Songs From the Hart • Rodgers & Hart

Clockwise: Anita O'Day, Barbara Cook, Dinah Washington, and Peggy Lee.

Richards Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were a monumentally successful writing team in the 1920s and 1930s, making hit Broadway scores filled with songs that went on to be an essential part of the Great American Songbook. And when they weren't working ion Broadway, they were making Hollywood sing! With songs like "Blue Moon", "With A Song In My Heart", "Isn't It Romantic", "Blue Moon", "My Funny Valentine", "The Lady Is A Tramp", and so many others, it is no wonder they rank among the top songwriters of the day. I offer you four very talented ladies singing four great songs I haven't mentioned yet, starting with one of my favorites, Anita O'Day. Her vocal instrument is a magical thing to me, So when she takes on a great song like "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered", I get warm just thinking about it. The song, from the 1940 musical 'Pal Joey', is so soft, so tender, and Anita delivers it so sweetly. So I hope you enjoy when Anita O'Day sings "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered".

There are just some special voices out there, and I have to say Barbara Cook is one of them. She was a glowing light on Broadway in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, including winning the Tony Award playing Marion in the original production of 'The Music Man' in 1957. In 1959, Cook released the album 'Barbara Cook Sings From the Heart', featuring the music of Rodgers and Hart. One of the tracks she sang was fro the 1936 musical 'On Your Toes', a show that was directed by C. Worthington Miner and choreographed by George Balanchine. It featured Ray Bolger, and the show ran for over 300 performances. It was originally written as a movie for Fred Astaire, but he thought it was not right for him, and it went to Broadway and made Ray Bolger a star. From that score came a delightful number that certainly grabs my attention, especially when sung by Cook. Please enjoy Barbara Cook singing "There's A Small Hotel", off her 'Sings From the Heart' album.

While many of her hits had a sexy, sultry feel, Peggy Lee was a great singer who showed through time and many styles just how great she could be. Lee began her career as a singer on the radio, and in fact had her own local show while still a teen. She moved to California, and was singing at club when she was discovered by Benny Goodman, and became his singer at the age of 21. Just a few years earlier, in 1937, Rodgers and Hart had a hit Broadway musical that was quickly made into an MGM musical. With a score that included "My Funny Valentine", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Johnny One Note" and more, the 1939 film starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney was a surefire hit. Another of the songs was recorded in 1941 by Lee and the Benny Goodman Trio, one of their early recordings. I hope you love Miss Peggy Lee singing "Where Or When", their romantic look at déjà vu.

There is something so delicious and spicy about the vocals of Dinah Washington. Both her voice and her phrasing were unique, making her a must-hear vocalist. The woman was singing from an early age, first with the Gospel choir in church, and soon was singing solo, wining a talent contest at age 15, and launched a career singing in Chicago clubs. It was there she was heard by Lionel Hampton, who helped launch her recording career. By the late 1940s, Washington was making hit records, topping the R&B charts. In 1955, she released the album 'For Those In Love', made up by some of the great love songs of the time. That would include "This Can't Be Love", from the 1938 musical 'The Boys From Syracuse'. The song is a real look at love, as opposed to the romanticized look at it. I hope you can enjoy Dinah Washington singing "This Can't Be Love" as much as I do.

Rodgers and Hart wrote so many great songs, I could put together another 50 posts. And, given time, I just might. But I hope this Jazzy interlude makes for a nice moment in your weekend.

An Angel Sang...

Clockwise: Mavis Rivers; Keely Smith; Martha Tilton; and Ella Mae Morse.

For tonight's collection I thought we might travel a road less traveled. By that I mean instead of going for some of the bigger names in Jazz music, I opted instead to listen to a few incredibly talented ladies who you might not have heard before. To be honest, I didn't know a couple of these ladies myself before researching this post. In fact, one of those is ladies is our first clip of the night. Mavis Rivers was born in Western Samoa, and she moved with her family to New Zealand when still young. There she grew up, and started a successful career as a club and cabaret singer, and also spent some time recording her music. After finding success in New Zealand, she come to the United States to study music at Brigham Young University. She had success on the American Jazz scene, becoming known for her thoughtful and subtle singing, favoring that over a bombastic belting style. Tonight I offer you a song recorded in New Zealand in 1950, a popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart in 1936. It was debuted on Broadway in the 1936 show 'On Your Toes', where it was introduced by Ray Bolger and Doris Carson. Here is Mavis Rivers singing "There's A Small Hotel".

It is interesting that when I came across Keely Smith's name, I actually remembered her, mainly from her appearances on the variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s that my parents would watch. But I will admit I don't have any of her music in my collection, despite the fact she has a lovely voice and recorded some of the great music of the last century. Right away, I notice how gorgeous she was, her looks favoring her Native American heritage. Smith gained popularity in the 1950s, singing with Louis Prima, who she also married. They would often duet, with Keely playing 'straight man' to Prima's comedian. After they divorced, Keely put together a solo career, and also worked with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. I have included a solo song, recorded in 1959. Here she sings a song with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, which was introduced in the 1930 Broadway musical 'Lew Leslie's International Revue'. Enjoy listening to Keely Smith sing "On The Sunny Side of the Street".

Next up I bring you Ella Mae Morse, a singer I hadn't really known. She began singing professionally at the age of 14, with Jimmy Dorsey. Only he didn't realize how young she was, and let her qo once he discovered it. Three years later, she joined Freddy Slack's band, and the clicked right away, making music that was popular with their fans. A Texas girl, she combined Country, Pop, R&B and Jazz in her vocal stylings. with a touch of Rock & Roll tossed in. She could swing every bit as well as she could deliver a ballad. In the late 1950s, Morse stopped recording, but continued to play clubs all across the country, including at New York's prestigious Michael's Pub. The song I chose for tonight is her 1943 recording of 'No Lovin', No Nothin'", recorded with Freddie Slack and his band.

And for the final selection of the night, I have Martha Tilton, who was also known as "The Liltin' Miss Tilton". After dropping out of high school to pursue a career in music, Tilton joined some band and vocal groups before getting her big break in 1937, when she was hired by Benny Goodman. In the mid-1940s, she went out on her own, and became one of the first solo artists to be signed by Capital Records. She was a successful artist through the 1950s, mainly singing Pop tunes. She continued singing into her later years, in clubs around the country. Martha was perhaps best known for her beautiful recording of "And The Angels Sing", recorded in 1939 with Benny Goodman and his Orchestra.

Have a great weekend!