If Music Could Talk #2
Williams, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Gerry Mulligan, The Man with the Golden Arm, Cy Coleman, Glenn Miller & The Modernaires, Gene Krupa & Anita O'Day
Every Day I Have the Blues:
Performed by Joe Williams, Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross with Count Basie (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Ed Jones (bass), and Sonny Payne (drums) from the syndicated television series, Playboy's Penthouse, taped at WBKB-TV, Chicago, IL in February 1960.
It’s fun to watch the playful interaction between Williams, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Count Basie adds to the magic, creating a dinner party we could only dream of attending. Yes, television was once like this.
Williams had hits with two different recordings of the song. The first version, recorded with the King Kolax Orchestra in 1952, reached number eight in the R&B chart. In 1955, he recorded a second version of the song with the Count Basie Orchestra, titled "Every Day.” It featured a big-band arrangement and spent 20 weeks in the R&B chart, reaching number two.
Lambert, Hendricks and Ross also recorded a version that appeared on their 1958 Sing a Song of Basie album.
I Want to Live:
From the film I Want to Live released in 1958. The film featured numerous themes performed by Gerry Mulligan’s Jazz Combo. The highly fictionalized biographical film noir staring Susan Hayward follows the life of Barbara Graham, a prostitute and habitual criminal who is convicted of murder and faces capital punishment.
The Man with the Golden Arm:
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) title sequence’ from the film starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker and Kim Novak released in 1955. At the time it was one of the most stunning depictions of addict drug use in film. The title sequence music was composed, arranged and directed by Elmer Bernstein. It was designed by Saul Bass, The use of black background, white lines, bars and patterns set the tone for the film.
The Best is Yet to Come:
Cy Coleman performs “The Best is Yet to Come,” what was at the time newly written, on the first episode of Playboy's Penthouse in October 1959. The song was composed by Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh.
Perhaps the most famous version of the song was recorded by Frank Sinatra for his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing accompanied by Count Basie. The song was originally written for Tony Bennett who recorded and released it as a single in 1961. Yes, television was once like this.
Chattanooga Choo Choo:
Glenn Miller Orchestra with Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly and the Modernaires in 1941 from the film Sun Valley Serenade.
The song released as a single in 1941 and became the number one song in the country on December 7, 1941. It was the first to ever receive a gold record. The Cinematography on this was stunning and was nominated for an Academy Award. My favorite shot is the one of the Modernaires shot from the ceiling.
Thanks for the Boogie Ride:
Gene Krupa featuring Anita O’Day and Roy Eldridge first released in 1941. A twenty-two-year old O’Day looking vivacious. This is one of two soundies that were made for jukeboxes at the time. The other was for “Let Me Off Uptown.”