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.

Just A Little Bit of Blue

Clockwise: Annette Hanshaw; Billie Holiday; Big Maybelle; and June Allyson.

Well, it is Saturday night, and time to hit the clubs again. Only these days, I think I would prefer a nice smokey nightclub to a dance club. Of course, they'd have to have only the best girl singers, putting down some amazing songs about love and life. Tonight, I am glad to feature four songs from four decades. And I will begin with the singer with the earliest recording of this quartet, Annette Hanshaw. Many think of Annette as the first great female Jazz singer, for she was exceedingly popular during the 1920s and 1930s. She was also thought to be the inspiration for the ultimate flapper, Miss Betty Boop. In 1929, Hanshaw recorded a song with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1928 Broadway show 'The New Moon'. That song went on to become a classic of the Great American Songbook, sung by many. Listen as Annette sings "Lover, Come Back To Me".

In 1934, another song was written that would be a part of the Great American Songbook. The song, with words and music by Ray Noble, is a Pop standard, sung by so many. But few could sing it like Lady Day. So here is Billie Holiday to sing "The Very Thought of You", which can be found on her 1959 album 'The Billie Holiday Story, Vol. 1'.

And while she really didn't record much outside of the cast recordings of the Broadway and movie musicals she appeared in, June Allyson was cast in many a musical. In fact, she began as a member of the chorus in Broadway shows, before moving up to understudy, and finally, the lead. And it wasn't long before she was on her way to Lon Angeles, on her way to movie stardom. That included being featured in the musical number "Treat Me Rough" from the 1943 musical "Girl Crazy". She is joined in the song by co-star Mickey Rooney, in one of the classics he played opposite Judy Garland.

And, last but most certainly not least, I have a song from a favorite of mine, Big Maybelle. She has a vast catalog of music, and I am oh-so-grateful for that. So I end out Saturday night together with her bluesy "I'm Getting 'Long Alright". The song can be found on 'The Complete Okeh Sessions 1952-1955' and was composed by Bobby Sharp and Charles Singleton.