Monday, April 28, 2008

Flanders & Swann: The Epitome of Songwriting

As a dabbler in the art of lyric-writing, I never cease to be amazed by the work of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann. Though a bit newer than most of my RADIOLA! material, this selection is a classic and is guaranteed to delight.

Friday, April 25, 2008

"Eleven" April 25, 2008

(Week 120)

"Eleven?" Yep. Eleven.

Tune in tonight (Friday) at 8 PM Eastern to WHCL (with streaming HERE). The show will be uploaded to Live365 this weekend.

Jay C. Flippen and his Gang – For My Sweetheart (1926) – Fountain FV-204 LP
Joe Robichaux and his N.O.R.B. – I Would Do Anything For You (1933) – Jazz Oracle BDW 2057
Ipana Troubadors – Wake Up, Chill’un, Wake Up (1929) – Columbia 1779-D
Pletcher’s Eli Prom Trotters – I Like to Do Things For You (1930) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8055
Bennie Moten’s K.C. Orch – She’s No Trouble (1928) – Bluebird 3139-2-RB
Gus Arnheim’s Ambassador Orch – Feelin’ Good (1928) – Retrieval RTR 79050/2 (tr. 17)
Johnny Marvin – I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (1927) – Take Two TT509CD
Marion Harris – My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes (1931) – Living Era CD AJA 5330
Cliff Edwards – My Dog Loves Your Dog (1934) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5207
Miff Mole and his Molers – You Took Advantage of Me (1928) – Living Era CD AJA 5632
King Oliver and his Orch – Don’t You Think I Love You (1930) – JSP CD 3404/2
Isham Jones and his Orch (Keller Sisters, v) – Together, We Two (1927) – Living Era CD AJA 5320
Arthur Tracy – Let’s Fall in Love (1934) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5184
Layton and Johnstone – Bye, Bye, Blackbird (1927) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5207
Jay C. Flippen and his Gang – Hello Bluebird (1926) – Fountain FV-204 LP
West End Jazz Band – The Camel Walk (2005) – “The Gold Diggers of Broadway” Legacy 2K 106
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks – Cotton Club Stomp (2005) – “Cotton Club Revisited”
Wilbur Sweatman and his Jass Band – Boogie Rag (1917) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8046/1
Ollie Powers’ Harmony Syncopators – Play That Thing (1923) – JSP CD 926A
Jack Glassner and his Colonial Inn Orch – I Love My Baby (1926) – Retrieval RTR 79050/1
Sam Browne – Love Me Tonight (1932) – Living Era CD AJA 5482
Greta Keller – Paradise (1932) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5193
Paul Robeson & Elisabeth Welch – I Still Suits Me (1936) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5276
McKinney’s Cotton Pickers – Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You (1929) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5110
Bennie Moten’s K.C. Orch – I Wanna Be Around My Baby All The Time (1931) – Hep CD 1070/2
Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orch – Everything’s OK With Me (1930) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8041
Johnny Marvin – Painting the Clouds With Sunshine (1929) – Living Era CD AJA 5453
Irving Kaufman – A Precious Little Thing Called Love (1929) – Take Two TT509CD
Jay C. Flippen and his Gang – How Could Red Riding Hood? (1926) – Fountain FV-204 LP
Ramona Davies – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (1935) – The Old Masters mb116
Ray Noble and his Orch – The Very Thought of You (1932) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5115
Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orch – Sweet Sue (1928) – JSP CD 926A

Friday, April 18, 2008

"Echoes of Spring" April 18, 2008

(Week 119)

This RADIOLA! celebrates (not too strenuously) the arrival of nice weather, and the positive feelings that accompany it. Tune in tonight at 8 PM Eastern to WHCL (with streaming HERE), or listen later to Live365. No sweat. Don't tax yourself. Just enjoy.

Mae West – I Wonder Where My Easy Rider’s Gone (1933) – Living Era CD AJA 5604
Sam Lanin’s Troubadors – Swingin’ In a Hammock (1930) – Jazz Oracle BDW8053
Ipana Troubadors – Wake Up, Chill’un, Wake Up (1929) – Columbia 1779-D
Willie “The Lion” Smith and his Cubs – Echoes of Spring (1935) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5272
Spike Hughes and his Negro Orch – Pastorale (1933) – Retrieval RTR 79005
Bennie Moten’s K.C. Orch – Oh! Eddie (take 1) (1930) – Hep CD 1070/1
Al Jolson – When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin’ Along (1926) – Living Era CD AJA 5526
Marion Harris – Carolina in the Morning (1922) – Living Era CD AJA 5330
Paul Whiteman and his Orch (Rhythm Boys vo.) – Magnolia (1927) – Naxos 8.120696
Red and Miff’s Stompers – Slippin’ Around (1927) – Living Era CD AJA 5632
Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orch – Four or Five Times (1928) – JSP 926A
The Troubadors – Ain’t That a Grand and Glorious Feeling? (1927) – Living Era CD AJA 5389
Gene Austin – A Garden in the Rain (1929) – Take Two TT414CD
Johnny Marvin and Ed Smalle – Blue Skies (1927) – Living Era CD AJA 5453
Annette Hanshaw – Ev’rything’s Made For Love (1926) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5220
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks – Happy As the Day is Long (2005) – “Cotton Club Revisited”
Barbara Rosene and her New Yorkers – Moonlight Saving Time (2005) – Stomp Off CD1405
Fred Elizalde and his Anglo-American Band – Under the Moon (1928) – Retrieval RTR 79011
Ben Selvin and his Orch – The Free and Easy (1930) – Retrieval RTR 79050/2
Waring’s Pennsylvanians – Collegiate-Shimmy (1925) – Victor 19648-A
Paul Robeson – Lazy Bones (1933) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5276
Whispering Jack Smith – Sunshine (1928) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5372
Connie Boswell – The Carioca (1934) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5184
Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orch – She’s Still Dizzy (1930) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8041/2
Bennie Moten’s K.C. Orch – Jones Law Blues (1929) – Hep CD 1070/1
Spike Hughes and his Negro Orch – Bugle Call Rag (1933) – Retrieval RTR 79005
Bing Crosby (w/Isham Jones) – Lazy Day (1932) – Living Era CD AJA 5320
Binnie Hale (w/Carroll Gibbons) – As Time Goes By (1932) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5182
The Revelers – Breezin’ Along With the Breeze (1926) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5278
George Scott-Wood and his Orch (Sam Browne, v) – The Continental (1934) – Living Era CD AJA 5482
The Cats and the Fiddle – When I Grow Too Old To Dream (1939) – Living Era CD AJA 5475
Russ Columbo – Goodnight Sweetheart (1931) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5234

Friday, April 11, 2008

"Doo Wacka Doos--and Don'ts" April 11, 2008

(Week 118)

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be, thank God. This RADIOLA! explores the Hi-Fi and Stereo caricatures of vintage music that (fun though they were) almost killed the real thing--and offers definitive 1920s examples of the tunes, along with sensitive and creative newer recordings that capture the actual tone and spirit of the era. (Also, I'll fill a few recent requests.) Tune in tonight at 8 PM Eastern to WHCL (with streaming HERE). The program will be uploaded to my Live365 station this weekend.

Isham Jones and his Orch – Doo Wacka Doo (1924) – ABC 838 215-2
Bonnie Alden – Charleston (1950s) – Roulette R-25006
Ipana Troubadors – Wake Up, Chill’un, Wake Up (1929) – Columbia 1779-D
Savoy Orpheans – Charleston (1925) – Pavilion PAST CD 7845
The Chicago Mob and Orch. – After I Say I’m Sorry (1960s) – Palette PTS 30,001
Abe Lyman and his California Orch – After I Say I’m Sorry (1926) – Living Era CD AJA 5526
Velvet Side of the Roaring ‘20s – Dew-Dew-Dewy Day/Get Out and Get Under the Moon – Fox 3017
Jim Miller-Charlie Farrell – Dew-Dew-Dewy Day (1927) – Victor 20906-A
Annette Hanshaw – Get Out and Get Under the Moon (1928) – Annette Hanshaw Vol. 5 (Sensation)
Barbara Rosene and her New Yorkers – Get Out and Get Under the Moon (2005) – Stomp Off CD1405
Sammy Gardner and his Mound City Six – South (1958) – Everest SBDR 1002
Bennie Moten’s K.C. Orch – South (1928) – Bluebird 3139-2-RB
Happy Harry and his Two-Beat Six – The Sheik (1950s) – Bravo K114
Club Royal Orch – The Sheik (1921) – Archeophone ARCH 9007
Red Nichols and his Five Pennies – The Sheik of Araby (1930) – Decca GRD-609
Al Jolson – My Mammy (1928) – Pro Arte Digital CDD 436
Cab Calloway and his Orch – Minnie the Moocher (1931) – Masters of Jazz MJCD 182
Benny Goodman Sextet – Flying Home (1939) – Columbia CK45199
Bunny Maddox and his Old Time Charleston Band – Way Down Yonder in N.O. – Golden Tone C4004
Frank Trumbauer and his Orch – Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (1928) – Columbia CK 45450
Enoch Light and his Charleston City All-Stars – Button Up Your Overcoat – Grand Award GA-229-SD
Ruth Etting – Button Up Your Overcoat (1928) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5008
Bonnie Alden – Black Bottom (1950s) – Roulette R-25006
Annette Hanshaw – Black Bottom (1926) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5220
Longines Symphonette Society – Ukulele Lady – Longines Symphonette SYS 5240
Paul Whiteman and his Orch – Ukulele Lady (1925) – Naxos 8.120628
Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders – Quality Shout (1929) – Timeless CBC 1-034
Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks – Quality Shout (1993) – Stomp Off CD1260
Paul Whiteman and his Orch – Dardanella (1927) – RCA Jazz Tribune No. 48
West End Jazz Band – Dardanella (2005) – Legacy 2K 105
Seamus O’Gould-Joe Sodja – Bye Bye Blues (1950s) – Design DLP-42
Fred Hamm and his Orch – Bye Bye Blues (1925) – Timeless CBC 1-072
Joe Daniels and his Hotshots in "Drumnastics" - Sweet Sue-Just You (1935) - Decca 953 B

Thursday, April 10, 2008

CARMEN CARAMANICA TRIO--TINY'S APRIL 12

Carmen Caramanica, Cosmo Castellano, and Rick Compton will play one of their all-too-infrequent gigs on April 12 (8-11 PM) at Tiny's Grill (1014 State St., Utica NY). They play music somewhat more modern than that featured on RADIOLA!--but they are remarkable musicians, and this performance is not to be missed by anyone who appreciates excellent jazz.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band--April 12 & 13


This weekend, The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band billed as "The World's Most Authentic Swing Band" will be appearing locally for two performances. On Saturday, April 12 at 3 PM the group will play at the Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee St., Utica NY (sponsored by the Jazz, Blues & Libraries Too Concert Series). On Sunday, April 13, they will perform at the Filius Events Barn at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY (sponsored by The Jazz Archive, BSU and Dean of Faculty Office). The Hamilton concert begins at 3 PM, with a pre-concert meet-and-greet at 2 PM. The events are free and open to the public.

The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band is the world's most authentic swing band. It stars veteran jazz and blues musicians whose roots reach to the classic period of the '20s and '30s. Together since 1973, these “originals” actually “jumped” at the Woodside and “stomped” at the Savoy, with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Fats Waller, Louis, Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and other jazz greats. These are the artists who created a new genre, of music for America. The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, touring since 1976, has been called “a national treasure,” and has been enthusiastically embraced by audiences around the world.

Friday, April 04, 2008

"Broadway Rhythm" April 4, 2008

(Week 117)

Tonight's RADIOLA! is all about Broadway--and not just the thoroughfare, but the much-loved dime-store label as well. (Thanks to Leah Bezin of the West End Jazz Band) for the suggestion. Tune in at 8 PM Eastern to WHCL-88.7 FM (with streaming here). A special presentation of "Hammond Bacon" featuring Den Otis (sp?) will follow RADIOLA! at 10. "Broadway Rhythm" will be uploaded to my Live 365 station this weekend.

Carroll Gibbons and his Savoy Orpheans – Broadway Rhythm (1935) – Music & Memories MMD 1007
Wisconsin Roof Orch. – Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1927) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8014
Ipana Troubadors – Wake Up! Chill’un, Wake Up! (1929) – Columbia 1779-D
Billy Stennett and his Carolina Stompers – Buffalo Rhythm (1928) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8049
Broadway Broadcasters – Maybe It’s Love (1928) – Brunswick 4124
Ben Pollack and his Orch. – She’s One Sweet Show Girl (1928) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8015
Billy Murray – I’d Rather Be a Lamp-Post on Old Broadway (1916) – UCSB Cylinder Collection
Arthur Fields – Goodbye Broadway, Hello France (1917) – UCSB Cylinder Collection
The Dixie Stars – New York Ain’t New York Anymore (1925) – Columbia 389-D
Castle Farms Serenaders (Bill Haid’s Cubs) – Chili Blues (1928) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8039
Broadway Broadcasters (S. Lanin) – St. Louis Blues (1927) – Rivermont BSW-1143
Fred Rich and his Hotel Astor Orch. – Clap Yo’ Hands (1926) – Columbia 802-D
Broadway Music Masters – Momma Goes Where Papa Goes (1923) – Rivermont BSW-1144
Whispering Jack Smith – Crazy Rhythm (1928) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5342
Charles King – Broadway Melody (1929) – Pavilion PAST CD 7845
West End Jazz Band – Gold Diggers of Broadway Overture (2005) – Legacy 2K 106
Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks – Southbound (1993) – Stomp Off CD 1260
Bill Carlsen and his Orch. – Baby Won’t You Please Come Home (1930) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8014
Bill Haid’s Cubs – Shake it Down (1928) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8039
The Broadway Nitelites (VDL, v.) – I Wanna Be Loved By You (1928) – Living Era CD AJA 5468
Helen Morgan – Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (1932) – Columbia/Legacy CK 57711
Boswell Sisters – Forty-Second Street (1933) – Collectables COL-CD-6462
Alice Faye – Let’s Go Slumming on Park Avenue (1937) – Columbia/Legacy CK 57711
Broadway Broadcasters – Pompanola (1928) – Brunswick 4124
Art Krueger and his Columbians – Keeping Out of Mischief Now (1932) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8049
Frank Trumbauer and his Orch. – Manhattan Rag (1929) – Sunbeam BXCD 13
Earl Randolph’s Orch. (S. Lanin) – My Ohio Home (1927) – Rivermont BSW-1143
The Manhattan Entertainers (Haid) – You Took Advantage of Me (1928) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8039
Smyth-West Orch. – You’ve Got Me In The Palm of Your Hand (1932) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8049
Boswell Sisters – Lullaby of Broadway (1935) – Retrieval RTR 79009
Hod Williams and his Orch. – The Big Apple (1937) – IAJRC CD 1002
Wisconsin Roof Orch. – Farewell Blues (1927) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8014