
05/08/2012
Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. The show pays tribute to the recently-departed songwriter Richard Adler.
Much of this week's show takes the form of a tribute to the recently-departed songwriter Richard Adler.
Russell focuses of different facets of his career: While known principally for his Broadway and Hollywood successes, we start with one of the pop songs he wrote, not with his regular collaborator Jerry Ross, but with Richard Allen. Their song, Everybody Loves A Lover, is sung by Jane Morgan.
The Pajama Game gave us a number of hits and we hear three: Hernando's Hideaway (a hit for The Johnston Brothers), I'm Not At All In Love (Doris Day, from the movie) and Steam Heat (Ella Fitzgerald). The latter provides a small diversion and we get The Steam Is On The Beam (Four Vagabonds), La Cucaracha (Louis Armstrong and a personal memory of a New York bathroom); and Flanders & Swann's In The Bath.
We return to Richard Adler's work on Broadway with Heart (Damn Yankees) sung by Becky Kilgore; Hey There (Pajama Game) from Brook Benton; Whatever Lola Wants, Alma Cogan & Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo', The Hi-Los (both from Damn Yankees).
The latter gives Russell a chance to celebrate a famous ex-resident of Hannibal: Cliff Edwards, who sings Paper Moon. We finish with two non-theatrical Adler songs: I'm Seeing Rainbows from Marlene VerPlanck and Rags To Riches an early hit for Tony Bennett.
Last on
Music Played
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Jane Morgan
Everybody Loves A Lover
“Jane Morgan Sings Popular Favourites”
- Sepia.
- Sepia 1126.
-
The Johnston Brothers
Hernando's Hideaway
“1955 British Hit Parade Part 2: July – December”
- Acrobat.
- ACTRCD 9009.
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Doris Day
I'm Not At All In Love
“Doris Day: Calamity Jane/The Pajama Game”
- CBS.
- 467610-2.
-
Ella Fitzgerald
Steam Heat
“Ella Sings Broadway” Recorded October 1962
- Verve.
- 549 373-2.
-
The Four Vagabonds
The Steam Is On The Beam
“Four Vagabonds Complete Works Vol 1: 1941-1951”
- Document.
- DOCD 5635.
-
Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
La Cucaracha
Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions 1935-46:
- Mosaic.
- MD7 243.
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Michael Flanders and Donald Swann
In The Bath
“Flanders & Swann: At The Drop Of Another Hat”
- Parlophone.
- CDP 797 4662.
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B.E.D. (Rebecca Kilgore And Friends)
Heart
“Get Ready For Bed!” [Kilgore, Barrett & Erickson]
- Blue Swing Recordings.
- BSR 001.
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Brook Benton
Hey There
“Brook Benton: 16 Top Tracks”
- RCA Diamond.
- CD 90109.
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Alma Cogan
Whatever Lola Wants
“Bellbottoms, Dreamboats, Tangos & Eskimos”
- Acrobat.
- ACQCD 7013.
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The Hi‐Lo’s
Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo
“The Hi-Los – A Musical Thrill [2 CD Set]”
- Jasmine.
- Jascd 433.
-
Cliff Edwards
It's Only A Paper Moon
“Cliff ‘Ukelele Ike’ Edwards: Fascinating Rhythm”
- Retrieval.
- RTR 79068 [2 CD Set].
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Marlene VerPlanck
I'm Seeing Rainbows
“Marlene Verplanck: The Songs Of Richard Adler”
- Varese Sarabande.
- VSD 5804.
-
Tony Bennett
Rags To Riches
“Sepia Presents The Young Tony Bennett”
- Sepia.
- Sepia 1028.
Broadcast
- Sun 5 Aug 2012 21:00ѿý Radio 2