Dark Monday • Ethel Merman & Mary Martin

In 1953, the Ford Motor Company celebrated the 50th anniversary of the company in a way no one had ever seen before. As neither NBC nor CBS reached all the households in the country, Ford purchased prime time on both to air 'The Ford 50th Anniversary Show" on June 15th. It was said to the first "Television Spectacular", with a star-studded list of guests. Among those appearing were two of the top Broadway stars, Mary Martin and Ethel Merman. The ladies commanded the television screen for over 13 minutes, singing a medley of great songs both from Broadway and from Pop music. Ethel started the fun with"There's No Business Like Show Business" from the Irving Berlin musical 'Annie Get Your Gun', which originally starred Merman. Then Mary stepped in with "I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific', the Broadway hit by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that starred Mary Martin. Then it was back to Ethel with "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Edward Madden. Mary came back with "Wait 'Till The Sun Shines, Nellie" with music by Harry Von Tilzer and lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling, followed by Ethel singing "Sheik of Araby" with music by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler. Both Mary and Ethel joined in on "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" written by Harry M. Woods. Martin broke off with the classic "My Melancholy Baby" with music by Ernie Burnett and lyrics by George A. Norton. Ethel took her turn with "You Made Me Love You" with music by James V. Monaco and lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. Martin sang "Mississippi Mud" by Harry Barris & James Cavanaugh.

Then the pair decided to sing "I" songs, which included "I Cried for You", "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "I'm in the Mood For Love", "I Love a Parade", "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (If I Knew I'd Find You)", "I'm Sitting on Top of the World", "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'", "I Can't Give You Anything but Love", "I'll Get By", "You're Just in Love", and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair".

As if that weren't enough, the ladies sang a couple of songs by the great Cole Porter, as Ethel sang "I Get A Kick Out of You". Mary added "I've Got You Under My Skin", and the flirty "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" by Cole Porter. Then Ethel added a classic of her own, with "I Got Rhythm" by George and Ira Gershwin.

In one of the nicest parts of a great duet, both ladies took on different songs at the same time, bringing it all together. The songs included "Indian Love Call" with music by Rudolf Friml and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, "Tea For Two" with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Ceasar & Otto Harbach, "Stormy Weather" with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler, and "Isn't It Romantic" with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. In the end, they raised their voices together on a reprise of the great Irving Berlin song, "There's No Business Like Show Business".

In 1953, Ethel Merman and Mary Martin were Broadway royalty, having been performing since the 1930s. Martin was given the Tony Award for 'Best Actress in a Musical' in 1950 for playing Nellie Forbush in 'South Pacific', and Merman won her Tony in 1951 for playing Sally Adams in 'Call Me Madam'. These were only the fourth and fifth years the Tony Awards were given. With this performance, you can see why they earned their awards. Such gifted ladies.

Puppini Sisters Carry The Torch

When thinking about what I was going to do for my Saturday night post, I did what I often do, and opened up my iTunes and decided to look through it, and to get some inspiration. I am checking out the favorites, and just would like to go in a different direction, so I move on. I start looking at song titles, and find several in an album, and the light goes off. The album is 'Hollywood', the 2011 release from The Puppini Sisters, and I realize I should go with it.

For those who might not know them, The Puppini Sisters are not real sisters, but were students who met in music school in England. They took on the personae of sisters as a tribute to the Andrews Sisters, a group all three loved and admired. The music on the 'Hollywood' album was a combination of old favorites from some great movies, and a couple of new songs. Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins and Stephanie O'Brien recorded the vocals for the album, although O'Brien has since left he band, to be replaced by Emma Smith. The first song on the list tonight would be a song with a strong identity of it's own. "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" was first introduced to the world by Carol Channing in the 1949 musical, 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', based on a novel by Anita Loos. The show had lyrics by Leo Robin and music by the great Jule Styne. But it is perhaps best known from the performance by Marilyn Monroe in 1953 film version of the musical. Somehow, the Pippini Sisters manage to make me forget about those other versions, and simply enjoy theirs. This is the Puppini Sisters singing the classic "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend".

"I Got Rhythm" was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1928 musical, 'Treasure Girl'. For that show, it was intended as a ballad. The song was revived and made uptempo for the 1930 musical, 'Girl Crazy', when it was performed by Ethel Merman. When the Puppini Sisters take it on, the give you something very much their own. They give you some ballad, some syncopation, and everything you want it to be. This is The Puppini Sisters singing "I Got Rhythm".

When it comes to an iconic MGM musical moments, it is hard to beat the next song. Have Judy Garland in a men's jacket and shirt, a fedora, stockings, and heels and singing a great song, it is tough to top. Somehow, though, Judy managed to do it on her own television show, when performed it as a mash-up with "Happy Days Are Here Again", sung by Barbra Streisand. "Get Happy" was introduced by Ruth Etting in 'The Nine-Fifteen Revue' in 1930. It was the first song composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Ted Koehler wrote together. But the song is really best known as a song sung by Garland in the 1950 film 'Summer Stock'. But this is how The Puppini Sisters sing "Get Happy".

The next song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in the 1961 movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. It was first performed by Audrey Hepburn in the film. "Moon River" had music by the great Henry Mancini and lyrics by the amazing Johnny Mercer. Many other have sung the song, but I can't really think of one that compares with the iconic performance of Hepburn. Still not everything in life is a competition, and once the ladies take it on, they show you they will be able to do their thing, and not worry about the rest. This is the Puppini Sisters singing "Moon River".

The album is a delicious collection, a flirty journey from start to finish. They manage to combine fun with a feeling of authenticity that keeps me pressing play! For more about the Puppini Sisters, visit their official website. You can purchase 'Hollywood' from iTunes and Amazon.

What's New • Torch with Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt has had a career that has spanned over five decades, and many different genres. It all started in the 1960s, when a an 18-year-old from Tuscon, Arizona, moved to Los Angeles, California, wanting to make a career in music. Soon she was playing with some guys, and they called themselves The Stone Poneys. The young Ronstadt wanted to blend the Rock she loved with the Folk she played as a teen in Tucson. In the fall of 1967, they released a song written by Michael Nesmith, better known as the Wool-capped guitarist for The Monkees. "Different Drum" became a hit for the the group, and started Ronstadt on a journey that would take several twist and turns few expected. That would include her time as a Country singer, making hits like "Silver Threads and Golden Needles". There was also her time as the Goddess of Rock, when her stunning good looks and amazing voice had her ruling the radio from the mid-1970s when she started to cross over to the mid-80s, with an endless string of hit songs and albums. She also took Broadway by storm, appearing in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of 'The Pirates of Penzance' and, later, a production of the opera 'La Boheme'. She also explored her Mexican heritage with a series of albums of Latin music, winning her several Grammy Awards. And, of course, there was the trilogy of albums she released that featured Jazz and Pop Standards, starting with the 1983 release, "What's New". Ronstadt worked with iconic conductor and bandleader Nelson Riddle. At a time when few were paying attention to Jazz, seeing it as the music of nostalgia, Ronstadt wanted to move in that direction, despite a record label unsure what she was thinking. But 'What's New' shocked everyone, becoming a huge hit, marking triple-Platinum sales and making it to #3 on the Billboard Album Chart, bested on by Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and Lionel Richie's 'Can't Slow Down'. Tonight I offer you four songs sung by Ronstadt during the 'What's New' period. The first is the title cut off the album, written by Johnny Burke and Bob Haggart. Here is Linda Ronstadt singing "What's New".

How could you possibly record an album of Jazz standards and not include at least one song by George and Ira Gershwin? Well, you can't, and Ronstadt picked the epic song, "I've Got A Crush on You". The song was a perfect fit for her voice, allowing it to soar while maintaining her emotional connection to the lyrics. She managed to breathe new life into the song, yet remain respectful to the original versions. This is Linda singing "I've Got A Crush on You".

In 1941, Jimmy Davis, Jimmy Sherman & Roger "Ram" Ramirez wrote a song for the great Billie Holiday to sing that quickly became a standard. "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)" seemed just the right song for Holiday, with an intense and emotional storyline we can all understand. While some might be intimidated by the song, Ronstadt was not. It was included on 'What's New', and she did an beautiful job with it. Please enjoy Linda Ronstadt singing "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)".

While 'What's New' was her first released album of Jazz Standards, it was not her first recording. Ronstadt spent time in the recording studio with Jerry Wexler, who had made a name for himself as producer for such greats as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and the Allman Brothers. They recorded several songs in 1981, but Ronstadt wasn't happy with the results, so the project was shelved. Her interest in making the Jazz recordings did not wane, and soon had hooked up with Nelson Riddle to make 'What's New'. The unreleased album was said to be naked after a song written by the great Fats Waller, "Keeping Out of Mischief Now". Waller wrote the song in 1929, more than 50 years before Ronstadt tackled the genre. When she was putting together a concert presentation of 'What's New', she included the Waller tune in the performances, which were thankfully captured on film. I love to watch Linda Ronstadt singing "Keeping Out of Mischief Now".

I suppose my renewed interest in Linda was the recent announcement she has Parkinson's Disease, and it has stripped her of her voice. I've been a fan since the 1970s, when I was buying 'Simple Dreams', 'Hasten Down The Wind', and just about any album she released. I guess I should be grateful to have so much amazing music available before the songbird was silenced. You can purchase 'What's New' from iTunes and Amazon.

Dark Monday • Girl Crazy

In 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released 'Girl Crazy', based on the 1930 Broadway musical of the same name. This was the second go at the show, the first being a 1932 film that was said to have lost over $150,000, a great deal of money at the time. This seems strange, considering the music was in the hands of George and Ira Gershwin, so it took a little time before Hollywood tried it again. And once they did, they employed Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney, never a bad move. But with great songs like "Embraceable You", "I Got Rhythm", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Bidin' My Time", "But Not For Me", and "Treat Me Rough", this seemed destined to be a hit. MGM first hired Busby Berkeley to helm the project, but was soon let go after repeated arguments with Garland. His only contribution to the film was his staging of the great number "I Got Rhythm", featuring Judy. Of course, the song would go on to be a classic.

Once Berkeley was gone, Norman Taurog was brought in. Tauroq was an Academy Award-winning director, but is perhaps best known as director for many Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movies, as well as nine Elvis Presley films. But there was plenty of talent in this film to go with Garland and Rooney, including June Allyson, Nancy Walker, and Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. In this clip featuring "Treat Me Rough", Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra play for June Allyson, as well as Mickey Rooney, who joined the ladies in the chorus.

And, finally, I don't know if there can be anything sweeter than the young Judy Garland singing "Embraceable You", the magnificent song by the Gershwins. She is joined on the number by Rags Ragland and his chorus. Judy has a delightful dance break with Ragland that is just happiness personified. And Judy at just 21 years old is a joy to watch, she is positively glowing.

You can find 'Girl Crazy' on DVD in just about any online store.

Great Ladies of Jazz • Abbey, Shirley, Lena & Nina

Clockwise: Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, Lena Horne, and Nina Simone.

While thinking about tonight, I found an album simple called 'The Great Ladies of Jazz' and felt inspired when I read the song list, I felt pretty damned inspired. While Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan had two songs each, I decided to go with the incredibly talented ladies who had one track on the compilation. First up, we have a woman I knew about, but didn't really know about the scope of her career. As a songwriter and a vocalist, she started working in the 1950s, singing Jazz and Pop, including an appearance in the 1956 film, 'The Girl Can't Help It', starring Jayne Mansfield. She wrote songs from her heart, and they often incorporated the civil rights issues of the day. In 1981, she released the album 'You Gotta Pay the Band', on which she wroked with the great Stan Getz. She recorded "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime", a song written in 1930 by lyricist E. Y. "Yip" Harburg and composer Jay Gorney, and was one of the best-known American songs of the Great Depression. It spoke to so many, talking about the core of the country, the workers who built it up. I hope you enjoy Abbey Lincoln as she sings "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime".

In an interesting side note, in the 1970s, The New York Times asked Harburg to update the lyrics of the song, trying to get a more current feel for a new generation. The man who wrote great lyrics for songs like "Over The Rainbow", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "April In Paris", "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?", "Down With Love", and "Lydia The Tattooed Lady", came up with the following.

Once we had a Roosevelt

Praise the Lord!

Life had meaning and hope.

Now we're stuck with Nixon, Agnew, Ford,

Brother, can you spare a rope?

Next up, we have a song that has some pretty impressive writers as well. "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" is a a pop and jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster published in 1941. The song was first recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, with Ivie Anderson as the featured vocalist. Like many of the songs written by Ellington, it became an instant classic, and everyone was clamoring to sing it. Almost a half decade later it was still the case, as the wonderful Shirley Horn recorded it for her 1987 album, 'I Thought About You'. Horn was first 'discovered' by the great Miles Davis in 1960. His praise of her work as a singer and pianist brought about new opportunities, and it wasn't long before she was signed to a label. I do hope you love this version of "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" as sung by the wonderful Shirley Horn.

It is hard to figure out what hasn't already been said about the enormous talent of the glorious Nina Simone. She wanted to become a classical pianist, but in the United States in the 1950s, she was turned down admission into the schools. She decided to work had on her own, and soon was playing clubs to earn money, and was expected to sing as well as play. And it wasn't long before people started to take notice. She released her first album in 1958, 'Little Girl Blue'. One of the songs on the album was her own take on "I Loves You Porgy", from the 1935 opera written by George and Ira Gershwin, 'Porgy and Bess'. She tried to infuse as much of her Classical leaning as she could, and created a wonderful recording. Written as a duet, Simone adapted it as a solo. By all means, push play and enjoy Nina Simone as she sings "I Loves You Porgy"

Finally, there is the always delicious Miss Lena Horne, a talented and beautiful woman. Lena started her career in the chorus at the world famous Cotton Club in Harlen. Wanting more, she moved out to California, and was soon being cast in several movies, including a few leading roles. She was great in 'Cabin In The Sky' and in 'Stormy Weather', her most memorable roles. But in the late 1950s, the political climate grew tougher with McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee leading the way, Lena and several other artists found themselves unable to work in Hollywood. She devoted her time and talents to music, and was making lots of great albums and playing in clubs around the world. But before all that, she hit songs like "Stormy Weather", and had a wonderful 1948 recording with Luther Henderson's Orchestra on a wonderful song composed by Fred Rose with with lyrics by Walter Hirsch. It was written in 1926, and is still a wonderful song. It is my pleasure to offer you a clip of Lena Horne singing "'Deed I Do".

I do hope you enjoyed tonight's music. And hope you have a great weekend!

Saturday Night With George Gershwin

Clockwise: Lola Albright; Diana Krall; Cleo Laine; and Etta James.

Tonight I felt like dedicating the post to the music of George Gershwin, an amazing man who contributed so many songs to the Great American Songbook. What is truly remarkable is that his career was cut short, with a brain tumor taking him away at age 38. Just think about the rich music he could have left behind had he live another 30 years! The first song I will bring you is a favorite of many, "I've Got A Crush On You". The song was written by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was used for two different Broadway productions, 'Treasure Girl' in 1928, and 'Strike Up the Band' in 1930. And while it has sung by the greatest voices in music, I though I would offer up a version by Lola Albright from her 1957 album, 'Lola Wants You'. Enjoy "I've Got A Crush On You".

Next up, I feature another composition by the brothers Gershwin. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film 'Shall We Dance'. With the unmistakable music of George and the lyrics by Ira, the song has also been covered by many of the best in music. Whether taking it as pure Pop, or adding a wonderful Jazz twist, it is hard not to love it. I am particularly fond of this version by Diana Krall, who some might know from appearing on this blog before. Other might recognize her as the wife of rocker Elvis Costello. Enjoy her take on "They Can't Take That Away From Me".

Now I also happen to love "Embraceable You", another with music by George and lyrics by Ira. It was written in 1928 for an operetta that never came to be, but was published in 1930, when it found a home in the score of "Girl Crazy" and sung by the wonderful Ginger Rogers. But I went in a different direction, and invite you to listen to the wonderfully gritty and touching version by the late, great Etta James. Etta recorded in late in her career, as part of a album where she recorded some of the songs of Billie Holiday. I hope you love Etta James singing "Embraceable You".

In the final song of the night, I bring you the fourth song written by the Brothers Gershwin. "Bidin' My Time" was also introduced in the 1930 Broadway musical 'Girl Crazy', but not by Ginger Rogers. And while many of the notable version were sung by men, many women have also put their own mark on it. That would include the wonderful Cleo Laine, who recorded it in 1974 for her album, 'Spotlight On Cleo Laine'.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Torch, Arlen Style

Clockwise: Helen O'Connell; Eva Cassidy; Aretha Franklin; and Dinah Washington.

Tonight I am inspired by the music of the great Harold Arlen. Truthfully, it started this morning when a song come to mind, and I just kept humming it. But first, more about the man. In 1905, Arlen was born Hyman Arluck, in Buffalo, New York, United States, the child of a Jewish cantor. He took piano lessons as a child, became a popular act in the Buffalo area. In his twenties, he made his way to New York City, and soon changed his name to Harold Arlen. In the 1930s, he and lyricist Ted Koehler worked together often, and had a regular gig writing songs to be performed at the popular Harlem nightclub, The Cotton Club. Arlen also began writing music for both Broadway and Hollywood musicals, as well as for popular singers of the day. This brings me back to my inspiration for this post, that song that kept playing in my head. While I will admit it was the Barbra Streisand version, it was "When The Sun Comes Out" that was playing loud and clear. The song was written by Arlen in 1941 with Ted Koehler, and originally sung by Helen O'Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. And so I picked that version to play here, for it is really wonderful.

Arlen also worked with other lyricists, some of the best around. In 1941, he was writing with Johnny Mercer on a film with the working title 'Hot Nocturne'. They wrote a great song, introduced in the movie by William Gillespie. That song was "Blues In The Night", and soon the movie title was changed to match the song. And the song quickly became a standard, a part of the Great American Songbook, and recorded by some of the biggest names in the music business. I picked a version that was recorded in 1997, by the late Eva Cassidy. Cassidy, who passed away the year before, was working on the album at the time of her death. Eva had a magical way to blend her acoustic Pop and Blues roots to make amazing music, and loved taking on some of the iconic music. Here is her recording of "Blues In The Night".

In 1954, Arlen released another project written for the great Judy Garland. He had, of course, worked with her earlier, when he worked on a little film named 'The Wizard of Oz'. So when he began working on the film 'A Star Is Born' with lyricist Ira Gershwin, everyone had to know magic was bound to happen. And it most certainly did. I still remember quite vividly the scene in 'A Star Is Born' when Esther Blodgett, played by Judy, is jamming with some studio musicians and she sings "The Man That Got Away". It was magnificent. But I've had Judy singing the song on the blog before, and decided to try something a little different, so here is a lovely version by Dinah Washington, recorded for her 1962 album 'Drinking Again'.

And, if I was covering the music of Harold Arlen, I couldn't ignore the great song written, according to lore, in front of a drug store in Hollywood in 1938, could I? Legend has it while driving up Sunset Boulevard after a rain, Arlen noticed a rainbow over the iconic Schwab's Drug Store, and it inspired a song for the project he was working on. He was writing the music for the musical 'The Wizard of Oz' with E. Y. Harburg, which became a huge hit in 1939. That would include the song sung by Judy Garland, "Over The Rainbow". And once again, I have posted Judy singing it before, so I tried to find something new, and was thrilled when I found this version by Aretha Franklin, which is truly wonderful. Enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Columbus Day from the Gershwins

I could not resist celebrating Columbus Day with the George & Ira Gershwin tune, "They All Laughed", with the great line "They all laughed at Christopher Columbus when he said the world was round", so where to better capture it that in the 1937 movie featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, 'Shall We Dance?" Enjoy as Ginger sings, and is joined by Fred to do some terrific dancing!

Have a great Columbus Day!