Torch • At Long Last Cole Porter

Left to right: Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, and Lena Horne.

Lena Horne sings "At Long Last Love". The song was written by Cole Porter for his 1938 musical 'You Never Know'. The show was notable only because it was Porter's first show after the riding accident that left him using a cane for the rest of his life. Apparently, much of the show is forgettable, even though it featured music by Cole Porter and Robert Katscher, lyrics by Cole Porter, additional lyrics by Leigh and Edwin Gilbert, and songs by others as well. That description alone tells me it will be a bit of a mess. But it had this song, and here it is sung by the always brilliant Miss Lena Horne.

Julie London sings "What Is This Thing Called Love". The song was written for the musical revue 'Wake Up and Dream', on Broadway in 1929. In fact, the show opened on December 20, 1929, making it the final Broadway opening of the 1920s. The song almost instantly became a Jazz standard, and is one of the most performed songs of Porter's impressive songbook. As London is still a favorite of my mother, I can't help but have a warm pot for her and her music. This is Julie London singing "What Is This Thing Called Love".

Ella Fitzgerald sings "It's Alright With Me". The song is from the 1953 musical 'Can-Can'. The show featured the stories of the ladies performing in the Parisian dance halls of the 1890s. The musical was a success both in the original Broadway production as well as the original West End production in London. Here, it is performed by the iconic Ella Fitzgerald, whose voice is just so perfect to sing Jazz and standards as few others can. This is Ella with "It's Alright With Me".

Judy Garland sings "I Am Loved" from the 1950 musical, 'Out of This World'. The show was an adaptation of Plautus' comedy 'Amphitryon', featuring Roman Gods wanting to have some fun with mere humans. The show was the follow-up to the hugely successful 'Kiss Me, Kate', and was his first and only box office failure of the 1950s. Of course, there was only two more shows by Porter to come, 'Can-Can' and 'Silk Stockings'. But I think this song is a perfect way to end the post. This is Judy Garland singing "I Am Loved".

After decades of pain in his legs from the riding accident in 1937, and following 34 surgeries to try to fix it, Porter's right leg was amputated in 1958. Having already lost his mother in 1952, and his wife, Linda, in 1954, it was thought this was the final straw to break Cole, and he went in seclusion, writing no more music until his death in 1964. Luckily for us all, he left a rich songbook that will always entertain.

Torch From Berlin

Clockwise: Diana Krall; Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald; Judy Garland; and Billie Holiday.

After last week's foray into the Blues, I return once again to Jazz for our Saturday night entertainment. Inspired by the Johnny Mathis song from this morning, I once again returned to the well that has kept my Saturday nights in great music, with my muse for the evening, Irving Berlin. As a composer, Berlin has written great songs for some of the greatest characters of the 20th Century, and some of the greatest singers of the time. Tonight I will begin with a song made famous by the amazing Fred Astaire, and danced to by Fred and his partner, Ginger Rogers. The song was written for the 1936 film 'Follow The Fleet', starring Fred and Ginger. Sixty-three years later, "Let's Face The Music And Dance" was recorded by Diana Krall in 1999, for the album 'When I Look In Your Eyes'. Krall has a wonderful sultry style, which is truly on display on this recording. This is the official music video of Diana Krall singing 'Let's Face The Music And Dance'.

While Berlin wrote for many of the great stars of the 1930s and 40s, once again I go back to the quintessential stars of the period, Astaire and Rogers, from the 1935 film, 'Top Hat'. While few could deliver "Cheek to Cheek" with the suave style that is so easy for Fred Astaire, when I heard the recording used here, I got really excited. Whenever you combine the talents of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, how could you go wrong? You can't. Please enjoy Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong singing Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek", recorded in 1956.

"Always" was written in 1925, meant to be a wedding gift to his wife, Ellin. The two were married in 1926, and they were together until her death in 1988. Berlin had assigned the rights to this song and others to his new wife, ensuring that if something happened to him, she would still get money from his income stream of songs. In 1958, the song was recorded by the great Billie Holiday, and it is really very special. While many took it slow, Holiday made it a mid-tempo song, putting a bit of swing into the ballad. This is Billie Holiday singing "Always".

The final song of the evening is another that was introduced to the public in a Broadway score, before going on to a life of its own. "What'll I Do", written in 1923 and appeared in the show 'The Music Box Review' of the same year, as well as in the show for the 1924. It was a hit with the audience, and proved to have staying power when it was sung by the great voices in music for decades to come. In fact, it was sung by the great Judy Garland on her television show in 1964. Yes, forty years later,the song was still entertaining audiences. This is Judy Garland singing "What'll I Do" on 'The Judy Garland Show'.

Hope your weekend is allowing you to soar!

Amazing Ladies Sing About Love

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Dione Warwick, and Rosemary Clooney.

I find it impossible for me to do a torch song post without being in awe of the group of talented ladies. It is a collection of classic voices, some with household names, others with a bit of a cult following. The first young lady was singing background vocals for many of the top stars of the late 50s and early 60s, having been first noticed singing with a gospel group, which won the weekly amateur contest at the legendary Apollo Theater. Soon she was noticed by in one of the sessions by writer Burt Bacharach, who, along with writing partner Hal David, singed the young lady with the voice they loved. Soon Dionne was singing their songs and making the pairing of Dionne with Bacharach and David a steady member of the Pop charts. That would include their startling song from 1964, "Walk On By".

While she couldn't seem to get a job with a big band the way every other girl singer was doing in the late 30s, she became the first woman singer to take her talent solo, and certainly made a name for herself in the 40s and 50s. Dinah Shore couldn't get the job with Benny Goodman or either Tommy or Jimmy Dorsey, so she followed her own path to fame. In 1944, she appeared in Belle of the Yukon, and sung the beautiful song by Jimmy van Heusen, "Like Someone In Love". She later went on to host her own talk show. Despite several marriages and high-profile relationships, Dinah's support of Women's Golf somehow translated into constant rumors of her being a lesbian, which is not really supported by any fact.

Our next singer needs no introduction, especially form me. Ella Fitzgerald is a brilliant singer, with a career spanning seven decades, from the 30s to the 90s. she just had so much talent, be it her ability to scat, to groove on some jazz, or just flat out sing a song. This video is of her singing Cole Porter's great song, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". This clip is from 1965, but she originally recorded the song in 1956.

I can't tell you how much I loved the ovice of our final singer tonight. My mother played her music, and she was certainly in some of my favorite films I remember watching, including 'White Christmas'. Rosemary Clooney's voice was so lovely, with a depth of tone that could bring you to tears as easily as it could get you dancing. Enjoy her singing her 1954 hit, "Hey There", written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for their Broadway musical, 'The Pajama Game'.

I just can't get enough...

Carrying the Olympic Torch

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford, Bessie Smith, and Dinah Shore.

As the Winter Olympics are winding to an end, I thought about what songs might be sung to the athletes. After all, The Olympic Games have been around almost as long as there has been music. And since there is no greater honor than winning a gold medal, it was a no brainer for me to include Ella Fitzgerald singing "Lover's Gold". The song was written by Morty Nevins and Bob Merrill and appeared on Fitzgerald's 1955 album, 'Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax'. Here is Ella singing "Lover's Gold".

And while there is always a discussion about who should play in the games, and how they should do it, I always think it is best to keep it simple. And so I thought it was only right to include the next song written by the great Irving Berlin for the 1914 musical, 'Watch Your Step'. "Play A Simple Melody" was also included in the soundtrack to the iconic movie musical, 'There's No Business Like Show Business'. In 1950, vocalist Jo Stafford sang the song with Paul Weston and his Orchestra recorded the song, and did a great job. Here is Jo Stafford singing "Play A Simple Melody".

The next song first was heard in the 1938 Broadway musical 'Right This Way'. "I'll Be Seeing You" had music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal, and while the show was not a hit, the song proved to have great staying power. It quickly became a standard many were wanting to sing and record, for years to come. I thought this song would be a perfect choice, as something the athletes would say to one another, hoping to see one another again at the next Olympiad. I picked a version from 1957 by Dinah Shore, that has a wonderfully haunting feel to it. IT also shows off the wonderful range and depth of Shore's vocals. This is Dinah Shore singing "I'll Be Seeing You".

Now, while I have focused on the athletes, I saved this last one for the families of the men and women left at home. "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" was a Blues song written by Charles Warfield and Clarence Williams in 1919, and it is a great song. But it wasn't a hit until 1923, when it was recorded and released by the great Bessie Smith. Smith was legendary for many reasons, but first and foremost was her ability to sing a song like few others could. She was the most popular female singer of the 1920s and 1930s, and had a profound influence on the singers that followed. Smith also had a live hard, play hard philosophy, which most likely added to her ability to sing the Blues. This is Bessie Smith singing her 1923 hit, "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home".

Have a great weekend!

Old Love, New Love

Clockwise from top: Margaret Whiting, Dinah Shore, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald.

I thought I would come back to this sweet sound with yet another group of talented ladies. The songs they sing, they are all about love. But that love is in different stages, from brand new love, to a life-long love. This is a collection of classic voices, some with household names, others with a bit of a cult following. The first would fall more into the latter, as Margaret Whiting might not have the cache of some of the ladies who follow, but certainly had a long career. Margaret was raised in the business, with father Richard Whiting a songwriter who had written classics like "Hooray For Hollywood". After having her heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, she continued to sing in clubs on both coasts. In 1994, she married gay adult star Jack Wrangler, a very happy couple until his passing in 2009. Margaret passed in January of 2011. In 1945, she had a hit singing "It Might As Well Be Spring" with Paul Weston and his Orchestra.

While she couldn't seem to get a job with a big band the way every other girl singer was doing in the late 30s, she became the first woman singer to take her talent solo, and certainly made a name for herself in the 40s and 50s. Dinah Shore couldn't get the job with Benny Goodman or either Tommy or Jimmy Dorsey, so she followed her own path to fame. In 1944, she appeared in Belle of the Yukon, and sung the beautiful song by Jimmy van Heusen, "Like Someone In Love". She later went on to host her own talk show. Despite several marriages and high-profile relationships, Dinah's support of Women's Golf somehow translated into constant rumors of her being a lesbian, which is not really supported by any fact.

Our next singer needs no introduction, especially form me. Ella Fitzgerald is a brilliant singer, with a career spanning seven decades, from the 30s to the 90s. she just had so much talent, be it her ability to scat, to groove on some jazz, or just flat out sing a song. This video is of her singing Cole Porter's great song, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". This clip is from 1965, but she originally recorded the song in 1956.

I can't tell you how much I loved the voice of our final singer tonight. My mother played her music, and she was certainly in some of my favorite films I remember watching, including "White Christmas". Rosemary Clooney's voice was so lovely, with a depth of tone that could bring you to tears as easily as it could get you dancing. Enjoy her singing her 1954 hit, "Hey There", written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for their Broadway musical, "The Pajama Game".

Glorious music, indeed.

Mercerful Hearts • More Songs by Johnny Mercer

Clockwise: Brenda Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

As I enjoyed listening to Eva Cassidy's "Autumn Leaves" while writing this morning's post, I decided to take a look at other songs written by the great Johnny Mercer, an amazing lyricist. His catalog of songs are so expansive, I am constantly finding songs that just make me melt a little. As impressive as that list might be, the list of singers who have added his music to their repertoire is downright amazing. So I am more than pleased to have picked out a couple of songs performed by some brilliantly talented ladies. First up, I have picked "Summer Wind", written in 1965 with Henry Mayer. I decided to go with this sweet version of Brenda Lee, recorded for her 1966 album, 'Coming On Strong'. Lee's voice starts off so soft and easy, but we soon hear the power and depth of the voice on this great song. This is Brenda Lee singing "Summerwind".

I remain enchanted by the voice and style of the great Sarah Vaughan. The depth and breadth of her vocals never fail to amaze me, whether it is a studio album, or a live recording. Here Sarah is taking on "Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)", with words and music by Johnny Mercer. The song was written in 1943, and was instantly covered by some of the greats. I just love Sarah's live version of it, and I was lucky enough to find a version on YouTube. This is Sarah Vaughan singing "Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)", recorded for her live album, 'Live at Mister Kelly's', in 1957.

Whenever I hear the delicate phrasing and voice of Miss Doris Day, it instantly brings me back to my youth, watching her films on television with costar Rock Hudson, who was so gorgeous and fun, I would see their movies as often as I could. And I also remember hearing her music playing on the family stereo, especially during the Christmas season. Day was featured on so many of the collections in my Mother's holiday collection, it doesn't seem like the season without her. Day, She was such and iconic movie star, it is easy to forget she began her career as a big band singer, most notably with Les Brown & his Band of Renown. She also had a great solo career, churning out albums and hits for Columbia Records. For her 1956 album 'Day By Day', Doris recorded "I Remember You", a lush and romantic song with lyrics by Mercer and music by Victor Schertzinger. Please enjoy as Doris Day sings "I Remember You".

And, finally, it seems tough to offer any tribute to a great songwriter without including one song by the astounding Ella Fitzgerald. Her vocals was just a joy to listen to, no matter what or who she is singing. In 1947, Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke wrote an instrumental named "Midnight Sun". The song quickly became a Jazz classic, being played by the best bands out there. As the story goes, Johnny Mercer heard the song playing as he was driving home from the movie studios, and he instantly began mentally writing lyrics for the music, based on the setting sun over the Pacific Ocean. This was in 1954, seven years after Hampton & Burke wrote the music. It took almost no time for the vocalists to line up to sing the song. That list included Ella, who recorded the song for her 1957 album, 'Like Someone in Love'. This is Ella Fitzgerald singing "Midnight Sun".

Have a great weekend!

Don't Be Scared... Too Much!

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald; Barbra Streisand; Carmen McRae; and Judy Garland.

While they might not be as scary as the Halloween season might call for, I thought I would offer up a few supernatural-tinged torch songs to help you burn up your pre-Halloween Saturday night. And I will start with an amazing singer bringing to life the scary childhood tale of 'The Three Little Pigs'. "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" first appeared in the 1930s as part of a Disney cartoon. It was written by Frank Churchill with additional lyrics by Ann Ronel. In 1963, it was recorded by Barbra Streisand for her first album.



"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"first appeared in the the 1940 musical 'Pal Joey', written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. It became an instant standard, and some of the top vocalists of the next several generations were singing it, both men and women alike. In 1956, Ella Fitzgerald recorded an immaculate version of the classic.



Any song that can say the music was written by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer is certainly one that needs to be heard. The 1942 song has been sung by most, if not all of, the greats of the music business. Here is a clip of the sultry and talented Carmen McRae singing "That Old Black Magic" in 1986.



The 1947 musical 'Finian's Rainbow' was composed by Burton Lane and had lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It included "How Are Things In Glocca Morra", a memorable song to be sure. If that was the only song in the score, it would be well worth listening. But it wasn't. There was also the iconic "That Old Devil Moon", another song that has been covered by some of the greatest voices to ever record. Here, watch Judy Garland sing it on her television show.



Hope the songs didn't scare you too much...

Tinseltown Torch

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald; Billie Holiday; Aretha Franklin; and Linda Ronstadt.

Tonight I thought I would pick some amazing songs I first heard in films coming out of Hollywood. Much of my early music education came from the black and white movies I watched when I could, featuring the greats of the business like Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Ann Miller, and just so many other talented artists. I will begin with "Isn't It Romantic", a song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart. It was introduced in the 1932 film 'Love Me Tonight', sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier. For tonight, I offer a version by Ella Fitzgerald, recorded in 1957. This is Ella's "Isn't It Romantic".

The next song was written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931, but it wasn't really known until it appeared in a film in 1942. When pianist Sam played and sang "As Time Goes By" in the bar in 'Casablanca', the film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, it became an instant classic. Sam, played by Paul Dooley, delivered the song perfectly, a perfect theme for the love heroically lost in the film. Tonight, I offer you a version of the song by the great Billie Holiday. She recorded it with Eddie Heywood & His Orchestra in 1944. I hope you enjoy Billie Holiday singing "As Time Goes By".

"When You Wish Upon A Star" was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of 'Pinocchio'. The song became a theme for Disney Studios, and I remember hearing it every Sunday night when I watched 'Walt Disney's The Wonderful World of Color' television series in my youth. It is such a wonderful song filled with hope. I chose a version sung by one of my favorite singers, the amazing Linda Ronstadt. She was perfect for the song, having such clarity and crispness in her notes. I love this live performance from 1986, as she sings "When You Wish Upon A Star", off her 1986 album, 'For Sentimental Reasons'.

The final song of the evening was written by James V. Monaco, the lyrics by Joseph McCarthy in 1913. One of the earliest recordings of "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" was by Al Jolson, and it has been sung by so many, from Screaming Jay Hawkins to Cookie Monster to Rufus Wainwright. But one of the most memorable versions for me was sung by the young Judy Garland, with special lyrics written as a birthday tribute to Clark Gable. When I found a version by the great Aretha Franklin, I just knew it had include it in this post. I hope you love Areatha's "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)", featured on her 1962 album, 'The Electrifying Aretha Franklin'.

Hope your weekend is a great one!

Here's To The Ladies Who Carry The Torch

Clockwise from top: Margaret Whiting, Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney.

I thought I would come back to this sweet sound with yet another group of talented ladies. It is a collection of classic voices, some with household names, others with a bit of a cult following. The first would fall more into the latter, as Margaret Whiting might not have the cache of some of the ladies who follow, but certainly had a long career, having been raised in the business, as father Richard Whiting was a songwriter, having written classics like "Hooray For Hollywood". After having her heyday in the 40s and 50s, she continued to sing in clubs on both coasts. In 1994, she married gay adult star Jack Wrangler, and they stayed together until his passing in 2009. Margaret passed in January of 2011. In 1945, She had a hit singing "It Might As Well Be Spring" with Paul Weston and his Orchestra.

While she couldn't seem to get a job with a big band the way every other girl singer was doing in the late 30s, she became the first woman singer to take her talent solo, and certainly made a name for herself in the 40s and 50s. Dinah Shore couldn't get the job with Benny Goodman or either Tommy or Jimmy Dorsey, so she followed her own path to fame. In 1944, she appeared in 'Belle of the Yukon', and sung the beautiful song by Jimmy van Heusen, "Like Someone In Love". She later went on to host her own talk show. Despite several marriages and high-profile relationships, Dinah's support of Women's Golf somehow translated into constant rumors of her being a lesbian, which is not really supported by any fact.

Our next singer needs no introduction, especially for me. Ella Fitzgerald is a brilliant singer, with a career spanning seven decades, from the 30s to the 90s. she just had so much talent, be it her ability to scat, to groove on some jazz, or just flat out sing a song. This video is of her singing Cole Porter's great song, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". This clip is from 1965, but she originally recorded the song in 1956.

I can't tell you how much I loved the voice of our final singer tonight. My mother played her music, and she was certainly in some of my favorite films I remember watching, including 'White Christmas'. Rosemary Clooney's voice was so lovely, with a depth of tone that could bring you to tears as easily as it could get you dancing. Enjoy her singing her 1954 hit, "Hey There", written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for their Broadway musical, 'The Pajama Game'.

Have a great time with what remains of your weekend!

American Idol 12 Recap & Review - Top 4 Encore - The Music of Now & Then

Well, we learned that the performances and voting were all for naught last week, for the Producer's Twist was that no one was going home, something many of us saw in the cards due to the remaining broadcast schedule. But in the lamest of seasons to date, the 'big' news was that the show would adhere to the schedule, and the expected non-elimination would happen. This week they asked the contestants to come up with songs that apply to the theme 'Now & Then', meaning picking a hit song from 2013, as well as a classic song from the Great American Songbook. We will find out if the new performances can change up the voting order, as last week Angie and Kree were the Top 2, while Amber and Candice filled out the Bottom 2. Can the producers and the judges convince the voters to keep the skinny girls around? Only time will tell. After all, they are going to have to send someone home this week, aren't they? Before we find out, the Top 4 will have to sing for survival...

Clockwise: Candice Glover; Kree Harrison; Amber Holcomb; and Angie Miller.

The show starts out with a clip of the non-elimination last week, and the emotions it brought out. Judges were hugging contestants, and they were hugging one another. But it means it is time to get down to business, for the performances tonight and next week will decide who is going to the finals. The announcer brings out Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Keith Urban, followed quickly by Crusty, who announces not only will the energy be up this week, but the ladies will be coached by Harry Connick, Jr, and Crusty also tells us the two themes for the night; first the ladies will sing a hit song from 2013, and then will follow that up with a song from yesterday, a classic standard. Connick certainly has a history with both, having gained popularity as a crooner, as well as making music of his own. The performances kick off with Angie Miller singing “Diamonds” by Rihanna. She tells Harry she will be mixing it up, and putting her own spin on it. But first, let's hear Rihanna singing "Diamonds".

Angie and Harry are cutting it up, but it went on a bit too long. For the performance, the production is stripped back, with Angie on the piano to make the judges happy. I am not loving the arrangement, for the song was sluggish enough without adding to it. While she stays in tune for much of the song, toward the end she starts to strain, and falls off key. Keith didn't love the performance, felt it didn't go anywhere. It felt too stripped back for him. Nicki felt it was lackluster, like she was playing more to the cameras than from her heart. Basically, Randy and Mariah agreed, although Mariah refused to say she agreed with Nicki, prompting more articles about the panel, and not the singers, I am sure. Pardon me while I roll my eyes. After the commercial break, we see Amber Holcomb meeting with Harry, telling him she will be singing “Just Give Me A Reason”, originally sung by Pink and Nate Ruess. Amber forgets the words as she was singing for Harry, but he doesn't care, he just loves her voice. This is Pink and Nate Ruess singing "Just Give Me A Reason".

The song starts off in a nice place for her voice, showing some nice support. But the performance overall is a bit hollow, with the chorus being just a bit too staccato, almost sing-song. She did stay on key better than usual, although there were a few notes that strayed. It was fairly dull, and seemed like the wrong choice of songs to sing. Nicki didn't love it either, and felt it was lacking. Randy thought she looked nervous, or maybe preoccupied. She admits to being nervous about the lyrics. Mariah tried to brush off the mediocrity, looking forward to the next song. Keith loves her voice, but didn't love the performance. After what seemed like an endless commercial break, Crusty brought out Candice Glover for her first song of the night. In the video, Candice tells Harry she will be singing “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. She wants to tell a story, not be the subject of the song. Well, cause she's not a man. Harry is trying really hard to be funny, and seems like he is trying too hard. But soon it is over, so let me share Bruno Mars singing "When I Was Your Man".

She is in exceptional voice, and plans to show that to everyone. The first verse sounds a bit nervous, but that soon disappears, and she delivers the goods. She puts an R&B spin on it, and really is able to soar on it. Randy loved it, and so did Mariah. She thought it was exceptional, and Keith didn't care about the gender bending, she sounded great. Nicki thought they were remiss for not giving her a standing ovation, and so Randy and Keith joined her in one for Candice. After they were done, Mariah stood to flicks some glitter at her, getting her own moment. Frankly, I thought Candice deserved more attention than the judges... Crusty tells us that after the break, it will be time to see Kree Harrison, who will be singing a song that Carrie Underwood sang on that stage just a few weeks ago. In the video clip, Kree tells Harry she will be singing “See You Again”. After she sang it for him, he loved it, and told her not to change a friggin' note. Here is Carrie singing "See You Again".

She begins the song with a sweet and warm tone to her voice, and it stays there. She sounds fantastic, and the song reacts well to her sparse arrangement. This allows her voice to be front and center, and she sounds amazing. I thought she was brilliant, and put Kree and Candice in a dead heat after the first round. Mariah loved it, and felt she was magnificent, and sounded so authentic. Keith didn't agree, and felt there was a disconnect between the song and the performance. Nicki thought Kree was totally connected to the song, and she loved it. Randy agreed, and thought her voice was flawless. Even Harry Connick, Jr, had to come out to say how much he loved the performance. As he was announcing the numbers, Crusty called her Kreedom, as if Nicki was now giving them all new names... If the first four performances featured the music of 'now', the next four will feature the music of 'then', as the contestants picked a classic standard from the Great American Songbook, just so we don't get to thinking they can seem current the whole show. As we start the rotation again, Angie is back with Harry, and tells him she will sing “Someone To Watch Over Me”. It was composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin from the 1926 musical 'Oh, Kay!', where it was introduced by Gertrude Lawrence. This is a recording by Sarah Vaughan from 1958.

Angie dedicates it to her Mom, who used to sing it around the house. She does a simple arrangement, soft and sweet. She begins nicely, but soon the slowed tempo of the song reveals her voice to be a bit uneven, and at times get covered by the band, while at other moments strains too be over the top. There were times her vibrato got a little abrasive, battering. Keith loved it, even if it did feel so old fashioned. Nicki thought she was like a Disney Princess, and how she only seemed engaged during the high end of her voice. Randy loved her vocals, even if he hated the arrangement. Mariah tried to disagree with Nicki, and lost the singer in the mix. After a break, Crusty reminds us the votes from last week are being added to those of last week for the results tomorrow night. In the video clip, Amber tells Harry she is singing “My Funny Valentine”, first recorded by Mitzi Green in the MGM Musical 'Babes In Arms'. It was written for the 1937 Broadway show by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. When she starts singing, Harry recognizes she doesn't understand the song at all, so he explains it to her. Connick thinks she has a beautiful voice, and hopes she connects with (and understands) the song in performance. But before that, give a listen to this recording by Ella Fitzgerald from 1956.

As she starts singing, I don't really see a difference. She has plenty of vocal tricks, but again they seem more like a crutch than an expression. It was very paint by numbers, but I didn't feel it coming from her heart. It was fairly hollow. Of course, the judges greeted her with a standing ovation, and they loved it. They thought it was great the first time she sang it (with no understanding of the lyrics whatsoever), and even better now (after Harry explained it to her). She cries a little, and they try to lift her up. But they do seems to have come to the realization she was the weakest of the night, and stands a good shot at going home. Crusty chats with Harry in the audience, and he disagrees with the judges, and felt the run at the end of Amber's performance distracted from the song. Soon we see Candice going to see Harry again, telling him she will be singing “You’ve Changed”, originally written by Bill Carey and Carl Fischer in 1941. It was first released by Harry James's band with vocals by Dick Haymes. Harry helps her to simplify her performance, to mean what she is singing. Listen to this amazing version of the song recorded by Billie Holiday in 1958.

She comes out in perfect voice, and connects with the lyrics. She is singing from the heart, and her emotions are on her sleeve. There is an ebb and flow to the performance, and it was fantastic. Even when she brought some runs in the end, they were tied to emotion, not acrobatics. Randy loved it, and took the moment to tell Harry he is wrong (when he wasn't), and doesn't know what he is talking about (even if Connick was brought in as the expert mentor). Mariah thought it was brilliant, so touching and textured. Keith loved it, and Nicki thought no more was needed, and tossed it to Crusty. He reminded us that we still have Kree to sing tonight. In her clip with Harry, Kree tells him she will be singing “Stormy Weather”, a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Ethel Waters first sang it at The Cotton Club night club in Harlem in 1933 and recorded it that year. He tells her to cut the pyrotechnics, and sing the damn song. The song became a signature song for great Lena Horne after she sang it in the 1943 film of the same name, so enjoy her performance here.

She comes out looking beautiful, and sounded fantastic. Her tone is so crisp and so clear, and she sticks to the melody for most of the song. She puts in some embellishments toward the end, and gave it a Country feel to it. I thought it was stunning. Mariah is unsure it was the right song, going for something more bluesy. Keith thinks it was the wrong song as well. Nicki has a problem with Harry, and with song choice. Randy basically says Harry was wrong and taking them in a wrong direction, and she must be herself. And that means doing the Etta James version of the song. Harry gets hilarity of that statement, and even Nicki does, but it still seems lost on Randy. I am not sure, but I think Harry just nailed his audition to be a judge for American Idol Season 13. After all was said and done, they talked Kree down, while telling her her vocals were stellar. After a break, the ladies came down the aisles with their own dancers in two, and they were singing “Wings” by Little Mix.

This was nice, but sure sounded not live. It had a very 'Up With People' feeling, and not really connected to the rest of the show. It is time to recap, it comes down to the fact that Candice and Kree were the two best for the night for me. It wasn't close. There is a big gap, and then Angie's performances. At the bottom is Amber, who I suspect will be leaving tomorrow night. No amount of blowing smoke is going to make it sound any different to me. Of course, one never knows until the results are read on Thursday night, at 8PM. Well, to be honest, at 8:55PM on your local Fox station.

Golden Songs From The Silver Screen

Clockwise: Doris Day; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ella Fitzgerald, and Binnie Hale.

Well, I have to admit I was wondering what to post about, and I came across an old recording by one of my favorites, Michael Feinstein, 'Romance On Film/Romance On Broadway', which featured some amazing songs that might be best known because of a spectacular and memorable performance on stage or on screen. Since many of these were older songs, I went about looking for some amazing recordings to show off what great songs they are. The first of those is a popular song written in 1945 by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It has appeared in several films, perfect for fixing the mood of a scene. I picked a song recorded in 1965 by the great Doris Day. When she sings "The More I See You", it is impossible not to feel deeply what love can be.

Next up, I have picked a song introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1960 film 'High Time'. "The Second Time Around" has lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen, a great duo indeed. For this great song, I picked the always amazing Dame Shirley Bassey, with a rendition she recorded for the 1962 album, 'Lets Face The Music'. The great singer was accompanied by the great Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra

I don't know if this post would be able to go without this song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It was written for the 1931 Broadway musical 'Everybody's Welcome' and originally sung by Frances Williams. But perhaps it is best known by a version sung by a character in a 1942 movie. Club singer Sam (Dooley Wilson) sings the song in the movie 'Casablanca'. Yes, we are talking about the great song "As Time Goes By". Now, it has been recorded by a multitude of artists, but after I looked around, I decided to go with a version by Binnie Hale in 1932. There is just such charm on the recording made by this stsar of the British stage.

And, last but most certainly not least, I decided to go with a song written in 1932 by the great songwriting team of Rodgers & Hart. "Isn't It Romantic" was introduced by Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier in the Paramount film 'Love Me Tonight'. I decided to go with a lush version recorded in 1957 by the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald recorded. It is my pleasure to share with you the great Ella singing "Isn't It Romantic".

Have a great weekend!

I Can Dream • The Music of Sammy Fain

Clockwise: Rosemary Clooney; Belle Baker; the Andrews Sisters; and Ella Fitzgerald.

I thought it might be nice to dedicate a night to the music of Mr. Sammy Fain, an amazing composer known for his gorgeous ballads. Fain was born in New York City in 1902, and by the time the 1920s rolled around, he was a part of the entertainment industry. He began as a performer, but soon was dedicating his time to composing. By the end of the decade, he was making hit music, and much of that music has withstood the test of time, and have become standards in the Great American Songbook. And I will start with one of the songs, even if it might not be one of his more popular offerings. "You Brought A New Kind of Love to Me" was written in 1930 with Irving Kahal, and Pierre Connor. It was introduced to the public by the great Maurice Chevalier in the movie 'The Big Pond', and then featured again in 1931 in the Marx Brothers' comedy 'Monkey Business'. It was recorded by Belle Baker in 1930, with a lovely arrangement. It was also in the soundtrack to the the 1977 film 'New York New York', a great big band arrangement sung by Liza Minnelli. With all these choices, I decided to go with one I thought very sweet. Enjoy listening to Belle Baker sing "You Brought A New Kind of Love To Me".

Our next song had music by Fain, and lyrics by Lew Brown. "That Old Feeling" was written in 1937, and first appeared in the movie 'Vogues of 1938', but was really known more for the various recordings, including the one by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra, which was very popular. The song was recorded by countless artists in the 1950s and 1960s, including Frank Sinatra and Patti Page. There was also a stunning version by Ella Fitzgerald, recorded for her 1955 album, 'For Sentimental Reasons'. And it is that version you will find here, so enjoy!

Our next song was written as a lost-minute replacement song for the 1938 Broadway musical 'Right This Way', which closed after 15 performances. The show had music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal. I have loved this song for a long time, for it has a beautiful and haunting quality. "I'll Be Seeing You" has been sung by some of the greatest voices of the past century, both male and female. I loved Judy Collins' version of the song, recorded in the 1970s. But I decided to go with another voice I love to hear, not matter what she is singing. Enjoy as Rosemary Clooney sings "I'll Be Seeing You", recorded in the mid-1950s.

Although 'Right This Way' was a commercial failure at the time, it wasn't because of the music of Sammy Fain, or the lyrics of Irving Kahal. For there was another song that emerged from the flop as a clear winner, and been recorded by many over the next several decades. That includes versions by Cass Elliot in 1969, and the Carpenters in 1975, both stunning. But I decided to go with what many believe to be the most popular recording of "I Can Dream, Can't I?" It was recorded and released by the Andrews Sisters in 1949, topping the top three Billboard carts at the time: Best Sellers in Stores; Most Played by Jockeys; and Most Played in Jukeboxes. So enjoy the beauty of the harmonies of the great Andrews Sisters as they sing "I Can Dream, Can't I?"

In 1972, Sammy Fain was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He worked into his sixties, making music. And his music continued to be featured by artists and shows around the world. Sammy Fain died in 1989 in Los Angeles. He was 87 years old.

Christmas Belles

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald; Lena Horne; Peggy Lee; Judy Garland; and Pearl Bailey.

With Christmas only days away, I thought I'd pick up that theme with some of the great ladies from days gone by. I came across an old collection called 'Christmas Belles' and found that to be a great source of wonderful music. These are five of the first six cuts, as I could not find one on Youtube. So we can start with the always delightful Ella Fitzgerald as she sings the classic "Sleigh Ride".

I am not sure you can have a collection of greats without putting Judy Garland on it. And it is only natural to sing the song she introduced in the 1944 MGM musical 'Mett Me In St. Louis". It was directed by Vincent Minnelli, and featured a cameo by daughter Liza. But it also had Judy singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

Lena Horne was a woman of abundant talent, and singing was included. She had scuh style and flair, as well as an amazing tone. You can hear it when she sings "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

And when you speak of someone who had great style, it is had to miss the brillaint Pearl Bailey. I remember seeing her appear on the variety shows, like the Mike Douglas Show, and sing all kinds of songs. I don't remember seeing her sing "Jingle Bells Cha-Cha-Cha", but I sure wish I did.

Finally, this is a gorgeous song filled with sweet images. Somewhere along the way, a fan made a video, and it is a nice one. Of course, it is tough to go wrong when you are starting with the talents of Peggy Lee, and when she sings a wonderful song like "Christmas Carousel".

Merry Christmas!

Keeping Warm This Winter

Clockwise: Ella Fitzgerald; Peggy Lee; Patti Page; and Billie Holiday.

As the mercury in the thermometer slowly drops, I was wondering what I might do to keep warm. And when I turned to the ladies of song for an answer, several had answers for me. None less than the brilliant Jazz artist, Ella Fitzgerald. Singing a song written by Sonny Burke, and with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, Ella thought we all just needed a nice cup of "Black Coffee".

However, not everyone thought turning up the heat was the answer. Take, for example, the 1941 recording by Benny Goodman and his orchestra, featuring Peggy Lee & Art Lund on the lead vocals. In a song written in 1941 by Tin Pan Alley writer Ted Shapiro, Peggy tells you right off the bat that she loves the "Winter Weather".

The great Irving Berlin wrote "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" for the 1937 film 'On The Avenue' where it was sung by Alice Faye and Dick Powell. That same year, the song was recorded by the immortal Billie Holiday, once again adding that special touch only Billie could bring to a song.

In 1954, the musical 'The Pajama Game' premiered on Broadway. The show, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, was an instant hit. That same year, recording star Patti Page recorded the memorable "Steam Heat" and scored a big hit with the tune.

Hope you are staying warm this weekend!

Ella Sings The Blues

The thought occurred to me that while I have been dedicating my Saturday nights to Jazz, I have included the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald in a couple of posts, but not dedicated an entire evening to her. Well, it is about time I remedied that. Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917. As she grew up in Yonkers, New York, she loved listening to Jazz music. But she wasn't planning on becoming a singer, instead, she wanted to be a dancer. At age 17, Ella made her debut at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Lore has it she was planning a dance, but didn't want to compete with Edwards Sisters, a dance group she loved to watch. So she sang. Soon she was a regular at the club, making fans of her glorious voice. She would soon be known as "the First Lady of Song" as well as "the Queen of Jazz". She had such a beautiful tone, amazing phrasing, and great musicality. You can see all this in this performance of "Body And Soul", the great song with lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton, and music by Johnny Green.



And while the most known version of the next song belongs to Billie Holiday, Ella sure put her stamp on it as well. The gorgeous and moody "Summertime" was written by George and Ira Gershwin, based on the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward. Her version is defined by the lethargy brought on by the heat, but in no way is is slow or lazy. I love it.



During the 1950s, it seemed like everyone would sing the great torch song written by Arthur Hamilton, "Cry Me A River". I love this version of the song, as Ella performs the song with great Jazz guitarist Joe Pass.



In 1944, pianist Thelonious Monk composed the music for "'Round Midnight", a stunning and moody piece of music that quickly became a Jazz standard. Later, songwriter Bernie Hanighen added lyrics, and it was no longer a song just for musicians. Listen as Ella puts her stamp all over the song.



On June 15, 1996, the world lost Ella Fitzgerald, but thankfully, there are countless recordings of her still available. There are tons of albums, and many collections of her greatest work as well. You really cannot go wrong with Ella. You can purchase her album Jazz 'Round Midnight, a collection of some great standards sung by the mistress of Jazz, on iTunes and Amazon.

Love Can Give You The Blues

Clockwise: Dorothy Dandridge; Sarah Vaughan; Ella Fitzgerald; and Diahann Carroll.

It's Saturday night, and time for to bring some of the great ladies of song to center stage, and teach us all a little something about love. The first to come out and join us will be singing a song written by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes, and Louis Prima in 1946. In 1947, Ella Fitzgerald recorded "A Sunday Kind Of Love" on the album For Sentimental Reasons. It was released by Etta James in 1961, on the album with her iconic hit, "At Last". But we'll return to Miss Ella singing "A Sunday Kind of Love", so smooth and gorgeous.



Although she might be known more for her acting, the gorgeous Diahann Carroll made her way their with a magnificent voice. Long before she played Dominique on Dynasty, or the working single mother on the ground-breaking Julia, or the star of the movie Claudine, she was featured on Broadway in shows like House of Flowers and No Strings. Those musicals brought her to a singing career, and engagements on variety shows for decades. While her singing career never equaled her acting, she has a magnificent voice, as she did here singing the classic "Some Of These Days" on a show in the 1980s. The song was made famous by Sophie Tucker several decades before, but Diahann brought down the house with it.



Sometime in 1942, an eighteen-year-old from Newark, New Jersey, played the piano for a friend in the Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The friend earned second place, and later, Sarah Vaughan returned to sing "Body And Soul", and was the winner. In the spring of 1943, she was booked to open for Ella Fitzgerald at the Apollo, the beginning of her career. Here is Sarah singing "Body And Soul".



Like Miss Carroll, some might be more familiar with Dorothy Dandridge as an actress, as she was the first African American woman to be nominated for Best Actress for her role in Carmen Jones in 1954. She also was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the 1959 film, Porgy And Bess. But she worked her way to those roles singing with bands, and making "Soundies", the music videos of the early movies, showing singers and bands to entertain the audience between features. Here is one of those Soundies, with Dorothy singing Cole Porter's "You Do Something To Me".



Enjoy your weekend!