Dark Monday • Diana Ross Sings Funny Girl

In 1968, of on the great acts of Motown released four albums, the second being 'Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing  and Perform 'Funny Girl'. For whatever reason, this was not their first Broadway-based cover album, having already done an album of Rodgers and Hart music the year before. the group, which at that point was Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong, sung some of the best songs of from the Broadway hit. Here is a clip of the ladies on the Ed Sullivan Show, with them singing a medley of songs found on the album.

The score for 'Funny Girl' was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Bob Merrill. It starred, of course, Barbra Streisand, both on Broadway, and in the film. While much of the soundtrack in both was the same, there were songs that were left out, replaced by songs sung my Fanny Brice herself. One of those songs left on the Broadway stage was "Coronet Man", a song that help make Fanny a name early in her career. In the film, the song was replaced by "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (That Be Happy With Somebody Else)", written by Fred Fisher and Billy Rose. Interestingly enough, Rose was the husband Brice married after Nick Arnstein, the 'love' interest in 'Funny Girl'. This is the Supremes singing the sexy and bluesy "Coronet Man"

It is funny how things change. In 1967, Motown's Berry Gordy let go Florence Ballard, and replaced her with Cindy Birdsong. Rumor had it Ballard was struggling with her demons then, and Gordy was not happy with her gaining weight and inconsistent behavior. It is thought this was the basis for the future Broadway musical, 'Dreamgirls'. Once she was gone, Gordy also changed the group name to Diana Ross & the Supremes, clearly putting Miss Ross out in front. In 1970, Ross left the group to begin her solo career. Ballard was signed to a record label after her time with the Supremems, but it went nowhere. She struggled with additions, but in 1975, seemed to be pulling things together. In February of 1976, Ballard died following a cardiac arrest, which brought on a coronary thrombosis. She was 32 years old. Meanwhile, Ross was seeing great success, with 'Lady Sings the Blues" in 1972, and she was working on 'Mahogany' at the time of Ballard's death. And she had music hits with "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," as well as "Love Hangover", so things were going well for the star. The Supremes struggled to remain pertinent after Ross' departure, and by 1977, the group called it a day.

Dark Monday • Why? Because!

'Everybody Sing', the 1938 MGM musical that featured Judy Garland, Allan Jones, Fanny Brice, and Billie Burke. In the musical number billed as "Snooks (Why? Because!)" , Brice played the character she became known for, Baby Snooks, a precocious little girl. She is joined in the number by Judy Garland, still a teenager herself. The song was written by Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar, a pair of Jewish American writers who started in vaudeville, The duo had written the score to many movies, including some of the greatest of the Marx Brothers, like 'Animal Crackers', 'Horse Feathers' and 'Duck Soup'. The film is all about a family full of eccentricities, from the young teen girl to the parents to the housekeeper. Garland plays the young girl struggling to find a place to fit in, while Brice plays the Russian maid. As if often the case in the musicals of the 1930s and 1940s, the family and those around them decide to put on a show. One of those numbers is "Snooks (Why? Because!)", sung by Brice and Garland.

You can purchase 'Everybody Sing' on DVD from many online stores, including Amazon.

Want Some Sugar?

Clockwise: Fanny Brice; Nina Simone; Diahann Carroll; and Diana Krall.

Many might remember the next song as part of the soundtrack for the film 'Funny Girl', and sung by Barbra Streisand. Being an ardent fan of Streisand, I of course knew the song, but just assumed for a long time that it was written for the show by Jule Styne. However, I went on to learn the song was written by Billy Rose and Fred Fisher, and sung by Fanny Brice. I learned it wasn't in the Broadway production (I bought the album to learn there were several different songs), but added to the film version to add some authenticity from the Brice catalog. Please enjoy as Fanny Brice sings "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy with Somebody Else)".

While she might have been inspired by a song sung by the legendary Bessie Smith, Nina Simone was never one to take the simple route. So she wrote her own version of "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl", and while it might not have been quite as suggestive as Bessie's, it certainly doesn't shy away either. Nina recorded it on her 1967 album 'Nina Simone Sings The Blues'.

In 1964, Dionne Warwick released one of many songs written by the dynamic duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David. While it might not be known as Jazz standard, I think this clip of the gorgeous Diana Krall singing "Walk On By" certainly makes a case it should at least be considered.

Diahann Carroll sings "Goody Goody". The 1936 popular song was composed by Matty Malneck and Johnny Mercer, and first recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra, and made popular by Bob Crosby, a singer and bandleader known for his band, the Bob-Cats. He was also the youngest brother of Bing Crosby, but I digress. Here we have the always amazing Diahann Carroll singing the song on an appearance she made on The Judy Garland Show.

Love In Tune

Clockwise: Fanny Brice, Big Maybelle, Anita O'Day, and Julie London.

As I was looking for inspiration, I went to the music of some of my favorite lady singers, and that is when it hits me. Love. Has anything driven more songs than love? I didn't think so. So I went to some of my favorite lady singers, and wondered what they could offer. Well, they answered loud and strong, and allowed me to plenty of choices for tonight. I was lucky enough to pick my favorite singers, and then some of their wonderful performances to make it fantastic. Up first, I will go to a favorite of the blog, the elegant and sexy Julie London. So I picked a song with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Edward Heyman. Enjoy while Julie sings "When I Fall In Love".

I love the fact that you can find so much amazing music online, and that includes my nest singer, the talented Fanny Brice. For many, Brice is a character who earned an Academy Award for Barbra Streisand. In fact, Brice was a huge star in the 1910s thru to the early 1950s. Brice was a triple threat, known for her singing, comedy, and acting. She was often seen on Broadway, where she was often a headliner for the Ziegleld Follies. She also appeared in films, and was the star of "Baby Snooks", a hit on the radio from the late 1930s until heard passing in 1951. She also had a huge hit with the song "Mon Homme", a song originally composed by Jacques Charles, Channing Pollock, Albert Willemetz, and Maurice Yvain. Fanny recorded the English version, "My Man", in 1921. It was the song that Barbra Streisand delivered at the end of "'Funny Girl'. Here is Fanny's version.

I just adore Anita O'Day, and can't get enough of her. I just love her, and jumped at the chance to include her as well. Here O'Day sings a song with music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Gus Kahn. Listen to the beauty waiting to be found in "Love Me Or Leave Me".

I am also nuts about the amazing Big Maybelle. And that has nothing to do with the rather tragic life, as she is said to have fought her demons during her lifetime, with addiction issues. Her voice was just so delicious, so full and brimming with feeling. You can hear that in her version of the Blues classic, "Careless Love".

Hope you enjoyed the music!