Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday October 25, 2022: Songs of Yip Harburg & Hoagy Carmichael

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.

CKCU can be heard live at 93.1 FM in Ottawa and https://www.ckcufm.com/ on the web.

This episode of Stranger Songs was prerecorded and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/58052.html

Theme: Songs of Yip Harburg (1896-1981) and Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981).

Part 1 – Songs of Yip Harburg. E.Y. “Yip” Harburg – who died in 1981 at age 84 – was a lyricist who collaborated with several composers. This show includes some of Harburg’s collaborations with Jay Gorney, Harold Arlen, Earl Robinson and Burton Lane.

Yip Harburg (circa 1950)

Deborah Holland- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime

The Panic is On: Songs from the Great Depression (Gadfly)

Ella Fitzgerald- Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is Dead

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook (Verve)

Stephen Mendel- If I Only had a Brain

Sing Me a Story (Stephen Mendel)

Ian Tyson- Somewhere Over the Rainbow

All the Good ’Uns Vol. 2 (Stony Plain)

The Juggernauts- Lydia, the Tattooed Lady

Live Lunch (The Juggernauts)

Chaim Tannenbaum- It’s Only a Paper Moon

Chaim Tannenbaum (StorySound)

Josh White- Free and Equal Blues

From New York to London: The Classic Recordings (Jasmine)

Happy Traum- How are Things in Glocca Morra?

There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

Part 2 – Songs of Hoagy Carmichael. Hoagland Howard “Hoagy” Carmichael – who died in 1981 at age 82 – was among the most successful songwriters of the Tin Pan Alley era.

Hoagy Carmichael (1947)

Ray Charles- Georgia on My Mind

Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles (Concord)

Jane Voss & Hoyle Osborne- Bread and Gravy

Beyond the Boundaries (Ripple)

Amos Garrett- New Orleans

Amosbehavin’ (Stony Plain)

Maria Muldaur with Hoagy Carmichael- Rockin’ Chair

Sweet Harmony (Reprise)

David Clayton-Thomas- Stardust

Combo (Antionette)

Dave Van Ronk & Christine Lavin- Two Sleepy People

Hummin’ to Myself (Gazell)

Martha Seyler & Robert Resnik- Skylark

Martha Sings & Robert Plays (Martha Seyler & Robert Resnik)

Cindy Church, George Koller & Joe Sealy- I Get Along Without You Very Well

The Nearness of You: A Tribute to the Music of Hoagy Carmichael (Seajam)

Judy Henske- Baltimore Oriole

The Elektra Albums (Ace)

Loudon Wainwright III with Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks- Heart and Soul

I’d Rather Lead a Band (Search Party) 

Jeff Healey- Hong Kong Blues

The Best of the Stony Plain Years: Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues (Stony Plain)

Junior Brown- Riverboat Shuffle

Mixed Bag (Curb)

Hoagy Carmichael- Lazybones

Stardust Melody (Bluebird)

Leon Redbone- Lazy River

Up a Lazy River (Rounder)

Geoff Muldaur & Amos Garrett- Washboard Blues

Geoff Muldaur & Amos Garrett (Flying Fish)

Cindy Church, George Koller & Joe Sealy- In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening

The Nearness of You: A Tribute to the Music of Hoagy Carmichael (Seajam)

Next week: Radio.

Find me on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

David Clayton-Thomas – Combo

DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS

Combo

Antoinette Music

davidclaytonthomas.com

Two years ago on A Blues for the New World, David Clayton-Thomas updated the familiar, brassy Blood, Sweat and Tears sound with a fine set of original songs. This time around, he has released a much quieter, very intimate set, mostly devoted to familiar jazz classics.

The tone for Combo is set in the opening number, a lovely version of “As Time Goes By” that opens with the melody perfectly stated by Mark Kieswetter at the piano. A few seconds later, David starts to quietly sing with George Koller’s bass providing the musical heartbeat. This is music to get lost in at 2 o’clock in the morning.

The formula is repeated on the next song, “Nature Boy,” except that it’s Ted Quinlan’s masterful touch on the guitar that perfectly states the introductory notes of the melody. David, who can shout a lyric with the best of them, is able to go deep into these intimate songs. His versatility in that regard is particularly evident in the way he redefines his approach to Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child,” sung here oh so differently than on the brassy Blood, Sweat and Tears version. On Combo, David’s treatment brings out the essence of the poignant lyrics while the musicians bring out the beauty of the melody.

Other highlights include a so very soulful version of “Stormy Monday” T-Bone Walker’s blues classic that has Kieswetter doing some wonderful double duty on the piano and Hammond organ; the late Allen Toussaint’s “Freedom for the Stallion” featuring superb harmonies from Jackie Richardson; and a stomping, New Orleans-style duet with Genevieve Marentette on “The Glory of Love.”

Perhaps my favorite piece is “Smile,” the inspiring bit of good advice whose melody was written by Charlie Chaplin for his 1936 film, Modern Times (the lyrics were added in 1954 when the song became a hit for Nat King Cole). I especially love the interplay on this number between David’s voice and Koller’s bass.

David has surrounded himself with a group of wonderful musicians who play superbly throughout Combo. In addition to Kieswetter, Koller and Quinlan, the album features Ben Riley on drums and Colleen Allen on sax.

Pictured: Mike Regenstreif and David Clayton-Thomas at CKUT during Folk Roots/Folk Branches, June 29, 2006. (Photo: Jadro Subic)

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif