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Last broadcast on Sun, 22 Nov 2009, 21:00 on BBC Radio 2.
Synopsis
Russell Davies looks at the career of Sammy Lewis on the 50th anniversary of his death and we hear his work with a variety of collaborators.
Another anniversary - the 110th of composer Hoagy Carmichael's birth - allows Russell to tell how furious Carmichael was at Sinatra's recording of just the verse of Stardust (we hear it).
We also hear the song once claimed as having the longest title in Tin Pan Alley - a claim disproved by Russell through evidence of the original sheet music. The latest in the long-running chronological Bing Crosby recordings series concludes the show.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW
Despite the familiarity of his many songs, our subject this week, Sam M Lewis turns out to be something of a mystery man: Try as we would, we were unable to locate a single picture of him and we now note that Ken Bloom and his team had the same problem when assembling their marvellous “American Songbook” coffee-table book. Subtitled “The Singers, The Songwriter and The Songs – 100 Years Of American Popular Music” & published by Black Dog & Leventhal, this is a great browsing book with masses of rare photos, copies of sheet music etc., and, for such a glossy tome, surprisingly thoughtful critiques of the many subjects, the writers and the interpreters. Here’s part of their severe evaluation of the partnership of Sammy Lewis and Joe Young:
“… they were good craftsmen, all the words rhyme correctly on the music and there are some okay ideas here and there. But their works were virtually devoid of interesting turns of phrase or surprises. The title and the music propelled the song, and the rest was just coasting...”
Well, yes but we can think of a few (and we’ve played them!) that rise above such blandness. They wrote ‘Dinah’ with Ethel Waters in mind and when Harry Akst & Joe Young sang it to her – ‘fast & corny’ - she said ‘Is that how you want me to sing it?’ They looked at each other, then said ‘Why don’t you sing it your own way’. And so she did, slowing it right down and singing it straight. It was a huge hit at ‘The Plantation’ Club and ultimately, of course, on record!
Played In This Week's Show: Hoagy Carmichael
Recommendations
Leon Redbone’s quirky and highly personal albums regularly turn up some forgotten gems and “Up A Lazy River” (1992) is typical with a programme that ranges from “At The Chocolate Bon-Bon Ball” of 1920 and “When Dixie Stars Are Playing Peek-A-Boo” from 1924 to Jack Sallee’s 1955 “You’re A Heartbreaker” and new compositions of his own (“Play Gypsy Play” and “Goodbye Charlie Blues”). Redbone’s mellow, laid-back style is assisted by choice fellow musicians: Here he has Terry Waldo and Dr John (piano) Vince Giordano, Bobby Gordon and Ken Peplowski (reeds) in support. It’s on Private Music 262 666.
An excellent single collection of Lee Wiley’s art is on “Follow Your Heart” (Jasmine JASCD 411) a 2-CD set containing 48 of her most famous recordings from 1933 to 1954 and featuring quite a galaxy of musicians in support, from Billy Butterfield and Muggsy Spanier to the orchestras of Johnny Green, Victor Young and Dick Jurgens. Programming is eccentric – anything but chronological – but the material is first-class throughout.
“The Age Of Style” is another compilation album from Past Perfect (PPCD 78134) which perfectly reflects the sophisticated musical scene of the 1930’s in the best possible sound transfers. Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan and Noel Coward, Jessie Matthews, Ginger Rogers and Elizabeth Welch are just a few of the elegant artists displayed over 50 tracks. It’s accompanied by a booklet full of detail about the performers written by the compiler, ever-dependable Hugh Palmer.
Tracklist
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Bobby Darin — Just FriendsBobby Darin – Love Swings, Collectors’ Choice Music, CCM 399-2 -
Lee Wiley — Street Of Dreams
Follow Your Heart, Jasmine, JASCD 411 -
Fats Waller and His Rhythm — I Believe In Miracles
Complete Fats Series Vol 3, JSP, JSP 946 -
Les Paul & Mary Ford — I’m Sitting On Top Of The World
Essential Collection: Les Paul & Vocalists), Avid, AVC 924 -
The Revellers — Dinah
Breezing Along With The Revelers, ASV Living Era, CD AJA 5278 -
Jo Stafford & The Pied Pipers — In A Little Spanish Town
Dream – The Pied Pipers 1939-1949, Living Era, CD AJA 5587 -
Chet Baker — For All We KnowChet Baker – Cool Cat, Timeless, CDSJP-262 -
Frank Sinatra — Stardust (Verse Only)Sinatra & Strings, Reprise, 9 27020-2 -
Leon Redbone — Lazy River
Leon Redbone – Up A Lazy River, Private Music, 262 666 -
Hoagy Carmichael — I’m A Cranky Old Yank (In A Clanky Old Tank)
Hoagy Carmchael In Person, Avid, AMSC 848 -
Dorothy Carless & Billy Mayerl — Heart And Soul
The Age Of Style, Past Perfect, PPCD 78134 -
Dorothy Carless — When The Wind Was Green
Dorothy Carless: Here Lies Love, Flare, R0YCD 287 -
Bing Crosby & Ben Lessy — On The 10:10 From Ten-Ten-Tennessee
Bing Crosby Through The Years Vol 4 1952-3, Sepia, SEPIA 1139
Broadcast
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Sun 22 Nov 200921:00
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