17/02/2013
Russell pays a late tribute to Patti Andrews, ponders the subject of flat feet and marks the 80th anniversary of a Clarence Williams session.
Opening with a Doris Day song that has recently been borrowed for a TV commercial, Russell wonders whether the ad-men should target wild man Slim Gaillard's work for inspiration and plays, from one of his first solo sessions, his 'Flat Foot Floogie' which was coincidentally recorded exactly 75 years ago.
This brings the subject of flat feet into the programme, one that crops up surprisingly often in popular song - from 'A Wonderful Guy' (South Pacific) to The Midnighters' 'Henry's Got Flat Feet' via Nat Cole's wartime 'Gone With The Draft'. In tribute to the late Patti Andrews we hear The Sisters with 'The Harmonica Gentlemen' ('The Sabre Dance') introducing mouth-organ maestro George Fields and we hear him later in a famous recording of 'Moon River' under Henry Mancini. Then a clip from the movie 'Meet Danny Wilson' has Sinatra singing to harmonica accompaniment 'Lonesome Man Blues'. Could it be George fields, too? Or, as it appears on screen, Danny Welton?
The 80th anniversary of a Clarence Williams session ('High Society' by his Jug Band) brings the problematic figure of Armand J Piron to the fore and we hear two more songs with his name attached - 'Sister Kate' - Madeleine Peyroux sings - and 'Mama's Gone Goodbye' (Peggy Lee). We round off with three more 1933 songs - a 'vintage year' as Russell remarks.
Last on
Music Played
-
Doris Day
Oops!
Doris Day 1951 – 1955 – ‘Secret Love’ (Disc 1)
- Bear Family.
- BCD 15746-1.
-
Slim Gaillard
The Flat Foot Floogie
Slim & Slam Complete Recordings 1938 – 1942
- Affinity.
- CD AFS 1034-1.
-
Mitzi Gaynor & Ken Darby Singers
I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy
Original Sound Track 'South Pacific'
- RCA.
- ND 83681.
-
The Nat King Cole Trio
Gone With The Draft
King Cole Trio: Transcriptions Vol 5: 1940
- Naxos Jazz Legends.
- 8.120705.
-
The Midnighters Featuring Henry Ballard
Henry's Got Flat Feet
The Midnighters – Their Greatest Hits
- King.
- KCD 541.
-
The Andrews Sisters & The Harmonica Gentlemen
Every Time They Play The Sabre Dance
78 RPM Single
- Brunswick.
- 03916.
-
Henry Mancini Orchestra & Chorus
Moon River
Music To Watch Girls By Volume 3
- Columbia/Sony TV.
- SONYTV 96CD.
-
Frank Sinatra
Lonesome Man Blues
Frank Sinatra In Hollywood
- Reprise.
- 8122 78285-2.
-
Clarence Williams Jug Band With Eva Taylor, Vocal
High Society
Clarence Williams & His Orchestra Vol 1 1933-1934
- Timeless.
- CBC 1-056.
-
Madeleine Peyroux
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
Celebrating 20 Years Of Montreal Jazz Festival
- Image Entertainment.
- 1328 Z1.
-
Peggy Lee
Mama's Gone, Goodbye
Peggy Lee: I’m A Woman / Norma Deloris Egstrom
- EMI/Capitol.
- 7243 8 74179 2 2.
-
James Taylor
It's Only A Paper Moon
'A League Of Their Own' Original Film Soundtrack
- Columbia.
- 4720562.
-
Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
Drop Me Off In Harlem
Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook
- Verve.
- 314 519 837-2.
-
Connie Francis
My Happiness
Connie Francis – ‘Fallin’ – Best Of The Early Years
- Jasmine.
- JASCD 530.
-
Frank Sinatra
All The Way (Parody)
Frank Sinatra In Hollywood
- Reprise.
- 8122 78285-2.
Broadcast
- Sun 17 Feb 2013 21:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 2