3-4 July, 2010
V-DISCS
During WWII the War Department authorized the
production of twelve inch 78 RPM vinyl recordings
for entertainment of the troops. Big Bands and singers donated their time and talent to make these recordings, known as V-Discs, resulting in the preservation of some unique and often singular performances. We listen to V-Disc versions by the King Cole Trio, Frank Sinatra, Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton among others, often with personal greetings from the performer.
10-11 July, 2010
SPOTLIGHT ON JAMES & DORSEY
Sometimes we tend to overlook the obvious. In
this instance two top bands of the Big Band
Era are spotlighted for at least two reasons: To
re-acquaint ourselves with information not recently presented, and to perhaps re-discover some of the tunes we sometimes take for granted. In the later stages of the Big Band Era James and Dorsey were issuing top recordings regularly. We'll listen to some of those but also veer off into less familiar territory for a tune or two.
31 JULY, 1 AUGUST, 2010
DESERT ISLAND FAVORITES
Every four or five years we conduct a BBJ NEWSLETTER survey asking
readers to name the single recording they'd take to a desert island if that was the only recording they could hear for the rest of their lives. (Our mythical island has full time electric service and a playback device, of course.) This program is made up of those choices. Some are the titles you'd expect, others indicate a different musical direction of the reader/listener. In all instances, the choices are revealing and entertaining. These surveys consistently reinforce the varied-taste factor and for that reason, this could be one of the more entertaining BBJs programmed by newsletter readers.
7-8 AUGUST, 2010
FREE FORM FROLIC
Just what the title implies, anything goes on this BBJ session. There may be some Spike Jones,
perhaps a sample of two artists who normally don't work together, music you may not have heard and a touch of swing. We don't know how this program will develop, so you'll be taking a chance listening just as we'll be taking a chance in the studio hoping it all works out with some semblance of unity. The host's personal taste comes into play of course as does the mood of the moment. This kind of program is similar to the lottery, you don't know if it's a winner until the final number is played.
14-15 AUGUST, 2010
WEATHER MELODIES
Just what the title implies, each tune will have
something to do with the weather. Rain, sun,
storms, clouds, moon….those are some of the subjects involved in the titles or the lyric content of tunes on this BBJ. STORMY WEATHER comes quickly to mind as does the song BLUE SKIES but we'll delve deeper than that and maybe be introduced to new versions of old standards. Programs such as this with a non-musical theme always result in surprising variety and often discovery. We'll experience that discovery together.
21-22 AUGUST, 2010
LES BROWN REMEMBRANCE
It was Stan Kenton who called the Les Brown organization the "Malted Milk Band." That approbation had nothing to do with the music, but the character of the players who led, by comparison, a life of reasonable normality. We investigate that band through some comments from Les Brown himself along with his music through the years from the time the band fielded some appealing instrumentals through the time they hit the charts with the help of notable singers including Doris Day. From musician's admiration to general public acclaim we review the history of one of the truly great bands of the era, a band still operating today under the direction of Les Brown, Jr.
28-29 AUGUST, 2010
SWINGIN' ON BROADWAY
Through the years a lot of memorable originated on Broadway. A tiny percentage of the population heard the
'live' performance. Most music fans were acquainted with Broadway melodies through recordings by pop singer, both individually and with Big Bands. This program reviews the sound of Broadway through those popular recordings.
4-5 SEPTEMBER, 2010
TODAY'S SINGERS
The very nature of BBJ often restricts music selection to the all-time popular recordings.
Nothing wrong with that, of course, but often such programming overlooks current singers in favor of well-established instrumentals. We search diligently in order to discover quality and feeling in today's singers. Screaming vocals will not be heard. Those who crowd the microphone will also be ignored. This kind of a program is a challenge to select singers with small groups and Big Bands using arrangements that will appeal to a maximum number of listeners but still reach out to introduce new sounds. You'll hear familiar names but also some performers you may not know.
11-12 SEPTEMBER, 2010
THE GOLD RECORDS
A gold record is, as you well know, a recording selling over a million copies. Such a recording
was unique in the Big Band Era and for some years after before platinum became the standard but we go back to the forties and fifties when a gold record had meaning and listen to some that found both commercial and artistic favor with the public. There is, of course, repetition in such a program simply because popular recordings are by their very nature heard often. We attempt, however, to mix in some recordings you may not expect. The program will present gold recordings from the later thirties into the fifties.
18-19 SEPTEMBER, 2010
THE 'F' FILE
It's always fun to check out the record files from an alphabetical standpoint, for the names artists do not determine their style, achieving
variety. This file is an example for it contains Ralph Flanagan, Ella Fitzgerald, Pete
Fountain and Percy Faith, all of whom offer a different musical approach. Also to be heard in this session will be Arthur Fiedler, Ferrante & Teicher and even Nick Fatool in his excellent drumming performance with three different groups.
25-26 SEPTEMBER, 2010
THE 'D' FILE
There may be a way to have more fun and make new discoveries than taking chances with
the alphabet, but this approach comes close. For example we not only re-visit Tommy Dorsey, certainly one of the prominent "Ds" in our time frame, but also check out Lenny Dee, Vic Damone, Dinning Sisters, Milton DeLugg and Frank DeVol among others. Oh, and the Dukes of Dixieland fall into the "D" category, too, as well as Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass, nearly forgotten these days.
2-3 OCTOBER, 2010
OTHER BAND'S HITS
Unlike today's rock and rap artists, Big Bands
recorded tunes that were made famous by others, and that's the basis for this program. For example, BEGIN THE BEGUINE will always belong to Artie Shaw but we offer the Gene Krupa version. SWEET LORRAINE immediately brings to mind Nat Cole, but in this program we present the song by Eddy Howard. The entire program is made up of prominent hits nearly always identified with a specific band or singer, but in this program performed by someone else. In the process we discover some musical delights hidden in the shadows of the spotlight shining on another band.
9-10 OCTOBER, 2010
SINATRA BY OTHERS
When we scheduled the previous program it occurred to us that not only Big Bands had
particular recording attributed to them, but similarly, Frank Sinatra has claimed ownership of several songs. This program has resulted from that reasoning. Some examples of what you'll hear include Buddy Greco singing THE LADY IS A TRAMP, the Luboff Choir with GIRL FROM IPANEMA, Dick Haymes singing ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL and Nelson Riddle with an instrumental version of YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG. There are two dozen examples of Sinatra favorites done in either instrumental or vocal form by another musical artist. Another program of discovery.
16-17 OCTOBER, 2010
THE 'B' FILE
What a surprise to uncork so many outstanding performances by such varied artists whose
names begin with the letter "B." Basie, of course, but also Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, the Baja Marimba Band, Billy Butterfield and Charlie Barnet. (Where has the Baja Marimba Band been hiding!) Les Baxter falls into the "B" slot as well as Will Bradley and a delightful young singer named Terry Blaine. Some varied input from Bunny Berigan and an appearance by Michael Buble are included plus some folks from the file whose names may not be on front covers but whose talents should be.
23-24 OCTOBER, 2010
BING AND FRIENDS
There was a time when Bing Crosby was the most famous entertainer in America. He was in
movies, on record and on the radio. Our good fortune is that many of his radio broadcasts have been preserved allowing us to hear not only Bing but his guest stars at the height of their popularity. Rosemary Clooney, Nat Cole, Connee Boswell, the Andrews Sisters and Helen O'Connell will be joined by others in this pause in the movement of time. Complete with audience reaction, introductory banter and even a commercial or two, we sample the sound of radio during its golden years as an important form of entertainment and information as well as background anecdotes to set the scene.
30-31 OCTOBER, 2010
THE 'S' FILE I
When we began digging into the files by alphabet, it became apparent that we had more
musical artist's names beginning with the letter "S" than any other so we split the file into two programs. This one checks into the Sauter-Finegan phenomenon, re-visits Sandler & Young and Jan Savitt and thrills to the voice of Dinah Shore. Raymond Scott makes an appearance as does one of our favorite piano players, Ralph Sharon. There are others, of course, leading into the next program continuing in the same file.
6-7 NOVEMBER, 2010
THE 'S FILE II
The second "S" file leads us to again check out the short-lived Spitfire Band, so popular for five
years or so and then forgotten. Jo Stafford is included in this "S" venture both as a single star and earlier as she appeared with Tommy Dorsey in a solo performance. George Shearing's innovations never fail to entertain and in this program we sample Shearing in Dixieland as well as the more familiar Shearing style. Not easy to believe we ran across organist Ethel Smith hiding in the file, and she'll perform as she did in so many lavish Technicolor musicals. Kay Starr and Charlie Spivak add to the list.
13-14 NOVEMBER, 2010
SPOTLIGHT ON GOODMAN / MILLER
As noted in our previous program spotlighting Harry James
and Tommy Dorsey, certain bands rose to the top during the Big Band Era, either because of superior musical performance, copious exposure or a campaign of advertising. Generally it was a combination of all three. No question that Benny Goodman's band rose to prominence because he offered swing to an young audience eager to embrace a more exciting sound. Glenn Miller offered a sound easily identifiable and then solidified his public persona by quitting at the top of his fame to join the army. The hits of those two bands will be sampled on this program, along with a few lesser-known but equally engaging numbers by each band.
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