Album Cover: Ella and Rosie

The original LP artwork for Ella Fitzgerald's first Songbook for Verve Records. Producer Norman Granz wanted Nelson Riddle for the project but he wasn't available so the honours went to Buddy Bregman. Three years later, Ella and Nelson did join forces on the George & Ira Gershwin Songbook project.

The track I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry in the current playlist comes from this rare Rosemary Clooney album with artwork that seems to have been influenced by a Doris Day movie or two!

Playlist: 25 Aug 2012

Intro: If You Could Read My Mind - Todd Gordon & Jacqui Dankworth: Ballads from the Midnight Hotel

1. All Through the Night - Ella Fitzgerald: The Cole Porter Songbook

2. Close Your Eyes - Doris Day & André Previn: Duet

3. Message to Michael - Dionne Warwick: Heartbreaker

4. My Father - Nina Simone: Baltimore

5. Memphis Blues - Nat King Cole: St Louis Blues

6. Come On-a My House - Rosemary Clooney: single

7. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans - Rosemary Clooney: Dedicated to Nelson

8. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Rosemary Clooney: Country Hits from the Heart

9. Bali Ha'i - Rosemary Clooney & Perez Prado: A Touch of Tobasco

10. How Am I to Know? - Rosemary Clooney & Nelson Riddle: Rosie Solves the Swingin' Riddle!

11. Hindustan - Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney: Fancy Meeting You Here

12. I'm Checking Out... Goodbye - Rosemary Clooney with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Blue Rose

13. Gold Brazilian Sun - The Hi-Lo's: The Hi-Lo's Happen to Bossa Nova

14. Blue Turning Grey Over You - Maxine Sullivan: A Tribute to Andy Razaf

15. Back in Your Own Back Yard - Peggy Lee: Jump for Joy

16. Potholes - Randy Newman: Harps and Angels

17. Taking a Chance on Love - Patti Page: In the Land of Hi-Fi

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Playlist: 18 Aug 2012

Intro: If You Could Read My Mind - Todd Gordon & Jacqui Dankworth: Ballads from the Midnight Hotel

1. All the Things You Are - Sarah Vaughan & The Count Basie Orchestra: Send in the Clowns

2. Falling in Love with Love - Mark Murphy: This Could Be the Start of Something

3. Moondance - Ramsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson: Meant to Be

4. Cherokee - Vic Damone: The Lively Ones

5. Close Your Eyes - Dolores Gray: Warm Brandy

6. Goodbye/We'll Be Together Again - Ray Charles & Betty Carter: Ray Charles & Betty Carter

7. Come and Get It, Honey - Nellie Lutcher: Real Gone

8. I Remember Clifford - Ernestine Anderson & George Shearing: A Perfect Match

9. The Gal That Got Away - Jackie Paris: Jackie Paris Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin

10. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Jimmy Scott: All the Way

11. What a Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday: The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (Disc 3)

12. Close Enough for Love - Dianne Reeves: That Day...

13. Memories of You - Frank Sinatra: Classic Sinatra II

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Album Cover: Sammy & Buddy / George & Dakota

A couple of examples of cover artwork from this week's playlist. Firstly, Sammy Davis Jr with Buddy Rich and his band, recorded in the wee small hours during their engagement at The Sands in Las Vegas.

And secondly, a rarely-heard Capitol album by the George Shearing Quintet with Dakota Staton, entitled In the Night.

Playlist: 11 Aug 2012

I have been in the studio this week putting the finishing touches to my new album with the Royal Air Force Squadronaires big band, so there's no new show this week. However, I hope you'll enjoy this repeat.

Intro: If You Could Read My Mind - Todd Gordon & Jacqui Dankworth: Ballads from the Midnight Hotel 

1. If It's the Last Thing I Do - Sammy Davis Jr & Buddy Rich: The Sounds of '66

2. Goin' to Chicago Blues - Ernestine Anderson: When the Sun Goes Down

3. Confessin' the Blues - Dakota Staton & George Shearing: In the Night

4. There Ain't No Sweet Girl That's Worth the Salt of My Tears - Bobby Darin: I Wanna Be Around

5. Gershwin Medley: But Not for Me/Love Is Here to Stay/Embraceable You/Someone to Watch Over Me - Sarah Vaughan: Ronnie Scott's Presents Sarah Vaughan, Vol 2

6. Evergreen - Carmen McRae: Live at Ronnie Scott's, London

7. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Anita O'Day: Live at Ronnie Scott's

8. Happy Blues - Ella Fitzgerald: Live in London

9. With a Song in My Heart - Larry Browne: Sweet & Lovely

10. I'll Be Around - Jimmy Scott: All the Way

11. Squeeze Me - Lena Horne: An Evening with Lena Horne, Live at the Supper Club

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Playlist: 4 Aug 2012

Intro: If You Could Read My Mind - Todd Gordon & Jacqui Dankworth: Ballads from the Midnight Hotel

1. Don't Rain on My Parade - Bobby Darin: In a Broadway Bag

2. The Midnight Sun - Mel Tormé & George Shearing: A Vintage Year

3. You're Making Me Crazy - June Christy: Something Cool

4. My Old Addiction (aka Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song) - k d lang: Drag

5. Too Little, Too Late - Nat King Cole: Let's Face the Music!

6. How Blue Can You Get? - Esther Phillips: From a Whisper to a Scream

7. Yes We Can Can - Harry Connick Jr: Oh, My Nola

8. S'posin' - Perry Como: We Get Letters

9. Lover Come Back to Me - Roberta Gambarini: Easy to Love

10. Everybody Needs Love - Jackie Paris: The Song Is Paris

11. At Sundown - Janet Seidel: The Art of Lounge 1

12. Lonesome Lover Blues - Billy Eckstine & Count Basie: Basie/Eckstine Incorporated

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea