
26/05/2013
Russell Davies finds Irving Berlin in Texas, courtesy of Willie Nelson, and Texas in song, courtesy of Steve Tyrell, Stan Freberg, Tom Ewell, Alice Faye and others.
Opening with a new recording, by Willie Nelson, of an Irving Berlin classic, Russell notes that Willie re-casts it 'as if to entertain the occupants of some dusty adobe village in the Tex-Mex country'. Following last week's feature on the 'B' sides, and underlining a Texan theme (Nelson's home state is Texas) Russell picks Stan Freberg's send-up of Mitch Miller's hit, 'The Yellow Rose Of Texas' and Marlon Brando's 'Luck Be A Lady' from the sound-track of the movie 'Guys And Dolls', both included in Acrobat's 'Hits We Missed'.
Eddie Erickson and Becky Kilgore sing the title song 'Guys & Dolls' from an album of songs from the score and next up is Steve Tyrell (a Texan) duetting with Judith Hill on 'I'll Take Romance', followed by another duet: 'The Little Things In Texas' from the movie 'State Fair' with Tom Ewell and Alice Faye. Marking the 50th anniversary of the death of bandleader Ted Weems (he made his HQ in Dallas, Texas!) we hear 'Remarkable Girl' sung by bass man Country Washburn while, courtesy of a listener, comes a curiosity by singer Gregory Page, who duets convincingly with an 80 year old Ruth Etting record. Moving from Texas to Kentucky to remember her birth, 85 years ago, we hear Rosemary Clooney's 'You're In Kentucky' and to mark the death, 80 years ago today, of 'The Father Of Country Music' Jimmie Rodgers, Russell plays his 'Blue Yodel No 9', famous for the 'unknown' trumpet obbligato which turned out to be the work of a moonlighting Louis Armstrong. Then, to celebrate Gene DiNovi's 85th birthday, we hear Peggy Lee's 'Nine Thorny Thickets' on which he plays harpsichord. Finally, there's a track from a new release of singer David Allyn and a quickie by Kay Starr - 'Down Among The Sheltering Palms'.
Last on
Music Played
-
Willie Nelson
Let's Face The Music And Dance
“Willie Nelson & Family: Let’s Face The Music & Danceâ€
- Legacy.
- 88765425852.
-
Stan Freberg
The Yellow Rose Of Texas
“The 1950s British Hit Parades: The Hits We Missedâ€
- Acrobat.
- ADDCD 3078.
-
Marlon Brando
Luck Be A Lady
“The 1950s British Hit Parades: The Hits We Missedâ€
- Acrobat.
- ADDCD 3078.
-
Rebecca Kilgore & Eddie Erickson
Guys And Dolls
“The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet Play Guys And Dollsâ€
- Arbors.
- ARCD 19354.
-
Steve Tyrell
I'll Take Romance
“Steve Tyrell – I’ll Take Romanceâ€
- Concord.
- CRE 33274-02.
-
Tom Ewell & Alice Faye
It's The Little Things In Texas
“Original Motion Picture S’tracks: ‘State Fair’â€
- Varese Sarabande.
- VSD 6090.
-
Ted Weems and His Orchestra
Remarkable Girl
“The Essential Ted Weems: 1923 – 1930â€
- Retrieval.
- RTR 79034.
-
Gregory Page & Ruth Etting
Funny, Dear, What Love Can Do
“Gregory Page: Love Made Me Drunkâ€
- Coco.
- 3004.
-
Rosemary Clooney
You're In Kentucky (Sure As You're Born)
“Rosemary Clooney: Something To Remember Me Byâ€
- Jasmine.
- JASCD 335.
-
Jimmie Rodgers
Blues Yodel No 9
“Jimmie Rodgers: The Singing Brakeman – 1927-1933â€
- Living Era.
- CD AJS 2011.
-
Peggy Lee
Nine Thorny Thickets
“Peggy Lee: Black Coffee & Sea Shells (2 Original Lps)â€
- Mca.
- MCLD 19363.
-
David Allyn
Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?
“David Allyn – Where You At? 1941 – ‘63â€
- Hep.
- HEPCD 95.
-
Kay Starr
Down Among The Sheltering Palms
“Kay Starr: Best Of The Standard Transcriptionsâ€
- Soundies.
- SCD 4124.
Broadcast
- Sun 26 May 2013 21:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 2