Playlist: 30 Mar 2013

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

1. It’s Easy to Remember - Perry Como: We Get Letters

2. In the Heat of the Night - Nancy Wilson: Welcome to My Love

3. Nobody in Mind - Big Joe Turner: Nobody in Mind

4. Memories of You - Ian Shaw: Somewhere Towards Love

5. I’ll Never Smile Again - Joe Williams: A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry

6. Sweet Georgia Brown - Diane Schuur: In Tribute

7. It Had to be You - Diane Schuur & Ray Charles: Friends for Schuur

8. Trouble in Mind - Jimmy Rushing: Five Feet of Soul

9. I’ll Be Home - Barbra Streisand: Stoney End

10. One Note Samba (Samba De Uma Nota Sò) - The Hi-Lo's: The Hi-Lo's Happen to Bossa Nova

11. Always - Bill Charlap & Sandy Stewart: Love Is Here to Stay

12. Goodbye, Goodbye - Johnny Hartman: I Love Everybody

13. Anita’s Blues ’76 - Anita O’Day: Live at Mingo’s

14. I’ll See You in My Dreams - Jimmy Durante: Jimmy Durante’s Way of Life

15. The Lady’s In Love with You - Tony Bennett: Tony Makes It Happen

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Playlist: 23 Mar 2013

NAME THAT SONG!

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

1. Sweet Lorraine - Nat King Cole: 78rpm single

2. Margie - Johnny Mercer: Sweet Georgia Brown

3. I’ll Take Tallulah - Jo Stafford: Getting Sentimental Over Tommy Dorsey

4. Whatever Lola Wants - Ella Fitzgerald: Ella sings Broadway

5. Linda - Perry Como: Como Swings

6. Johnny - Peggy Lee: Is That All There Is?

7. Frankie and Johnny - Mae West: The Fabulous Mae West

8. Emily - Tony Bennett: The Movie Song Album

9. Julia - Todd Gordon: Julia (dowload single)

10. Ode to Billie Joe - Nancy Wilson: Welcome to My Love

11. Alfie - Carol Kidd & Nigel Clark: Tell Me Once Again

12. Liza - The Four Freshmen: Four Freshmen & Five Saxes

13. Bill - Helen Humes: T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do

14. Harry - Catherine Howe: Harry

15. Hello, Dolly! - Bobby Darin: Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie

16. Message to Michael - Lena Horne: Watch What Happens

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Album Cover: Songs for Swingin' Sellers

The comically quirky, seventeen-second-long opening track to this week's show comes from this rather obscure album. Inspired no doubt by the monumental success of Frank Sinatra's seminal Songs for Swingin' Lovers!

Given 21st Century sensibilities, its recent re-release finds the legs of the hanged man have been removed!

Playlist: 16 Mar 2013

THE GENIUS OF GEORGE GERSHWIN

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

1. Peter Sellers sings Gershwin - Peter Sellers: Songs for Swingin’ Sellers!

2. Who Cares? - Ella Fitzgerald: The George & Ira Gershwin Songbook

3. They Can't Take That Away from Me - Margaret Whiting: Past Midnight

4. Do It Again - Vic Damone: In Concert

5. Embraceable You - Chet Baker: Songs for Lovers

6. I Was Doing All Right - Diana Krall: From This Moment On

7. Soon - Sammy Davis Jr: The Wham of Sam!

8. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday: The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve (Disc 10)

9. A Foggy Day - Rosemary Clooney: Dedicated to Nelson

10. Bidin’ My Time - Nat King Cole: Let’s Face the Music!

11. Strike Up the Band - Tony Bennett & Count Basie: Strike Up the Band

12. That Certain Feeling - Jo Ann Greer: Fascinatin’ Rhythm/Capitol Sings Gershwin

13. I Got Rhythm - Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

14.  But Not for Me - Carmen McRae: The Great American Songbook

15. The Man I Love - Dinah Shore & André Previn: Dinah Sings, Previn Plays 

16. Love Walked In - Frank Sinatra: Swing Along with Me

17. Love Is Here to Stay - Dick Haymes - Rain or Shine

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Playlist: 9 Mar 2013

In the absence of a new show this week, we're repeating the special Big Band Vocal edition of The Singers and The Songbook which was first broadcast in March 2012.

BIG BAND BLAST!

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

1. Only You - Diane Schuur: Diane Schuur & The Count Basie Orchestra

2. Madrid - Nat King Cole: Big Band Cole

3. Cotton Tail - Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington: The Stockholm Concert (1966)

4. Nobody Like My Baby - Ann Richards with Stan Kenton Orchestra: Two Much!

5. Skyliner - June Christy: Big Band Specials 

6. Manhattan - RAF Squadronaires, Jacqui Dankworth & Todd Gordon: from the forthcoming album, Helping the Heroes

7. Chicago - Sy Oliver: For You

8. On the Sunny Side of the Street - Keely Smith: Politely

9. I've Heard That Song Before - Harry James & Helen Forrest: Harry James in Hi-Fi

10. Come Sunday - Joe Williams: Joe Williams & That Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra

11. You're Getting to be a Habit with Me - Carmen McRae & The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band: November Girl

12. I'm a Dreamer, Aren't We All? - Cleo Laine: All About Me

13. Fortune In Dreams - Frank Sinatra Jr & Pat Longo Super Big Band: Billy May for President!

14. I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Sarah Vaughan & Benny Carter: The Explosive Side of Sarah Vaughan

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea

Album Covers: Billie Holiday on Verve

The inclusion of Billie Holiday's recording of All of You in the current programme reminded me of the terrific artwork that Verve label owner Norman Granz incorporated. Of course, it's unsurprising given his love of contemporary art. Indeed, around 1970, Granz sold some of his collection of Picasso originals to start up Pablo Records.

Playlist: 2 Mar 2013

WE LOVE COLE!

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

1. From This Moment On - Diana Krall: From This Moment On

2. So Near and Yet So Far - Fred Astaire: The Astaire Story (Vol 2)

3. Get Out of Town - Ian Shaw: The Abbey Road Sessions

4. Night and Day - Sergio Mendez & Brasil ’66: Equinox

5. (You’d Be So) Easy to Love - Harry Connick Jr: Come By Me

6. What Is This Thing Called Love? - Sarah Vaughan: Live at The Tivoli

7. You’re the Top - Jean Turner: From The Creative World of Stan Kenton Comes Jean Turner 

8. All of You - Billie Holiday: Complete Billie Holiday on Verve (Disc 10)

9. Just One of Those Things - Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson

10. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald: The Cole Porter Songbook (Vol 1)

11. Ridin’ High - Jeri Southern: Southern Breeze

12. Begin the Beguine - Sammy Davis Jr: The Wham of Sam!

13. Why Shouldn’t I? - Carmen McRae: Live at Century Plaza

14. I Get a Kick Out of You - Chris Connor & Stan Kenton: Capitol single

15. I’ve Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra: Songs for Swingin' Lovers!

Outro: Holding On - Todd Gordon: Made in Korea