大象传媒

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.