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Last broadcast on Sun, 24 May 2009, 21:00 on BBC Radio 2.
Synopsis
Starting with one of last week's topics, the authorship of the lyrics to I May Be Wrong, listener John Housley has written pointing out the different words sung by Hoagy Carmichael in his 1946 recording of the song and asking if this could be Hoagy's own work. The answer is "no" John: Mr Carmichael is singing the FIRST chorus of the original song (as recorded by Libby Holman in 1931). Doris Day & many more use the SECOND chorus which, until proven otherwise, we must assume are Harry Ruskin's.
Thanks partly to recommendations from listeners, and a tidy-up of our shelves, we've unearthed some wonderful albums by singers who deserve to be better known. This week we hear from three - Lucy Reed, Audrey Morris and Paula Castle - and there are already more waiting in the wings. Who, for instance, knows of Helen Carr? Well...keep listening: We hope to spotlight her quite soon - and we don't think you'll forget her.
We also address the subject of songs that are "only just a love-song"; songs such as Frank Loesser's I Go For That ("Your fuzzy hair, your vacant stare..") which we speculated could hardly be sung by a boy to a girl. Well, could it? The best we could come up with was the slightly begrudging I'll String Along With You ("You may not be an angel, but still I'm sure you'll do.."). In these days of sexual equality, surely there are more songs full of fond insults and gentle send-ups? If you can think of some, please let us know.
Recommendations
“Hooray For Spinach!” is an assemblage of late ‘30s sides by small groups drawn from Paul Whiteman’s huge orchestra that has a lot going for it, not least from the excellent vocals by the then-new Four Modernaires – before their appearances with Glenn Miller shot them to international prominence. Most of the groups styled themselves “Paul Whiteman’s Swing Wing” but there are tracks spotlighting the reed section (‘The Sax Soctette’) and also the ‘Bouncing Brass’. The repertoire is satisfyingly varied, from old jazz standards to then-new ballads like ‘I Used To Be Colour-blind’ and (coincidentally) another version of “I Go For That” which we heard Audrey Morris singing. All are given neat, sophisticated arrangements played with panache by a star-studded bunch of musicians. Beautifully recorded and transferred here, they bely their age. Thanks go to Hep Records for this gem: HEPCD 1082 is the number; the Hep Records website is above.
Into the ‘40s and “King Cole Trio” gives us a good collection of Nat’s early sides on Vocalion CDUS 3004 with guitarist Oscar Moore and bassist Johnny Miller. There are few of the group’s instrumental specialities (‘Rhumba Azul”, “This Way Out”, MacDowell’s ‘To A Wild Rose’ etc) but mostly these are vocal performances of quality songs (‘Embraceable You’, ‘I Don’t Know Why’, It’s Only A Paper Moon) There are 24 tracks in all & they benefit from the Michael Dutton re-mastering magic. Full details of Vocalion’s website are above.
Recommended: Nat King Cole
Tracklist
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Frank Sinatra — Angel EyesSinatra W. The Red Norvo Quintet: Australia 1959, Blue Note, CDP 7243 8 37513 2 7 -
Lucy Reed — A Trout, No Doubt
“This Is Lucy Reed”, Fantasy, OJCCD-1943-2 -
Audrey Morris — I Go For That
Girls Of Bethlehem Vol 1 (Audrey+ Paula Castle), Bethlehem, 20-40052 -
The Nat King Cole Trio — I’ll String Along With You
The King Cole Trio (15 Dec ’43 – 6 Sept ’46), Vocalion, CDUS 3004 -
Lucy Reed — There He Goes
This Is Lucy Reed, Fantasy, OJCCD-1943-2 -
Annette Hanshaw — Ain’t That A Grand And Glorious Feeling?
Columbia & Okeh Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang, Mosaic, Mosaic Md8-213 -
Clarence Williams’ Blue 5 Feat Sidney Bechet — Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
Sidney Bechet Cventenary Celebration 1997, Cds Records Ltd., RPCD 632 -
Paul Whiteman Swing Wing & The Modernaires — Mandy
Hooray For Spinach! Paul Whiteman Swing Wing, Hep Records, HEP CD 1028 -
Bing Crosby — Mandy Is TwoThe Chronological Bing Crosby Vol 32 (1941-42), Jonzo, JZCD 32 -
Mel Tormé — Till The Clouds Roll ByIt’s A Blue World, Bethlehem, 20 30152 -
I Wonder What Became Of Me — I Go For That
Girls Of Bethlehem Vol 1 (Audrey+ Paula Castle), Bethlehem, 20-40052 -
Paula Castle — I’m Shooting High
Girls Of Bethlehem Vol 1 (Audrey Morris + Paula), Bethlehem, 20-40052 -
The Browns — The Old Lamplighter
American Dreams – Berst Of The ‘60s Vol 2, Rca, ND 90373
Broadcast
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Sun 24 May 200921:00
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