20/11/2011
Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. The show features Frank Sinatra, Christiane Legrand, Bessie Smith and many more.
Russell opens with the 50th anniversary of a very famous, if curious, Frank Sinatra recording - Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust without the chorus - then devotes much of the show this week to an investigation of comeback songs.
He unearths a few mysteries as he does so, like the plethora of alternative lyrics by anonymous hands to Torna A Surriento (Come Back To Sorrento). We hear the most famous exhibits - Alan Jay Lerner's Come Back To Me (Dusty Springfield) Hammerstein & Romberg's Lover Come Back To Me (Annette Hanshaw), Irving Berlin's You Keep Coming Back Like A Song (Georgia Gibbs) and many more.
Russell pays tribute to Christiane Legrand, an early member of The Swingle Singers who died recently, and remembers Bessie Smith, whose last contracted record for Columbia was made on this day 80 years ago. We hear it: Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl.
The programme is full of contrasting highlights, including Anita O'Day with Gene Krupa, one of Nat King Cole's biggest hits and ditto one by Les Paul.
Last on
Music Played
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Frank Sinatra
Stardust
Frank Sinatra – “Sinatra & Strings”
- Reprise.
- 9 27020-2.
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Woody Herman and His Orchestra
Come Back To Sorrento
“Jo Stafford At The Supper Club Part ll”
- Sounds Of Yester Year.
- DSOY851.
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Dusty Springfield
Come Back To Me
“Dusty Springfield – Where Am I Going”
- Philips.
- 536 962 2.
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Annette Hanshaw
Lover Come Back To Me
“Annette Hanshaw – The Girl Next Door 1927-1932”
- Take Two.
- TT408CD.
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Kenneth McKellar
Will Ye No Come Back Again
“Kenneth McKellar – The Decca Years 1955-1975”
- Decca.
- 466 415-2.
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Helen Forrest
My Guy's Come Back
“The Golden Years Of Helen Forrest” 4 CD Set
- Jasmine.
- JASBOX 10-4.
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The Ink Spots
When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
“The Best Of The Ink Spots”
- Music For Pleasure/EMI.
- CD-MFP 6064.
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Georgia Gibbs
You Keep Coming Back Like A Song
“Georgia Gibbs – Like A Song” Deleted CD
- Simitar Entertainment Inc..
- 548318.
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The Swingle Singers
J S Bach: Badinere From Suite No 2 In B Minor
“The Swingle Singers – Anyone For Mozart, Bach..“
- Philips.
- 826 948-2.
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Bessie Smith
Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl
“The Essential Bessie Smith” [2 CD Set]
- Columbia/Legacy.
- 487398 2.
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Johnny Mercer
My Sugar Is So Refined
“Mosaic Select: Johnny Mercer”
- Mosaic Select.
- MS 028.
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Anita O’Day With Gene Krupa’s Orchestra
Chickery Chick
“Gene Krupa & His Orchestra: Drumming Man”
- Vocalion.
- CDUS 3005.
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Nat King Cole
Too Young
“The Essential Collection: Nat King Cole”
- Avid.
- AVC 953.
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Les Paul & Mary Ford
How High The Moon
Best Of Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition
- Capitol.
- 09463-11411-2-6.
Broadcast
- Sun 20 Nov 201121:00BBC Radio 2
