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Last broadcast on Sun, 6 Sep 2009, 21:00 on BBC Radio 2.
Synopsis
The name Billy Rose is on many familiar songs, from Great Day and Don't Bring Lulu to More Than You Know and It's Only A Paper Moon.
In The Song Show this week, Russell Davies investigates the real extent of his contribution, dipping into Rose's biography by Earl Conrad and listening to evidence on some historic recordings. These include Perry Como (Without A Song) Lonnie Donegan (Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Overnight?) Bobby Darin (There's A Rainbow Round My Shoulder) and Whispering Jack Smith (Me And My Shadow).
Along the way, we also hear Marty Bloom, one of Rose's collaborators, playing "effects" on a 1926 Jelly Roll Morton recording; Madeleine Peyroux in 2004 with Back In Your Own Backyard; Frank Sinatra singing My Kind Of Town; Mel Torme in a Rodgers & Hart song that mentions Billy Rose; Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett and much more.
This Week's Show
Occasionally, when we’ve pointed out Billy Rose’s name as attached, spuriously, to the work of others, we’ve had the odd email in Billy’s defence to the effect that he was a worthwhile songwriter and, naturally enough, that left us with a tiny doubt as to our judgement. Investigation for this week’s show, however, gave us a much firmer idea of his importance to Tin Pan Alley – thanks largely to Billy’s biographer, Earl Conrad. Billy may never have constructed a series of verses or even a witty phrase: But he was that spur to creation – a catalyst. How much he actually contributed to the many songs he got his name attached to we’ll never know but he was there!
Thanks for the many emails. Also for some answers to our queries: We wondered why “The Wizard Of Oz” premiered in Oconomowoc: This came from Nancy Lins, Administrator of the Oconomowoc Historical Society:
Dear Russell, C. Herbert Stothart composed and conducted much of the background score of the movie and lived part-time in Okauchee. Herb’s Father built a cottage on Tweeden Lane in 1909. They came there every summer. The movie premiered here because they were here: MGM wanted to try the midwest for popularity of the show. Stothart was the head of the MGM Music Dept. The Kohl family (not related to US Senator Kohl) was very much involved in the theater and owned the Strand Theater where the event was held. Oconomowoc was not the only place that the movie premiered - however it was the "First Premier”.
Played In This Week's Show: Lonnie Donegan
Recommendations
We have AVID to thank for another “Essential” series of double CDs, this one devoted to Sarah Vaughan. AVC 915 contains 50 tracks from the albums “Make Yourself Comfortable”, “Wonderful Sarah” made in 1954-55 with various musical directors; and “Great Songs From Hit Shows Parts 1 & 2” cut in late 1956 with the great Hal Mooney in support. Sassy is in top form throughout and the quality of the backing is of the best, giving her an opportunity for defining performances of great songs with her rich, beautifully controlled vibrato.
This week’s show included more than the usual share of “prehistoric” recordings, all from collections that demand commendation: Pavilion Records’ Whispering Jack Smith set (Flapper Past CD 7074) is one of too few representations of this artist in the catalogues. It draws from his work between 1925 and 1931 sampling his British, German and US recordings: Some are in somewhat noisy transfers but there are some rare gems, too.
Annette Hanshaw can be found on a superb though as yet incomplete series on the Canadian Sensation label. Volume 5 (769 748 022-2) gathers 25 chronologically from June ’28 to Jan ’29. Some gems, a few horrors but we wouldn’t like to be without any of ‘em!
Seger Ellis’s “Jazz In A Sentimental Mood” (The Old Masters MB 131) may be hard to find but worth a search. Early versions of classics like ‘Mean To Me’ & ‘Sweet Sue’ find Seger in illustrious company from The Dorseys, Venuti & Lang and many more – even Louis Armstrong.
Tracklist
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Perry Como — Without A Song“Perry Como – 20 Greatest Hits Volume 2”, RCA, ND 89020 -
Madeleine Peyroux — Back In Your Own BackyardGalison & Peyroux “Got You On My Mind”, Waking Up Music, 01 -
Lonnie Donegan — Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour…?“Classic Comedy Songs From The Golden Age..”, Readers Digest, RDCD 1221-5 -
Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers — Sidewalk Blues
Jelly Roll Morton:His Complete Victor Recordings, Bluebird, ND 82361 (3) -
Frank Sinatra — My Kind Of Town“Sinatra – Nothing But The Best”, Reprise, 8122 79934 5 -
Annette Hanshaw — If You Want The Rainbow, You Must Have The Rain
Annette Hanshaw Volume 5: 1928-29, Sensation Records, 769 748 022-2 -
Bobby Darin — There’s A Rainbow Round My Shoulder“The Swinging Side Of Bobby Darin”, Capitol/EMI, 7248 8 63883 2 2 -
Seger Ellis — Cheerful Little Earful
Seger Ellis: Jazz In A Sentimental Mood, The Old Masters, MB 131 -
"Whispering" Jack Smith — Me And My Shadow
26 TK Collection: Recordings 1925 - 1930, Flapper (Pavilion Records), PAST CD 7074 -
Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dek-Tette — I Like To Recognise The Tune
The 1956 Tormé-Paich Legendary Sessions, Fresh Sound Records, FSR 2230 -
Sarah Vaughan — Poor ButterflyThe Essential Collection: Sarah Vaughan, Avid, AVC 915 -
Tony Bennett — The Most Beautiful Girl In The WorldTony Bennett Sings Rodgers & Hart’s Songbook, Concord, CCD 2243-2 -
Ella Fitzgerald — Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye“Ella – Love Songs”, Universal, 9831065
Broadcast
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Sun 6 Sep 200921:00
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