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!

Memorial Sunday • Judy's "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"

As it is Memorial Day Weekend, I thought it would be perfect to start off Sunday with a bit of inspirational Judy Garland. I know, many of you are saying that whenever Judy sang it was an inspiring event, which might very well be true. However, there were times when it was more so than others, and I have to think that when Judy dedicated here performance of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to her friend John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States of America and her good friend, there was that certain bit of something in the air that night. Enjoy as Judy sings this great song.

It cannot be denied that when Judy was on her game, it was tough to compete with her as a live performer. And while Judy is being all patriotic, how about this very sweet recording of her singing "America The Beautiful" on a 1964 episode of 'The Judy Garland Show'. And if any woman can sing a song with a five o'clock shadow and still sound beautiful, it would be Judy!

Enjoy the holiday, and don't forget to remember all how have given their lives in defense of the nation, and thank those who have served in the armed forces.

Judy & Liza Make Beautiful Music Together

If I say "Judy and Liza", I bet almost everyone instantly got an image of a mother and daughter, both iconic actresses and singers who battled their demons quite publicly. I have no problem admitting their music is still part of the soundtrack to my day. Well, the early 1960s was the time this duo were in their heyday, with Liza in her late teens and Judy in her 40s. In fact, the following clip was part of The Judy Garland Show, the television show cancelled after the first season. Thankfully, it did leave video of the two singing several different songs, including the following. Judy and Liza sang a medley that included the songs: "We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together", written by Henry Manners and Robert Sour; "The Best Is Yet To Come" written by the brilliant Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh; "Bye-Bye, Baby" by Leo Robin and the immortal Jule Styne for the Broadway musical Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and later sung on film by Marilyn Monroe; "Together (Wherever We Go)" from the musical Gypsy, written by hall of fame writers Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne. Enjoy Judy and Liza, recorded about 49 years ago.



Thanks for modern technology, you can purchase this and many other duets sung by Judy Garland with other bright stars on iTunes.

Happy Birthday, Chita Rivera!

On January 23, 1933, Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero was born in Washington, DC. The beautiful young girl, known affectionately as Chita, grew up with a desire to perform, and in 1952 made her Broadway debut in Call Me Madam. That was followed by roles in Guys And Dolls and Can-Can, before landing the role that established her as the Broadway superstar she remains. In 1957, she appeared in a show with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Arthur Laurents, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Chita played Anita in West Side Story, and shined like the star she was. However, once it was being filmed in Hollywood, Anita was played by Rita Moreno. In 1960, she starred as Rosie Alvarez in the new Broadway music Bye-Bye Birdie, to much acclaim. However, when the movie was released in 1963, it was Janet Leigh how played the role of Rosie DeLeon.



In some ways, Chita's performance in the 1969 film Sweet Charity was groundbreaking. There you have two women of color, a Latina and an African American, in major roles in a studio motion picture. Sweet Charity was directed by the brilliant Bob Fosse, who also did the choreography. Of course, that is unmistakable in the musical number, Hey, Big Spender!



In 1975, Chita was in another Broadway hit, Chicago. It was directed and choreographed by the great Bob Fosse. In the following clip, Chita and costar Gwen Verdon perform Nowadays and Honey Pot Rag from Chicago with a guest spot for Hal Linden. This was on the Mike Douglas Show, a talk show I remember well from my youth. Keep in mind that when Chicago opened on Broadway, Miss Verdon was 50, and Miss Rivera was 42. And, oh, could they dance. And after the number, they chat with the host.



Chita appeared on The Judy Garland Show in early 1964. She duets with Judy on I Believe In You, and does a solo turn with I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'. There is so much creamy goodness going on here, I just gotta shut up and let you watch.



In 1984, Chita starred in the Broadway musical The Rink with Liza Minnelli, playing her mother. The music was written by the dynamic duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb, winning her first Tony Award. This is a song from the show, The Apple Doesn't Fall (Very Far From The Tree). Of course, we all know who the character of Liza's mother might be based on...



In 1993, the sixty-year-old Rivera returned to Broadway in the smash hit Kiss Of The Spider Woman. In her role of Aurora, she stole the show night after night. For the greatness, she was awarded the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical once again. This is a clip of the cast singing Where You Are on the Tony Awards broadcast.



So, Chita Rivera, for all this you deserve a great big cake and the huge chorus of Happy Birthday!

Sunday Morning with Diahann & Judy

To ease you into this Sunday morning, I thought I would offer the angelic voices of Judy Garland and Diahann Carroll singing a medley of songs by the great songwriters, Harold Arlen and Richard Rodgers. This was on the The Judy Garland Show, and aired in February of 1964. Both ladies had immense talent, and respect for one another. It shows in their performance.

Barbra Streisand- The Early 60s

Before she was a household name and just out of her teens, Barbra Streisand made several appearances on television shows to promote her fledgling career, with one featured role on Broadway, and a debut album in the planning stages. In 1962, Streisand was just 20 years old and made her Broadway debut in I Can Get It For You Wholesale, playing the supporting role of Miss Marmelstein. She had been singing in clubs to make some money to support her acting career. Her appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1962 was sure to help her, and she was allowed to sing two songs, both classics. First she sang the ballad My Coloring Book, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, released that same year.



She followed that up with another classic, Lover, Come Back To Me. The music was written by Sigmund Romberg with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for the Broadway show The New Moon in 1928. While the first song had a traditional performance, Streisand's take on this old song was rather new and vibrant, especially for the time. Interestingly enough, both songs were recorded for her second album, not the first. This performance was taken from her Emmy-winning special, My Name Is Barbra.



She returned to the Sullivan show the following year to sing When The Sun Comes Out, which also appeared on the The Second Barbra Streisand Album. This was another torchy ballad, and delivered with the amazing phrasing Streisand already developed at just the tender age of 21.



She also appeared on the Judy Garland Show in 1963, in which she did a couple of duets with the grand dame herself, which I documented here. But she also managed to have some solo time, including singing Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered, which appeared on her third album in 1964.



She performed a second solo on the show. She sang the 1937 song, Down With Love, with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen, who, of course, wrote one of Judy Garland's biggest songs, Over The Rainbow. The sheer exuberance with which she sings it is amazing. The song later appeared on her second album, released in August of 1963.



Way back when, Dinah Shore had her own show, sponsored by Chevrolet. In 1963, she had Streisand on as a guest, and old lore has it that when Barbra showed up, Dinah didn't like the clothes she had, so she took her out to the store and purchased a new dress for her to wear. You can see it in this clip of Barbra singing Cry Me A River, written in 1953 by Arthur Hamilton. It was the first cut off her debut, The Barbra Streisand Album, released in early 1963.



In 1964, Barbra Streisand opened on Broadway in Funny Girl, which many claimed made her into an overnight sensation. But Streisand had worked hard for a couple of years prior to become the sensation, with another show and two albums under her belt. She had put in appearances on these shows, as well as the Tonight Show with both Jack Parr and Johnny Carson, as well as many more local television shows. Luckily, there are video tapes of the performances you see above.

Great Women - Judy & Barbra

Both Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand deserve their own post, and they will both get it. But this particular duet is just far too outstanding to not get recognized. The event was The Judy Garland Show, taped in 1963. Barbra was at the beginning of her career, only 21 years old and hadn't hit Broadway yet with Funny Girl. Judy was at the end of her career, although she was only 41, she died less than six years later. Judy had done A Star Is Born nine years earlier, and Barbra would remake it 13 years later. But in 1963, they did a couple of songs together, the first being Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy, hits for Barbra & Judy, respectively.

They also did Hooray For Love, which compiles several songs into one.

In an oddness that can only be attributed to live television, they were joined by Ethel Merman on stage for There's No Business Like Show Business. Merman, of course, owns the song, and takes it home. Judy tried to keep up a bit, but figured it out, and Barbra just looks like she isn't sure what she got herself in to. You just figured there was a stage manager or director offstage yelling 'Sing out, Louise!'

All I can say is that VH1s Diva shows have nothing on these three ladies just daring the world to get in their way. And every gay man in the couttry had their TVs tuned into this, and lost their breathe for a few minutes. After the show, I would be willing to bet that notes were not the only belts that Judy & Ethel shared - unless the producers had the liquor cabinet locked tight.