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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.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 3 Apr 2011 21:00

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