Sunday (Whitmans?) Sampler

Only been waiting most of a year to play "The Lusty Month Of May"!

Above, Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in a lovely (if posed) shot from Camelot.

Initially, the production ran for 4 hours. Loewe (of Lerner and...) did NOT want to collaborate on this one. Moss Hart (director) had a heart attack. Lerner (of Loewe and...) was left by his wife mid-rehearsal, and suffered a nervous breakdown. But Camelot still opened and survived on Broadway for 2 years(ish).

Great shot of Robert and Richard...Burton was given kudos for holding the cast (and production) together, amidst all the speed bumps prior to opening.

Below, Robert and Julie...mid-brush! 

Interesting replacements/revival cast members included Christine Ebersole as Guinevere, Robert became King Arthur (when he grew up!), and even Laurence Harvey took a crack at the crown.

Leslie Odom, Jr. above as fashion icon, and below with Lin-Manuel Miranda, on what looks to be the N train, in Hamilton garb!

Plus he has a new album out called Mr...we'll hear from an earlier recording, entitled (guess what?) "Leslie Odom, Jr."!

A young Bobby Short, stuck to a piano even at this age.

Below, entertaining at perhaps the Carlyle Hotel, where he performed his usual gig for over 35 years.

Short Trivia: He grew up in Danville, Illinois, where 2 of his high school classmates were Dick Van Dyke and Donald O'Connor.

He left for the big berg of Chicago at the age of 11, to perform in saloons and night clubs.

Author of 2 memoirs: "Black And White Baby" and "Bobby Short: The Life And Times Of A Saloon Singer."

 

In our "You're A" mini theme,

we'll hear Jane Carr and Bryce Pinkham sing "You're A D'ysquith" from 

A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder.

That's a "defrocked" Jane above with Jefferson Mays (who only played like 17 roles in the show). 

Best Musical Tony Winner of 2014.

I always wondered why I never saw "Dick Tracy" when it was released back in 1990, but looking at these photos GIVES ME A CLUE!

Warren Beatty looks great, but who wouldn't in the middle of THIS crowd?

The flick did sport 2 songs by Stephen Sondheim, but even that isn't enough for me to search it out on Amazon Prime. 

The cast evidently included:  

Al Pacino, Dick Van Dyke, Charles Durning, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Patinkin,

Kathy Bates, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Sorvino, and Michael J. Pollard?
Sheesh.

Oh, and Madonna. 

Still not renting it for $3.99. 

Playlist For Sunday, May 2, 2021: Classic Je Ne Sais Quoi!

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that certain je ne sais quoi.

That's the quote that would end every Schickele Mix radio broadcast, created and hosted by Peter Schickele. Peter is perhaps best known as the creator (or shall we say discoverer!) of P.D.Q. Bach, the fictitious 17th child of Johann Sebastian. Every year Peter would proclaim to have unearthed another composition by this Bach sibling, like "Concerto For Horn And Hardart", "O Little Town Of Hackensack", and "Pervertimento For Bagpipes, Bicycles, and Balloons." And he'd also invent correspondingly ridiculous instruments to play these "works" on, like the dill piccolo and the left-handed sewer flute. He was a "serious" composer as well, having earned composition degrees from Swarthmore and Julliard, writing symphonies, earning Grammies, all that long-hair sorta stuff. 

 While in I was in college (SUNY Oswego), Peter did a concert AND a master class for music students. Of course, I was in the FRONT ROW for both. 

 

And if all that wasn't enough, he hosted a radio show back in the 1990s (aired on several public radio stations), and in that mix he would pull from a very WIDE spectrum of musical genres, cultures, and eras to demonstrate, for instance, the use of accapella or song-speak or trios. You know, Gilbert & Sullivan followed by Elvis Presley. (Three Little Maids meet The King?) All narrated by a witty, punning, tongue-in-cheek Peter. It was super. Humor "mixed" with a pretty damn good breadth of musical knowledge. I sooooo wish I had his talent(s). And chutzpah. 

 

 

So whenever you hear Hallelujah, Baby! snuggled up to James Brown "feeling good", that's who I'm emulating. It's deliberate. I'm TRYING. :))) 

All that to say, there won't be much of that mixing this week...this is a straight-out, Classic Broadway Edition, with no flying off to other crazy genres or categories. Just normal connectivity. But watch for IT, okay? Let's mix it up, folks. Otherwise, "it won't mean a je ne sais quoi".

Melancholy Serenade (Instrumental, The Jackie Gleason Orchestra)

The Lusty Month Of May (Julie Andrews, Camelot)

The Seven Deadly Virtures (Roddy McDowall, Camelot)

How To Handle A Woman (Richard Burton, Camelot)

C'est Moi (Robert Goulet, Camelot)

You're A Builder Upper (Christopher Fitzgerald, Jessica Stone, Life Begins At 8:40)

You're A Lovable Lunatic (Ken Howard, Seesaw)

You're A D'ysquith (Jane Carr, Bryce Pinkham, A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder)

Delishious (Bobby Short, Bobby Short Is K-RA-ZY For Gershwin)

Joey, Joey, Joey (Leslie Odom, Jr., Leslie Odom, Jr.) 

On The Street Where You Live (Harry Connick, Jr., 25)

Mama Will Provide (Kecia Lewis-Evans, "The Storytellers", Once On This Island)

Once Upon A December (Christy Altomare, Anastasia)

What A Game (Peter Friedman, Alex Strange, Ragtime)

If I Were A Rich Man (Zero Mostel, Fiddler On The Roof)

Matchmaker (Julia Migenes, Tanya Everett, Joanna Merlin, Fiddler On The Roof)

Prologue/Tradition (Zero Mostel, Company, Fiddler On The Roof)

Soon It's Gonna Rain (Rita Gardner, Kenneth Nelson, The Fantasticks)

I Can See It (Kenneth Nelson, Jerry Orbach, The Fantasticks)

Never Say No (Hugh Thomas, William Larson, The Fantasticks)

Meadowlark (Patti LuPone, Don't Monkey With Broadway)

Right As The Rain (Jessica Molaskey, Make Believe)

Sooner Or Later (Bernadette Peters, Sondheim, Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live At Carnegie Hall)

Perfidia (Jason Graae, Stan Chandler, David Engel, Guy Stroman, Forever Plaid)

Cry (Jason Graae, Stan Chandler, David Engel, Guy StromanForever Plaid)

Crazy 'Bout Ya Baby (Jason Graae, Stan Chandler, David Engel, Guy StromanForever Plaid)

Song On The Sand (Gene Barry, La Cage Aux Folles)

The Best Of Times Is Now (George Hearn, Company, La Cage Aux Folles)

Candles, confetti, and cupcakes, oh my!: Broadway (and Hollywood) Birthdays

I've spotlighted these birthday ladies many times on this blog,

so I'll just leave these photos as an "-ohMAGE" and dance away.

First off, Barbra Streisand, born April 24, 1942, will turn 79 years old.

 

Carol Burnett turns 88 on April 26!

 

She even has a doll!  

And Celeste Holm had a natal day on April 29, 1917...

she passed away in 2012 at the age of 95.

 

 

 

 

Playlist For Sunday, April 25, 2021: Good Thing Goin'!

 So in the middle of my show yesterday, my headphones decided to commit hari-kari. They sort of fell apart. In the middle of a weather "report". Which caused me to sort of fall apart, too. That's my excuse, anyway, and I'm sticking to it! I might have said it was 200 degrees warmer or colder "in the Flower City." I have no clue, I've blocked it out. Well, maybe I haven't. As Jeff Harris (host of Big Road Blues) once scolded me, "When are you gonna get over yourself, Kim?" Working on that.

I've ordered a new pair. (And you can take that A LOT of ways.)

Meanwhile, I'm trying to listen to Goodtime Charley. Even with GOOD headphones, this musical would be "trying", okay? Music was by those Good Man, Charlie Brown dudes, Hal Hackady and Larry Grossman (who also did Minnie's Boys and Snoopy). A "comical take" on the Dauphin of France (hedonistic, petulant, and spoiled rotten, as is every dauphin I've ever met) who becomes obsessed with Joan of Arc, who I guess, helps him grow the heck up and get regal already, while she goes off to her barbecue. Originally gonna star Al Pacino and Barbara Harris. Right. Ended up with Joel Grey and Ann Reinking. 3 months on Broadway and whammo. (If this sounds a lot like the plot of Pippin, sans Ben Vereen, remember that it WAS the 1970s and we were all emoting and finding ourselves back then, even dauphins and dauphinettes.)

 And that's how I wear my collar...musta got the style from Joel.

 

But that gives us our really GOOD theme of the day! Not great, just GOOD. Be good or be gone. Good enough for Grandma. Fie on goodness. God, that's good! And yes, Goodtime Charley, which (thanks to all the GOODNESS in this playlist) we will survive. PLUS we've got Broadway Birthdays: Celeste Holm, Carol Burnett, ANNNNND Funny Girl Babs (who turns 79 on April 24), so huzzahs and cupcakes all around.

I don't think Babs has ever gotten over HERSELF! Sheesh...

 

Alright, time to get going. Huge To Do list.  Number 1: Get Over Yourself. Number 2: Try again, cuz the first time probably won't work. Number 3: Make birthday cupcakes for the world!  See ya Sunday. :))))

 

Good Thing Going (Vanessa Williams, Sondheim On Sondheim)

God, That's Good! (Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, Ken Jennings, Sweeney Todd)

Fie On Goodness (Roddy McDowell, Ensemble, Camelot)

When You're Good To Mama (Mary McCarty, Chicago)

Good Morning (Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Babes In Arms)

Your Good Morning (Lester James, Fia Karin, Parade)

It's Good To Be Back Home (Carol Burnett, Fade Out - Fade In)

Be Good Or Be Gone (Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, Pump Boys And Dinettes)

Goody Goody (Julie London, Julie Is Her Name, Vol. 2)

Being Good (Leslie Uggams, Hallelujah, Baby!)

I Feel Good (James Brown, Out Of Sight)

The Swamps of Home (Carol Burnett, Once Upon A Mattress)

Little Girls (Carol Burnett, Annie)

It Was Good Enough For Grandma (Celeste Holm, Bloomer Girl)

Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (Celeste Holm, Frank Sinatra, High Society)

Let The Good Times Roll (Ron Taylor, Company, Ain't Misbehavin')

Hey There, Good Times (Ensemble, I Love My Wife)

It Was A Good Time (Liza Minnelli, Liza With A Z)

Good Girls Go To Heaven (Sally Kellerman, Breakfast At Tiffany's)

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Gary Burghoff, Company, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Goodtime Charley (Joel Grey, Goodtime Charley)

Those Were The Good Old Days (Ray Walston, Damn Yankees)

People (Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl)

Miss Marmelstein (Barbra Streisand, I Can Get It For You Wholesale)

Who Are You Now? (Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl)

Put On Your Sunday Clothes (Barbra Streisand, Hello Dolly)

In The Good Old Summer Time (The Hayden Quartet)

Good News (Joan McCracken, Ensemble, Good News)

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye (Annette Hanshaw)

Please Don't Make Me Be Good (Scarlett Strallen, The New Yorkers)

Something Good (Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, The Sound Of Music)

Every Time We Say Goodbye (Ball State Cabaret Singers, Take Me To The World)

 

 

MGM, Act 2!

Stormy Weather, a 1943 20th Century Fox release,

featured The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold (above)

and Bill Robinson, Lena Horn, and Cab Calloway (below), along with

Fats Waller and Ada Brown.

Both Cabin In The Sky and Stormy Weather featured leading African American stars of the day. Two of the highlights of "Stormy" included Fats performing "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Caby leading his band in "Jumpin' Jive" with an incredible dance sequence by The Nicholas Brothers.

 

From It Happened in Brooklyn, released in 1947 by MGM,  we'll hear "Time After Time", one of the 6 Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn songs in this flick. The movie starred Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford (the trio above!), plus Kathryn Grayson. It was Frank's 3rd picture with MGM. Variety liked it:

"Much of the lure will result from Frank Sinatra's presence in the cast. Guy's acquired the Bing Crosby knack of nonchalance, throwing away his gag lines with fine aplomb. He kids himself in a couple of hilarious sequences and does a takeoff on Jimmy Durante, with Durante aiding him, that's sockeroo."

Girl Crazy started out on the Broadway stage with Ginger Rodgers and Ethel Merman (in her Broadway debut!)...by 1943 it was an MGM classic with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Gershwin music, of course, plus director Busby Berkeley, who didn't last long (those pricey production numbers were his downfall!). Before this, there was another Girl Crazy, done in 1932 with Bert Wheeler, and after this a 1965 flick with Connie Francis and Herman's Hermits??? Yup, it was called When The Boys Meet The Girls.

Wow...anyway, we'll hear "I Got Rhythm" and "Treat Me Rough" from the best, the 1943 version! 

Oh, forgot to mention that at first it was announced that Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell would star! hmmmm....

And this was Garland's last "youngster" role; she very much wanted to begin playing adults, but Roger Eden convinced her to do one more movie with Mickey!

Below, Mickey with June Allyson in her film debut..."Treat Me Rough"!

 

Love Me or Leave Me was released in 1955 (and what a year that seems to be for great movie musicals!)...all based on the life of Ruth Etting, dancer/singer/star. It was directed by Charles Vidor and starred Doris Day, Cameron Mitchell and Jimmy Cagney. Jimmy played gangster Moe The Gimp Snyder (they could really name 'em back in the day, right?), although that role was initially offered to Spencer Tracey.   

 And it was Jimmy who got Doris into the movie; both Jane Russell and Ava Gardner were considered before Ms. Day clinched it!

 

What a trio (below)!

And I remember those little paper coffee cups, with the handles.

Above, a sample pic of the real Harvey Girls! The Harvey House Waitresses, brain child of Fred Harvey, who advertised for "white, young women, 18–30 years of age, of good character, attractive and intelligent" to employ in his restaurants out west. Perfect fodder for a musical, released in 1946, with a fantastic cast: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Preston Foster, Angela Lansbury, Chil Wills, Marjorie Main, and Cyd Charisse in her first speaking role.

And an Oscar for Best Original Song: "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Sante Fe" written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer. :)

 

Before Judy was cast, Lana Turner was MGM's first pick for the starring role...but again Roger Edens stepped in, convincing Judy NOT to do Yolanda and the Thief (with Fred Astaire), but come over to the "dark side" and do The Harvey Girls instead. He musta been a real persuasive type, that Roger!

Also the part of "Em" was originally intended for Ann Sothern, but due to "personal problems", it went to Angela, her 4th film. And, tho she seemed to sing just fine in Sweeney (on stage, years later), she was dubbed by Virginia Rees.

Playlist For Sunday, April 18, 2021: Goin' Hollywood!

MGM, take 2. Son of MGM. MGM vs Godzilla. The MGM that ate Brooklyn. Yup, we're doing another Hollywood edition of 2 On The Aisle.

 

Mr. G. on his way to battle Hollywood, no doubt.

 

Because the first one was an ooooh lah lah success story! See Page 6. Everyone was talking. The Toast Of The Town (sans avocado, but still...). So I figured, here we are on Sunday Number 2 of the Jazz90.1 Spring Pledge Drive, let's play more movie goodies (not esoteric off-Broadway flops) to entice the customers!

 

With that in mind, we've got Love Me Or Leave with golden-throated Doris, It's Always Fair Weather with Gene on roller skates and Cyd knockin' 'em out at Stillman's Gym (see above), Girl Crazy with Andy and Judy ropin' cows (out in Studio West), and Goin' Hollywood with Bing, tempting all those "beautiful girls," pre-code with tequila! Plus bushels of Frank, firlots of Fred and kennings of Betty and Jane and June.

 And while you're jumpin' and jivin' to those pecks and parcels, belly up to the bar, boys and girls, and donate already! A little, a lot, we'd love any amount that you find yourself able to give. We want this little "engine that could" radio station to stay on the air, offering good memories and making new ones...forget your troubles, come on get DONATING! See you Sunday for Hollywood happy endings...:)

 

 

Good Morning (Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Singin' In The Rain)

Jumpin' Jive (Cab Calloway, The Nicholas Brothers, Stormy Weather)

Thanks A Lot, But No Thanks (Dolores Gray, It's Always Fair Weather)

I've Got Rhythm (Judy Garland, Girl Crazy)

By Myself (Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon)

I'll Never Stop Loving You (Doris Day, Love Me Or Leave Me)

Temptation (Bing Crosby, Going Hollywood)

Temptation (Instrumental, Singin' In The Rain)

The Trolley Song (Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis)

The Boy Next Door (Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis)

On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe (Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Ben Carter, Marjorie Main, The Harvey Girls)

Time After Time (Frank Sinatra, It Happened In Brooklyn)

Beautiful Girl (Bing Crosby, Going Hollywood)

You're Sensational (Frank Sinatra, High Society)

Well Did You Ever? (Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, High Society)

Sobbin' Women (Howard Keel, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers)

Barn Dance (Instrumental, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers)

I Wanna Be Loved By You (Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot)

Moses Supposes (Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Singin' In The Rain)

I Like Myself (Gene Kelly, It's Always Fair Weather)

I'll Go Home With Bonnie Jean (Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Brigadoon)

Yes Indeedy (Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Take Me Out To The Ball Game)

Ain't There Anyone Here For Love? (Jane Russell, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

You Knock Me Out (Carol Richards dubbing for Cyd Charisse, It's Always Fair Weather)

Join The Navy (Ensemble, Hit The Deck)

You're Awful (Betty Garrett, Frank Sinatra, On The Town)

The Tender Trap (Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, (Love Is) The Tender Trap)

Love Me Or Leave Me (Doris Day, Love Me Or Leave Me)

Bye Bye Baby (Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis (Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis)

Look For The Silver Lining (Judy Garland, Til The Clouds Roll By)

Treat Me Rough (June Allyson, Mickey Rooney, Girl Crazy)

Sugar Blues/Runnin' Wild/Sweet Georgia Brown (Instrumental, Some Like It Hot)