Here are the songs, artists and "set themes" for the shows I produced during January 2006. Many of these tracks are available on CD; you can try searching the database at Worlds Records, an excellent mail-order company based in Novato, California, which sells CDs of vintage jazz and pop music. A wonderful "brick-and-mortar" store for vintage music on CD is Canterbury Records, a legendary venue in Pasadena, California. They even carry phonograph cartridges and styli for those of us who love real records!
WEEKLY SHOW LISTINGS
January 8, 2006
This week we hit a new low, took a cruise, went all-natural, saluted the late, great Ernani "Noni" Bernardi, and were left wanting.
OOH, THAT'S LOW!: High and Low - Ambrose and his Orchestra, vocal by Sam Browne, 2/13/30; I'm Feelin' Mighty Low - Jimmy Durante and Candy Candido, 5/21/45; Sing It Way Down Low - Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang, 11/1/34; 'Cause I Feel Low Down - The California Ramblers, vocal by Ed Kirkeby, 8/30/28; Hi-Ho! Doin' the New Low Down - Don Redman and his Orchestra with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, 12/29/32.
CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER: Caribbean Clipper - Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, 7/14/42; Steamboat Bill - Paul Tremaine and his Orchestra, 1930; Riverboat Shuffle - Hoagy Carmichael; Rollin' Down the River - Leo Reisman, vocal by Daniel Haynes, 1930; A Sailboat in the Moonlight - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, vocal by Carmen Lombardo, 1937; Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On - The Boswell Sisters, 4/23/31; Here Comes the Showboat - The Six Jumping Jacks, vocal by Tom Stacks, 9/24/27; Ferryboat Serenade - Gray Gordon and his Tic-Toc Rhythm, 1940; Sailin' on the Robert E. Lee - Ray Noble and the New Mayfair Orchestra, vocal by Al Bowlly, 5/3/32.
...SPELLED BACKWARDS IS NATURES!: The Nature of Things - Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket, 1950s; Naturally - Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees, 6/10/38; Nature Boy - Nat King Cole, 1948; Serutan Yob - The Natural Seven with Karen Tedder and Jim Hawthorne, 8/5/48.
A SALUTE TO NONI BERNARDI: Ernani Bernardi, known as "Noni" Bernardi in the '30s and '40s, was a top tenor saxophonist with a number of big bands; he later became a well-known Councilman in Los Angeles. We salute him on the occasion of his passing by playing several records on which he's featured with different bands. Honeysuckle Rose - Joe Haymes, 4/10/35; The White Star of Sigma Nu - Joe Haymes "California Ramblers," 8/14/35; I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Tommy Dorsey (Bernardi arrangement!), 10/18/35; Every Minute of the Hour - Tommy Dorsey2/3/36; Goody Goody - Bob Crosby, 2/27/36; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Bob Crosby, 2/8/37; Stompin' at the Savoy - Judy Garland with Bob Crosby and his Orchestra, 6/12/36; Comanche War Dance - Charlie Barnet, 1/3/40; Southland Shuffle - Charlie Barnet, 1/3/40; Jingle, Jangle, Jingle - Kay Kyser, bocal by Julie Conway and Harry Babbit, 5/21/42; On a Slow Boat to China - Kay Kyser, vocal by Harry Babbit and Gloria Wood, 11/6/47.
WE LEAVE YOU WANTING: Yearning - Tommy Dorsey, vocal by Jack Leonard, 3/10/38; All I Want Is Just One Girl - Gus Arnheim's Coconut Grove Orchestra, vocal by Fred MacMurray, 1930; I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad - Spike Jones and his City Slickers, vocal by Beauregard Lee, 1943; I Can't Get the One I Want - Cliff (Ukulele Ike) Edwards, 1946.
January 15, 2006
On this show we were fiddlin' around, caught forty winks, saluted a great tin pan alley tunesmith, played some cardboard records, and wished a happy birthday celebration to a great movie producer.
IT SOUNDED BETTER IN THE CAT: Fit as a Fiddle - Roger Wolfe Kahn and his Orchestra, 11/9/32; Four-String Joe - Joe Venuti, 11/15/27; Idaho - Eddie South, the Dark Angel of the Violin, 9/44; Bye Bye, Baby - Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys, 8/21/36; Stephane's Tune - Stephane Grappelly with Hatchett's Swingtette, 7/30/40; It Don't Mean a Thing - Svend Asmussen, 1/18/44; Love for Sale - Joe Venuti with Earl Hines, 10/75.
WHATTA SNOOZER:Two Sleepy People - Hoagy Carmichael and Ella Logan, 10/14/38; Sleep, Come on and Take Me - The Boswell Sisters with the Dorsey Brothers, 8/6/32; Lay Me Down to Sleep in Caroline - Annette Hanshaw, 9/13/26; I Wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep? - The Six Jumping Jacks, vocal by Tom Stacks, 3/23/27.
A TRIBUTE TO SONGWRITER AL SHERMAN: Al Sherman wrote a lot of the bounciest, funniest, happiest songs of the '20s and '30s, and he could also write a very nice ballad as well. He was the father of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, who proudly continue his legacy. Here are a number of Al's finest songs. We (My Honey and Me) - Johnny Johnson and his Orchestra, vocal trio, 11/2/27; I Love to Bumpity Bump (on a Bumpy Road With You) - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, vocal by Carmen Lombardo and the Lombardo Trio, 11/14/28; Everything's Made for Love - The Four Serenaders, 2/27; You Gotta Be a Football Hero - Harry Reser's Eskimos, vocal by Jimmy Brierly, 9/26/33; Cross-Eyed Kelly - Harry Reser and his Orchestra, vocal by Tom Stacks, 10/24/34; (Potatoes are Cheaper, Tomatoes are Cheaper) Now's the Time to Fall in Love - Eddie Cantor, 1944; Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight - Bernie Cummins and his Orchestra, 4/16/30; On the Beach at Bali-Bali - Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, vocal by Edythe Wright, 6/9/36.
HITS OF THE WEEK: During the Depression, sales of standard shellac 78s plummeted to virtually nothing--understandable, since 75 cents was a lot to pay for six minutes of music, especially when you could get your music for free on the radio. One label tried to revive interest in records: Hit of the Week, which offered two songs on a cardboard disc (coated with "Durium") for only 15 cents; they were sold at newsstands each Thursday. The label only lasted from 1930 through '32, but it did create some great music. Blue Again - The Benrus Radio Orchestra, vocal by Paul Small, 1/31; Back in Your Own Back Yard (demo disc) - Hit of the Week Orchestra, 1929; Cheerful Little Earful - Vincent Lopez, vocal by Smith Ballew, 12/30; I'm Following You! - Ben Pollack and his Orchestra with Jack Teagarden, 1/30; Hello, Beautiful! - Sam Lanin's Dance Ensemble - 2/31.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAL ROACH: Hal Roach produced the comedies of Our Gang, Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase and many other comedy legends. He lived to be 100; we commemorate his birth in Elmira, New York on January 14, 1892. Happy Birthday, Mr. Roach! Auntie's Got Ants in Her Pantry - Charley Chase, 1934; Fresh Fish! (from Towed in a Hole) - Laurel and Hardy, 1933; How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?/I'll Never Say Never Again Again (from Our Gang Follies of 1936) - Our Gang, 1936.
January 22, 2006
On this show, we saluted Shieks and Shebas, went a little crazy (or a lot), examined our feelings, got lucky, took a chance, went modern (!), and caught a train outta town.
WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN: The Shiek of Araby - Rudy Wiedoeft and his Californians, 11/21; The Shiek of Araby - Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, vocal by Jack Teagarden, 7/2/30; Egyptian Ella - Ted Lewis and his Band, 3/5/31; Old King Tut - Sophie Tucker, 1923; Arab Dance - Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra, 6/17/46.
STOP, YOU CRAZY, YOU!: I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby - Fats Waller, 3/13/31; Crazy People - Ben Selvin (with Benny Goodman and Joe Venuti), vocal trio, 1931; Crazy Weather - Billy Cotton and his Band, vocal by Alan Breeze, 12/20/34; Oh, You Crazy Moon - Bea Wain, 7/39; Crazy Rhythm - Alix Combelle with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelly, 9/35.
SAY IT WITH FEELING: I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling - Gene Austin with Fats Waller, 1929; The Way I Feel Today - McKinney's Cotton Pickers, vocal by Don Redman, 11/6/29; I Feel a Song Comin' On - Johnny "Scat" Davis - 9/28/35; I'm Feelin' Like a Million - Teddy Hill and his Orchestra, vocal by Bill Dillard, 5/7/37; I Feel Like a Feather in the Breeze - Cliff (Ukulele Ike) Edwards, 1946.
WHADDYA SAY, PUNK, DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?: Lucky in Love - Jack Hylton, vocal trio of Jack Hylton, Jack Jackson and Billy Ternent, 7/24/28; Lucky Day - Howard Lanin's Orchestra, vocal by Irving Kaufman, 6/29/26; Beginner's Luck - Fred Astaire, 3/37; Lucky Little Devil - Miff Mole's Molers, vocal by Scrappy Lambert, 2/6/30.
CHANCE IS THE FOOL'S NAME FOR FATE: Chances Are - Cloverdale Country Club Orchestra (Jack Teagarden with Fats Waller), 10/14/31; Just One More Chance - Ruth Etting, 6/31; How's Chances? - Clifton Webb with Leo Reisman's Orchestra, 10/3/33; I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You - Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy, vocal by Pha Terrell, 11/15/39; Taking a Chance on Love - Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, 1942.
LET'S GET NEWFANGLED!: Can't Teach My Old Heart New Tricks - Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, vocal by Martha Tilton, 10/22/37; You've Got to Be Modernistic - James P. Johnson, 11/18/29; Let's Drink a Drink to the Future! - Ben Selvin and his Orchestra, vocal trio, 6/22/31; Futuristic Rhythm - Ben Pollack and his Orchestra, 12/24/28.
RIDIN' OUTTA TOWN ON A RAIL: Easy Ridin' Papa - Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies, 3/36; Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train - Louis Armstrong, 12/8/32; Two Tickets to Georgia - Ben Pollack featuring Jack Teagarden, vocal by Nappy Lamare, 3/19/33.
January 29, 2006
Another eclectic show, with a fond farewell to dancer-singer Fayard Nicholas, some talkative tunes, songs to loiter around by, a musical hello to guitar legend Les Paul (who was in the Los Angeles area for a concert this week, at 90!), knowledgeable numbers, a Bix birthday surprise, and some records you just gotta hear.
FAYARD NICHOLAS, TOPS IN TAPS: Keep a Twinkle in Your Eye - The Nicholas Brothers (Harold and Fayard), 9/15/36; Your Heart and Mine - The Nicholas Brothers, 9/15/36; Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, vocal by Tex Beneke and the Mordernaires, the Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge (soundtrack from Sun Valley Serenade, in stereo).
WILL YOU EVER QUIT YAPPIN'?: It's the Talk of the Town - Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, vocal by Kenny Sargent, 1/15/42; Talk of the Town - Ted Weems and his Orchestra, vocal by Parker Gibbs, 12/7/28; What's the Use of Talking? - George Olsen and his Music, vocal by Bob Borger and Bob Rice, 6/4/26; Talking About You - Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies, 1935; Yah-ta-tah, Yah-ta-tah, Talk, Talk, Talk! - Harry James and his Orchestra, vocal by Kitty Kallen, 2/14/45; Breathless - The Merry Macs.
I WAS JUST HANGIN' AROUND THE HOUSE DOIN' NUTTIN'; I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE DOIN' ANYT'ING, JUST HANGIN' AROUND THE HOUSE: Linger Awhile - Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, 11/22/23; Linger a Little Longer in the Twilight - Ruth Etting, 3/7/33; Linger In My Arms a Little Longer, Baby - Peggy Lee, 1946; Waiting at the End of the Road - Paul Whiteman, vocal by Bing Crosby, 9/13/29; Waitin' at the Gate for Katy - Paul Small, 1934; Waitin' for Jane - Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, 3/15/40.
WELCOME BACK TO L.A., LES PAUL!: Just Because - Les Paul as "Rhubarb Red," 5/20/36; How High the Moon - Les Paul and Mary Ford, 3/51; Bye Bye Blues - Les Paul and Mary Ford, 1953; The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise - Les Paul and Mary Ford, 8/51.
THE KOLLEGE OF MUSICAL WHAT?!: You'll Know - Jane Russell, 1150; You'll Never Know - Dick Powell, 1943; How Am I to Know? - The Benny Goodman Sextet, 7/30/52; I Know That You Know - Victor Arden and Phil Ohman, 1934; I Never Knew - Joe Haymes and his Orchestra, vocal by Mike Doty, 7/11/33.
A BIRTHDAY BASH WITH BIX (AND IRVING): A listener called in during the previous week's show, saying that his birthday was February 4, 1927. He thought he'd heard that a landmark jazz session was recorded that day. There sure was--probably the most important of all the Bix Beiderbecke sessions...and I found a good Irving Aaronson record waxed on that date, too. The first three numbers are all by Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang. Trumbology, 2/4/27; Clarinet Marmalade, 2/4/27; Singin' the Blues, 2/4/27; Crazy Words, Crazy Tune - Irving Aaronson and his Commanders, vocal by Phil Saxe and band, 2/4/27.
WHEN YA GOTTA, YA GOTTA: Gotta Go! - Eddie South, vocal by Milt Hinton, 6/12/33; I Gotta Get Myself Somebody to Love - Jack Pettis with Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, vocal by Scrappy Lambert and Billy Hillpot, 1/7/27; Gotta Darn Good Reason Now - Cab Calloway, 7/24/30; Gotta Be This Or That - Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, 4/27/45; I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues - Louis Armstrong, 1/26/33.
