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08/05/2011

Russell Davies celebrates the presumed centenary of Robert Johnson. Other featured artists include Doris Day, Elvis Presley and Fred Astaire.

Much of this week's show is driven by a deluge of new releases but we open with the answer to a regular enquiry by many listeners: what IS that signature tune? Russell reveals all before moving on to celebrate the presumed centenary of blues singer Robert Johnson, telling how he once met the subject of Johnson's song Love in Vain, which we hear.

This is followed by Doris Day's fine rendition of a similarly named song by Jerome Kern, In Love in Vain. The Kern theme is continued with two more of his songs included on recently received CDs and three Gershwin songs fall into this category as well, two of them rare: George Byron's seldom-heard By Strauss (the very first recording of the song?) and a previously unreleased full version of A Fine Romance by Fred Astaire. Further reviews of new albums follow, giving us Hutch, Elvis Presley, Ina Ray Hutton and Bing Crosby.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 8 May 201121:00
BBC Radio 2

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01/05/2011

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15/05/2011

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Music Played

  • Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

    Oh Baby

    “Benny Goodman: The Swingmaster”

    • Memoir.
    • CDMOIR 570.

  • Robert Johnson

    Love In Vain

    “Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings”

    • Columbia.
    • 467246 2.

  • Doris Day & Andre Previn - In Love In Vain

    Doris Day 1960-1967 – “Move Over Darling”

  • Rebecca Kilgore

    I've Told Ev'ry Little Star

    “Sure Thing” The Music Of Jerome Kern

    • Audiophile.
    • ACD 324.

  • Fred Astaire

    A Fine Romance

    “Three Evenings With Fred Astaire”

    • Sepia.
    • Sepia 1168.

  • George Byron

    By Strauss

    “’S Wonderful – The Songs Of George Gershwin”

    • Retrospective.
    • RTS 4176.

  • Connie Stevens

    Looking For A Boy

    “Conchestta” - Connie Stevens

    • Collectors Choice Music.
    • CCM 156-2.

  • Lennie Niehaus

    Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)

    “Bing Crosby Through The Years: 1954”

    • Sepia.
    • Sepia 1167.

  • Leslie “Hutch” Hutchinson

    Ain't Misbehavin'

    Hutch 1929 - 1947 – “Let’s Do It” His 50 Finest

    • Retrospective.
    • RTS 4166.

  • Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never

    “Hits Of ’60 – ‘It’s Now Or Never’ ”

  • Tony Martin

    There's No Tomorrow

    “Tonight With Tony Martin”

    • Vocalion.
    • CDUS 3016.

  • Ina Ray Hutton

    Truckin'

    Ina Ray Hutton 1934-1944: The Definitive Collecton

    • Fantastic Voyage.
    • FVTD 110.

  • Lennie Niehaus

    Learn To Croon

    “Bing Crosby Through The Years: 1954”

    • Sepia.
    • Sepia 1167.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 May 201121:00
    BBC Radio 2