You know what time it is . . . Straighten that tie, make sure your hemline is straight and the flask is full, we’re heading out on the town. In episode 17 of Swingtime, the gents at Balcony Radio are ready to spin you around the floor with some of the best music your great-grandparents cut rugs to.
I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS: BOBBY DARIN (LOVE SWINGS)
DOWN WITH LOVE: BLOSSOM DEARIE (ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME)
IT’S DELOVELY: MEL TORME (AT THE RED HILL ‘LIVE’)
(SHE’S GOT THE) BLUES FOR SALE: BILLY ECKSTINE (TIMELESS: BEST OF BILLY ECKSTINE)
IF I KNEW THEN (WHAT I KNOW NOW): SARAH VAGHAN (SWINGIN’ EASY)
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME: KEELY SMITH (I WISH YOU LOVE)
ALONE TOGETHER: JOE WILLIAMS (TOGETHER/HAVE A GOOD TIME)
NIGHT SONG: SAMMY DAVIS, JR. (LIVE ON ED SULLIVAN 6/14/1964)
NIGHT AND DAY: LENA HORNE (24K PURE GOLD)
LIFE IS A SONG (LET’S SING IT TOGETHER): TONY BENNET & COUNT BASIE (BASIE SWINGS, BENNETT SINGS)
IF YOU WERE THE ONLY GAL: LOUIE PRIMA (STRICTLY PRIMA!)
GET HAPPY: FRANK SINATRA (SWING EASY!)
LET’S FLY AWAY: JERI SOUTHER (JERI SOUTHERN MEETS COLE PORTER)
LET’S FALL IN LOVE: VIC DAMONE (THAT TOWERING FEELING)
I WANT TO BE HAPPY: JUNE CHRISTY (FAIR AND WARMER)
YES SIR, THAT’S MY BABY: ETTA JONES (DON’T GO TO STRANGERS)
I COULD WRITE A BOOK: ANITA O’DAY (SWINGS ROGERS & HART)
I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU: CARMERN MCRAE (WHEN YOU’RE AWAY)
LET ME LOVE YOU: SHIRLEY HORN (SHIRLEY HORN AOTH HORNS)
REAL LIVE GIRL: JACK JONES (SHE LOVE ME)
PERSONALITY: JOHNNY MERCER & THE PIED PIPERS (ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!)
I CAN’T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE: DEAN MARTIN (PRETTY BABY)
THE BEST THING FOR YOU: NAT KING COLE (TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOURSELF)
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.