Look sharp, it’s classy music time. Your boys at Balcony Radio are aware of history and fans enough to keep the music of the past alive and well. In episode 18 of our tribute to the era of the Great American Song Book, Swingtime, we go all tophat and tails with some of the jazziest music to hit the airwaves. Nat, Frank, Sammy D. and Billie are waiting in the car. Don’t forget your coat and lighter. We got some dancin’ to do!
PLAYLIST:
AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE: JOHNNY MERCER (ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!)
EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND: MOSE ALLISON: MOSE ALLISON SINGS
AS TIME GOES BY: RUDY VALLEE (THE KID FROM MAINE)
COMIN’ HOME BABY: MEL TORME (COMIN’ HOME BABY)
ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET: KEELY SMITH (POLITELY!)
WE THREE (MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, AND ME): THE INK SPOTS (THE ANTHOLOGY)
HIT THE ROAD TO DREAMLAND: BETTY HUTTON (CAPITAL SINGS HAROLD ARLEN)
FEELING GOOD: SAMMY DAVIS (THE SAMMY DAVIS, JR. SHOW)
IT AINT NECESSARILY SO: BOBBY DARIN (THAT’S ALL)
I’LL BE SEEING YOU: BILLIE HOLIDAY (BILLIE HOLIDAY)
BUR NOT FOR ME: WAYNE NEWTON (WILD, COOL & SWINGIN’)
SMOKE DREAMS: JO STAFFORD (CAPITOL COLLECTORS SERIES)
IT’S NOT FOR ME TO SAY: JOHNNY MATTHIS (THE ESSENTIAL JOHNNY MATHIS)
PAPER DOLL: THE MILLS BROTHERS (SOUVENIR ALBUM)
BROKEN HEARTED MELODY: SARAH VAUGHN (THE MAGIC OF SARAH VAUGHN)
STEPPIN’ OUT WITH MY BABY: FRED ASTAIRE (MR. TOP HAT)
YOU’RE GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH ME: FRANK SINATRA (SONGS FOR SWINGIN’ LOVERS)
STANDING ON THE CORNER: DEAN MARTIN (THE CAPITOL RECORDINGS, VOL. 6)
BLUE SKIES: DORIS DAY (BLUE SKIES)
YOU’RE NOBODY TIL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU: NAT KING COLE TRIO (THE COMPLETE CAPITOL RECORDINGS)
BABY, WON’T YOU PLEASE COME HOME: LOUIS PRIMA (THE CALL OF THE WILDEST)
I HEAR MUSIC: BLOSSOM DEARIE (BLOSSUM DEARIE)
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES: GUY LOMBARDO (ENJOY YOURSELF: THE HITS OF GUY LOMBARDO)
Some songs are hits. Some songs are deep album cuts. Few are eternal. In this episode of Swingtime, we dog-ear a couple dozen pages in the Great American Songbook and play the classiest of the classy tunes. Look sharp, starch that collar, straighten your tie, and be ready to light the lady’s cigarette at a moment’s notice. It’s Swingtime, pal.
We hate to tell you this, kids, but . . . your grandparents invented cool. They really did. Don’t argue. You’ve got Katy Perry and Gah-gah, they had . . . The Rat Pack. Say no more. In episode 7 of Swingtime, we mix the drinks and light the smokes and give you a couple hours of the greatest voices the Sands Hotel ever got slayed by: Frank, Dean and Sammy. Loosen your tie, stay awhile.