Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

14/10/2012

Russell pays tribute to the late Andy Williams, with tracks including Swinging on a Star, Moon River and Can't Help Falling in Love.

A tribute to the late Andy Williams opens with Andy's most famous 'anonymous' appearance - behind Bing Crosby with The Williams Brothers in Swinging On A Star.

We next hear him - again with his brothers - supporting Kay Thompson, Hollywood voice-coach and an important figure in his early days. Moon River, a significant milestone, follows and Russell tells the story behind the song and why Johnny Mercer altered the title from Blue River. It had already been used years earlier by one of Johnny's collaborators, Joseph Meyer. So next up is a rare recording of Ruth Etting, singing it in 1927.

An excellent recording of Andy singing with the Quincy Jones orchestra in 1961 leads us back to Bing Crosby - with I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You and this in turn takes Russell into the subject of ghosts. We meet Ghost Riders In The Sky by Peggy Lee; character actor Cyril Smith singing With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm; a fine song called Ghost Of Yesterday with Billie Holiday; Fred Astaire with a reject from Second Chorus - Me & The Ghost Upstairs; and Tiger Rag by The Washboard Rhythm Kings, with a vocal by Ghost Howell!

Russell also pays a tribute to recently-departed Herbert Lom with A Puzzlement from The King and I and a final song, Can't Help Falling In Love, from Andy Williams, closes.

57 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Oct 2012 21:00

Music Played

  • Bing Crosby

    Swingin' On A Star

    鈥淧erfect Movie Songs鈥

    • Past Perfect.
    • PPCD 78144.
  • Kay Thompson & The Williams Brothers

    Louisiana Purchase

    鈥淜ay Thompson 鈥 Think Pink! Fine 3 Cd Collection鈥

    • Sepia.
    • Sepia 1135.
  • Andy Williams

    Moon River

    鈥淚n The Lounge With 鈥 Andy Williams鈥 1999 Collection

    • Columbia.
    • 494508-2.
  • Ruth Etting

    Blue River

    [Cannot Find It On A Regular CD Issue]

    • Columbia.
    • 1208 D [78 RPM Single].
  • Andy Williams

    Under Paris Skies

    鈥淎ndy Williams鈥 Best/Under Paris Skies鈥 [2 LPs On 1 CD]

    • Collectables.
    • 6497.
  • Bing Crosby

    I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You

    鈥淐hronological Bing Crosby Vol 11: April 鈥 0ct 1932鈥

    • Jonzo.
    • JZCD 11.
  • Peggy Lee

    Ghost Riders In The Sky

    鈥淢iss Peggy Lee: It鈥檚 A Good Day 鈥 50 Sides 1941-1951鈥

    • Living Era.
    • CD AJS 266.
  • Cyril Smith With Rudy Vallee鈥檚 Connecticut Yankees

    With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm

    鈥淭he Haunted House鈥 20 Ghostly-Themed Classics

    • Nimbus.
    • NI 2008.
  • Billie Holiday

    Ghost Of Yesterday

    鈥淟ady Day: Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 鈥33-鈥44鈥

    • Columbia Legacy.
    • CXK 85470.
  • Washboard Rhythm Kings

    Tiger Rag

    鈥淭he First Rock 鈥楴鈥 Roll Record鈥 3 CD Collection

    • Famous Flames.
  • Fred Astaire

    Me And The Ghost Upstairs

    鈥淔red Astaire 鈥 Original Recordings [1935-1940]鈥

    • CBS.
    • 65826.
  • Herbert Lom

    A Puzzlement

    鈥淭he Original London Cast: 鈥楾he King And I鈥欌

    • Naxos.
    • 8.120792.
  • Andy Williams

    Can't Help Falling In Love

    鈥淢ore Music To Watch Girls By鈥 鈥60s Compilation

    • Columbia.
    • SONYTV75CD.

Broadcast

  • Sun 14 Oct 2012 21:00