locks in perfectly, creating a tight and dynamic backdrop.
However, the Montreux performance’s magic extends beyond mere musical proficiency. A readily available YouTube video unveils the surprisingly impromptu nature of this iconic recording. At a large festival setting, soundchecks are often rushed or nonexistent. The video subtly reveals McCann gesturing to sound technicians early in the performance, seemingly ensuring his vocal microphone is active. While McCann’s trio was well-versed in the material, the horns, including Eddie Harris and Benny Bailey, were not.
Eddie Harris’s brilliance is particularly evident in this context. Forced to navigate the song’s harmonic shifts on the fly, Harris relies on his exceptional ear and improvisational skills. Benny Bailey, too, can be seen waiting for cues, uncertain of his precise entry points. What unfolds is not a meticulously rehearsed set piece, but a genuine jam session elevated to an art form. This raw, unrehearsed quality is precisely what gives the “Compared to What” performance its electrifying and unforgettable character, capturing a moment of spontaneous musical combustion for the ages, spearheaded by the incredible Eddie Harris.
