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13/01/2013

Russell celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. In this programme he marks the centenary of Danny Kaye and the death of singer Patti Page.

This week, two subjects dominate the show: The centenary of 'entertainer extraordinary' Danny Kaye and the death of singer Patti Page.

Opening with a rarity, written by Johnny Mercer, from the movie Merry Andrew - Everything Is Tickety Boo - Russell notes Kaye's long-time Anglophilia. We later hear him tackling (and, some would say, bringing down) a very English Gilbert & Sullivan song from The Pirates Of Penzance. There's more typical fare in the form of Tongue Twisters and we hear Tom Lehrer's acknowledgement of Kaye's influence in his Lobachevsky.

Russell's tribute to Miss Page starts with one of his earliest memories of the singer - Mocking Bird Hill, noting her great musicality and ability to double, triple and even four track harmonies with her own voice. Side-tracking with Kansas City from Oklahoma, to illustrate her hometown of Claremore, Oklahoma, we are next in the world of State Waltzes: Kentucky Waltz (Cowboy Copas) and Missouri Waltz (The Fontane Sisters), culminating in Patti's great hit The Tennessee Waltz.

A famous recording by Billie Holiday from 75 years ago and a beautiful later (not multi-tracked) Patti Page recording of Old Cape Cod provide the flimsy but welcome excuse for two final fishy contributions by John Lithgow (At The Codfish Ball) and Flanders & Swann (Seahorse).

57 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Jan 201321:00
BBC Radio 2

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06/01/2013

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Music Played

  • Danny Kaye

    Everything Is Ticketty-Boo

    From Sound-Track Of “Merry Andrew”

    • Capitol.
    • [45] Cl 14907 [Single].

  • Patti Page

    Mocking Bird Hill

    “Hits Of ’51 – 25 Original Recordings 1950-1951”

    • Asv Living Era.
    • CD AJA 5381.

  • Patti Page Quartet

    With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming

    “Patti Page – Celebrating A Career…Defining Class”

    • Jasmine.
    • Jasbox 24-4.

  • Gene Nelson & Soundtrack Cast ‘Oklahoma’

    Kansas City

    “Original Movie Soundtrack Recording – ‘Oklahoma’ ”

    • Broadway Angel.
    • ZDM 0777 7 64691 2 6.

  • Cowboy Copas

    Kentucky Waltz

    “Cowboy Copas – Tennessee Waltz”

    • Living Era.
    • CD AJA 5434.

  • The Fontane Sisters

    Missouri Waltz

    “The Fontane Sisters – Till Then [2 Cd Set]”

    • Jasmine.
    • JASCD 645.

  • Billie Holiday With Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra

    When You're Smiling

    “Teddy Wilson – Blue Mood”

    • HEP.
    • HEPCD 1035.

  • Danny Kaye

    Tongue Twisters

    “The Best Of Danny Kaye”

    • Music Club.
    • MCCD 233.

  • Tom Lehrer

    Lobachevsky

    “The Remains Of Tom Lehrer” Fine Box Set

    • Reprise/Warner Archives/Rhino.
    • Reprise R2 79831.

  • Danny Kaye

    The Policeman's Song

    “Entertainer Extraordinary – Danny Kaye”

    • ASV Living Era.
    • CD AJA 5270.

  • Patti Page

    Old Cape Cod

    “Patti Page – 16 Most Requested Songs”

    • Columbia Legacy.
    • 770893.

  • John Lithgow

    At The Codfish Ball

    “John Lithgow: Singin’ In The Bathtub”

    • Sony.
    • DIDP 097 199.

  • Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

    Seahorse

    “The Bestiary Of Flanders & Swann”

    • Parlophone.
    • CDP 7974672.

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Jan 201321:00
    BBC Radio 2