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Last broadcast on Sun, 16 Oct 2011, 19:00 on BBC Radio 2 (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
Barry Manilow looks at the lives and works of ten famous composers of the Great American Songbook. He explores their genius through rare recordings and de-constructs their songs at his piano.
Recorded at Barry's home in America, the series gives a songwriter's insight into the art and craft of songwriting. It covers over sixty years of composition examining the work of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Frank Loesser, Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerry Herman and Kander and Ebb. Among the rare recordings are songs by Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, and a never before heard Barry Manilow recording, made when he was three years old.
George Gershwin is the first composer in the spotlight, who left school in 1913 to pursue a career as a song plugger and composer in New York's Tin Pan Alley. His first hit song was Swanee, which was recorded by Al Jolson in 1920. He went on to create an impressive body of work, including celebrated musicals like Funny Face; jazz standards and popular songs like They Can't Take That Away from Me [which was posthumously nominated for an Oscar]; and the ambitious opera Porgy and Bess.
Barry Manilow interview with Chris Evans
Barry talks to Chris about songwriting, fame and lots more as he drops in to the studio to co-host the Breakfast Show.
Music played
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Mr Andre Previn; — Rhapsody in Blue
London Symphony Orchestra, Gershwin Orchestral Works -
Al Jolson
— SwaneeChart Toppers Of The Twenties, ASV LTD -
Peggy Lee
— The Man I LoveSpotlight On..., CAPITOL -
Bessie Brown — The Man I Love
The Complete Recorded, DOCUMENT -
Gertrude Lawrence — Someone To Watch Over Me
Star!, ASV -
Amy Winehouse
— Someone To Watch Over MeFrank, ISLAND -
Johnny Green Orchestra — An American In Paris Ballet
Gig & American In Paris, EMI -
Frank Sinatra
— Embraceable YouJudy Garland -
Ethel Merman — I Got Rhythm
Memorable Monemnts In Showbusiness, EMI -
Fred Astaire
— Let's Call The Whole Thing OffSteppin' Out: Astaire Sings, VERVE -
Billie Holiday
— A Foggy DayThe Complete Verve Studio Master Takes, VERVE -
Nina Simone
— I Loves You PorgyThe Very Best Of Nina Simone, VERVE -
Sinatra, Frank & Barbra Streisand — I've Got A Crush On You
Duets, EMI -
Frank Sinatra
— They Can't Take That Away From MeMy Way The Best Of, REPRISE -
Barry Manilow
— Love Is Here To StayThe Greatest Love Songs Of All Time, ARISTA
Broadcasts
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Tue 15 Mar 201122:00
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Sun 16 Oct 201119:00