Once In A Blue Moon

Clockwise: Ruth Etting; Julie London; The Boswell Sisters; and Patti Page.

I was inspired by the recent blue moon, a rarity to be sure. The moniker 'blue moon' has nothing really to do with the color, for all the term means is there was a second full moon in a calendar month. But that is a rare thing, and hence the title of this post, "once in a blue moon". So I thought the songs tonight would be inspired by the moon, and, more literally, have "moon" in their title. The first of the evening will be sung by the lovely Miss Ruth Etting, who came to stardom in the 1920s in vaudeville, which lead to a recording career. She also met and married mobster Moe Snyder in 1922, who also managed her career. Their tempestuous relationship ended with a divorce in 1937. The following year, Etting fell in love with her piano play, Merl Alderman, who was shot by Snyder. Alderman survived, and later that year married Etting. Snyder was convicted of attempted murder, but was released after serving one year. However, the scandal of the trial and the salacious details of her love life effectively killed her career. Her life was the basis for the fictionalized 1955 film, 'Love Me or Leave Me', which starred Doris Day as Etting, James Cagney as Snyder, and Cameron Mitchell as Alderman. Etting and Alderman were happy together until he passed in 1966. She had a lovely voice, and I love her recording of "Shine On Harvest Moon", a song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth, who debuted the song in 'The Ziegfeld Follies' of 1908. Etting recorded the song in 1931.

Singer and actress Julie London has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid, and heard my mother playing her records on the hi-fi stereo. Still to this day, I listen to her and she brings me back to those days. I was also a fan of the actress playing Dixie on the 1970s show 'Emergency!', and it was some time before I realized singer and the actress were one and the same. And while not quite the high drams of Ettings life, 'Emergency!' featured Julie and second husband, Jazz pianist Bobby Troupe, and was produced by Julie's first husband, Jack Webb. For Julie, I chose her 1955 recording of "No Moon At All", a wonderful song written by Redd Evans/Dave Mann.

Patti Page was the top-selling female artist of the 1950s, selling over 100 million records! Page recorded Pop music, but incorporated Jazz and Country influences in the music, setting her apart from many of her fellow artists of the time. She is perhaps best known for her recording of "Tennessee Waltz", a Country song she made her own. The song was her second #1 hit, and was the biggest selling single of her career. She recorded and released that song in 1950. For tonight, I chose her wonderful single "Allegheny Moon", the recording released in 1956. The song was written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning, and Patti's version went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is a wonderful clip of Page singing "Allegheny Moon".

A trio of sisters made big waves on the music scene in the 1930s, and while you might think I am speaking of the Andrews Sisters, they were not the only family group to be making great music. Martha, Connee, and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell were better known as The Boswell Sisters, known for their tight harmonies and great tone. In fact, the Andrews Sister were inspired by the Boswell Sisters. The have been inducted into both Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Hall of Fame. They recorded from 1925 to 1936, when the sisters decided to forgo music to pursue their own lives. Connee, who was confined to a wheelchair since an accident in her childhood, was the only sister to make music as a solo act. I picked their recording of a song written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. It wasn't long before "Blue Moon" became a classic song, with people recording it for decades to come. The sisters recorded it in 1935. This is the Boswell Sisters singing "Blue Moon".

Have a great weekend!

Vera, Nina, Kay, Linda & Diana Sing!

Clockwise from top: Vera Lynn; Nina Simone; Diana Krall; Kay Thompson; and Linda Ronstadt.

It is Saturday night, and time for another post devoted to those incredible ladies who make us feel every ounce of hurt, every pang of love, and the softness of a kiss. While being backed by a big band. A week or so ago, I made up a couple of playlists in my iTunes so I thought I would give the first five songs of the first one, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I lead off with the voice that many said saw the British through World War I and World War II, Vera Lynn. She sings a romantic British song written in 1939 with by Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin, that soon became a standard many of the greats were singing. Vera recorded "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" in 1940, and it is just so very beautiful.



I don't know if anyone can say enough about the gifted Nina Simone. Nina managed to make every song her own, with an unusual yet amazing arrangement. This is her singing the song "For All We Know", a 1934 song with music by J. Fred Coots and lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. This is Ms. Simone performing it in 1961.



I've already gushed on about Linda Ronstadt in earlier posts, but I can never seem to get enough of her. In the Mid-80s, when she was still making regular trips to the top of the Billboard charts, Ronstadt decided she wanted to record some of the great songs of the 1930s and 1940s, and have Nelson Riddle conduct the orchestra. She made three albums, and the second was Lush Life. That record included a stunning version of "Falling In Love Again", a song composed by Friedrich Hollaender as "Ich Bin Von Kopf Bis Fuß Auf Liebe Eingestellt" (literally: "Head to toe, I'm ready for love"). The song was originally performed in the film Der Blaue Engel (English translation: The Blue Angel) by Marlene Dietrich, who also recorded the most famous English version. However, here is the Ronstadt's "Falling In Love Again", released in 1984.



Kay Thompson was a woman of many talents, and one of those was her voice. While Thompson might be better known today as the writer of the Eloise book series for children, she was also the god-mother of Liza Minnelli (who many think was the inspiration for Eloise), and a singing and movie star in her own right. This is a clip of her singing "All Over Nothing At All" by Jack Jenney and His Orchestra featuring Kay on piano. The song was written by Peter Tinturin and Jack Lawrence, and featured in the 1937 film, Manhattan Merry-Go-Round.



I truly enjoy the music of Canadian chanteuse, Diana Krall. This contemporary torch singer can weave her spell with an ease and seductive nature just draws you in. I can't be the only one to think that, for she managed to hook Elvis Costello, her husband since 2003, and the father of their twin sons. Here is a recording of her singing "I Remember You", written by Victor Schertzinger and the great Johnny Mercer.



Have a great Saturday night!

Saturday Night with Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy Ellington was an American composer, pianist, big band leader, and Jazz artist. Edward, who some might now better as Duke Ellington, wrote over 1,000 compositions. For many, Ellington was the greatest songwriter of the twentieth century, and others believe maybe ever. His style and talent influenced the music in six or so decades he was making music, starting in the late 1920s. Much of his music, starting with his Big Band hits, went on to become Jazz standards, as well as Pop standards. His music was featured in films and on Broadway, as well as anywhere dance can be found. Ellington was born in Washington, DC, in 1899, to parents who both played the piano. His maternal grandfather was a slave in the South. His mother instilled the grace and manners of high society, and the neighborhood kids gave him the nickname "Duke". While he was most interested in baseball when he was a young man, soon it was music that took up his time. Before turning 21, Ellington was playing gigs as a pianist professionally, making a name for himself. He was playing in the DC area, as well as Maryland and Virginia. Soon, however, he moved to Harlem, and became a part of the great Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. His music flourished, and was hitting the charts by the late 1920s.



And while he had written and performed some of the most memorable music of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, I would have to think one of his most famous songs was the great Take The "A" Train. It was written in 1939, and in 1941, it went to #11 on the US Pop charts. This is a clip from the 1943 film Reveille With Beverly, which featured the song.



Another great song was written in 1931 and took off on the charts the following year. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) went to #6 on the Billboard Pop chart. I know it is a song I sing to myself from time to time, just because it pops into my minds. The following clip was from a show in 1943.



Mood Indigo was written in 1930, with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard and lyrics by Irving Mills. When the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1931, it climbed to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is most certainly a 'mood' piece, and a glorious one at that. I could listen to it for hours.



Written in 1953 by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Satin Doll quickly became a standard. It was recorded by the great voices in the business, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Wilson. In 1953, went to #27 with Duke and his Orchestra.



There are songs that are considered Jazz standards, and they are usually picked for a reason. It is not because they are easy to sing or to play, but because they are not easy, but elevates the performance of those who attempt it. Such is the case with the great song composed as an instrumental in 1932 by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, to which words were added by Mitchell Parish. That song, Sophisticated Lady, went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1933. The following video was taken from a performance in the late 1960s, featuring the talented Harry Carney.



The song went on to be the title song for a Broadway show featuring the music of the great Duke Ellington. Sophisticated Ladies opened on Broadway in 1981, and closed two years later. It featured the talents of Phyllis Hyman, Gregory Hines, and Hinton Battle, all who earned Tony nominations for their work, and Battle took home the statue. For his recordings, Ellington won twelve Grammy Awards. To learn more about Duke Ellington, visit his official website here. You can also find his music online. You can get a very nice collection, The Best of Duke Ellington, on iTunes or Amazon. You know, I think everyone should have some Ellington in their collection. At least if you want to listen to the best.

Chet Baker's Saturday Morning

While trying to decide what to post about this Saturday morning, I have to admit to struggling a bit, not quite sure what direction to pursue. So I slipped through some YouTube clips, and it came to me. What we could all use on this winter weekend is a little Chet Baker. I simply must do a fuller post about this talented and troubled man. For those who might not have heard his story, Chet Baker was born and raised in Oklahoma, the son of a professional guitarist. It is there he started to learn the trumpet. After leaving high school at 16, Baker joined the Army, and was stationed in Berlin. Soon he left the service, and studied music in Los Angeles. Soon he returned to the armed forces, only to be called once again to music, first in the Army band, and then obtaining a discharge. He quickly became a top session player for jazz greats like Stan Getz, Vito Musso and Charlie Parker. By the early 1950s, he joined the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, and they were an instant success.

Much later in his career, Baker recorded a popular song with music by Fred Karlin and lyrics by Dory Previn. His version of Come Saturday Morning is a delightful, dreamy recording.



Baker's chiseled features and dashing good looks made him an instant star. And his strong talent only made him shine that much brighter. It wasn't long, however, before his demons started dancing to his music. Baker has a big issue with drug addiction, and most people knew it. It would be a struggle or him to the very end of his life. But in 1954, when his career was just starting to go into overdrive, he recorded the album Chet Baker Sings, which featured the man not only playing the trumpet, but as vocalist as well. He recorded the Hoagie Carmichael hit I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes).



You can find the music of Chet Baker almost anywhere music is sold. You can find a Greatest Hits collection of iTunes here, and on Amazon here. If you don't own some, you might want to give it a try.

Worth Another Listen - Westlife

In 2004, Westlife released Allow Us To Be Frank, an album of jazz standards, songs inspired by and/or sung by the Rat Pack. I have long ago confessed my affection for Westlife, and especially member Mark Feehily, who came out as a gay man and did so with dignity. Feehily, along with bandmates Shane Filian, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne, prepared a loving tribute to the music and the era itself. I enjoy the album immensely.



The first release from the album was a song written in 1960, music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. Ain't That A Kick In The Head was first recorded in 1960 by Dean Martin, and conducted by Nelson Riddle, it became closely identified with the era.



Smile was a song originally used as an instrumental theme in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music. There is some discussion as to who wrote the words, with John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons often mentioned. The sheet music was sold with the lyrics accredited to Chaplin. The song was originally sung by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954.



Fly Me To The Moon was a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was titled originally In Other Words Frank Sinatra recorded the song on his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing accompanied by Count Basie. The arrangement by Quincy Jones, and that version went on to be thought of as the gold standard.



Mack the Knife or The Ballad of Mack the Knife, originally Die Moritat von Mackie Messer, is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their music drama Die Dreigroschenoper, or, as it is known in English, The Threepenny Opera. It premiered in Berlin in 1928. Mack the Knife was introduced to the United States hit parade by Louis Armstrong in 1956, but the song is most closely associated with Bobby Darin, who recorded his version at Fulton Studios in New York City in 1958. In 1959 Darin's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Black Singles chart, and earned him a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.