03/04/2011
Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. He pays tribute to Hugh Martin and celebrates the birthday of Doris Day.
This week we pay tribute to songwriter Hugh Martin, who died recently at 96 years old. Russell reminds us of his collaborations with Ralph Blane in such movies as Meet Me in St Louis. We hear Judy Garland's The Trolley Song and, in Jo Stafford's version, The Boy Next Door. We also hear Hugh Martin himself, in duet with Michael Feinstein (The Two of Us).
Doris Day's birthday is celebrated with a very rare performance (from a radio airshot) of Miss Day singing with the Barney Rapp orchestra I'm Happy About the Whole Thing - a forgotten Johnny Mercer/Harry Warren opus.
A famous 50-year-old recording studio meeting between Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong is recalled, along with Bunny Berigan's I Can't Get Started. Russell charts the progress of this classic recording to the point when it was accepted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Returning to Hugh Martin, Russell finds a song which has parallels with a more famous Cole - Porter. Russell then reflects on his own upcoming 'big birthday' with a very old Bessie Smith song, reprised by Carrie Smith at Carnegie Hall. And this leads to another, more celebratory, Carnegie performance by Judy Garland and piano virtuoso Jose Iturbi.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Judy Garland
The Trolley Song
鈥淭he Very Best Of Judy Garland鈥�
- Warner/Turner Classics.
- 8122 74621 2.
-
![]()
Hugh Martin & Michael Feinstein
The Two Of Us
鈥淢ichael Feinstein Sings The Hugh Martin Songbook鈥�
- Nonesuch.
- 7559 79314-2.
-
![]()
Jo Stafford
The Boy Next Door
鈥淛o Stafford: Her 54 Finest 鈥� 1942 鈥� 1953鈥�
- Retrospective.
- RTS 4112.
-
![]()
Barney Rapp Orchestra with Doris Day
I'm Happy About The Whole Thing
鈥淣bc Broadcast 17th July 1939鈥�
- Joyce [LP].
- LP 1058.
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington - It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Thing
鈥淭he Best Of Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington鈥�
-
![]()
Red McKenzie & His Orchestra
I Can't Get Started
鈥淭imeless Historical Presents Red Mckenzie鈥�
- Timeless.
- CBC 1-019.
-
![]()
Bunny Berigan and His Boys
I Can't Get Started
鈥淏unny Berigan & His Boys 1935-1936鈥�
- Chronological Classics.
- Classics 734.
-
![]()
Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra
I Can't Get Started
鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Get Started 鈥� Bunny Berigan鈥�
- Definitive Records.
- DRCD 11377.
-
![]()
Bea Wain
Ev'ry Time
鈥淏ea Wain 鈥� The Complete Recordings Vol. 2鈥�
- Baldwin Street Music.
- BJH - 315.
-
![]()
Ella Fitzgerald
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
鈥淓lla Love Songs鈥�
- Universal.
- 983 1065.
-
![]()
Carrie Smith
You've Been A Good Ole Wagon
鈥淪atchmo Remembered 鈥� Dick Hyman & Nyjro鈥�
- Atlantic.
- SD 1671.
-
![]()
Judy Garland & Jos茅 Iturbi
The Joint Is Really Jumpin' Down At Carnegie Hall
鈥淥riginal Movie Themes Vol 3 [10 CD Set]鈥�
- Membran.
- 7082694.
Broadcast
- Sun 3 Apr 2011 21:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 2