duaneiac

To ring out the old and ring in the new The choice for me was you know who Disc 1 and 2 of 2.

Includes Al Hibbler going all Jimmy Rushing on "Goin' To Chicago" and "Sent For You Yesterday".

A 1959 band that included Guido Basso, Herb Geller and Juan Tizol (not to mention the unfortunately named Wally Buttogello).

Let us not forget the role he played in teaching American youth how our system of government works:

Here's Jimmy Lyons' voice:

I found a STILL SEALED copy of this CD at a very reasonable price. RIP Chris Albertson.

I've never been certain what this omnipresent creature with the evil grimace on all those Rippingtons albums is supposed to be, but my best guess is it's a "cat".

and a belated Happy Birthday to the exciting Mr. Ernie Andrews who turned 91 on Christmas Day!

WALL*E was a fan!

Well there was John Waters' film Hairspray, then John Waters' Broadway musical version of the film, then the film version of the Broadway musical version of the film, then the live TV musical version of the Broadway musical version of the film -- audiences did not seem to get confused and each production seemed to meet with success. And Mel Brooks did a similar repackaging with The Producers and Disney did the same with The Lion King. It just seems odd that so many recent(ish) Broadway musical successes have had movie versions made -- Rent, Les Miz, Dreamgirls, Mama Mia, Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, Evita, Jersey Boys, -- all except this one. I honestly don't know if the decision not to make that movie was Hollywood's or Mr. Herman's.

I know it's not rock music, but it's certainly not jazz either, so it goes in this category. I have a number of these Ben Bagley produced discs and enjoy them as a means of discovering some lesser known works by an assortment of famous American pop music composers. Take the following tune found on this disc. I don't know how long Mr. Kern spent on this little tune -- probably not as long as he spent on "All The Things You Are" -- , but it's worth 2 minutes of your day. Mr. Kern's C+ material could match some other composers A material. Such a simple and sweet melody -- and if "simple and sweet" were easy, then every one would be writing them that way. Obviously, "they don't write 'em like that any more". That song is from 1921, almost a hundred years ago. Our world is not that world any longer, so one neither could nor should write songs like that now. But I'm glad they did write songs like this once, and I'm glad they are preserved as little mementos of times gone by, souvenirs of worlds and lives we can only imagine now.

I am curious why a film version of the Broadway musical version of the film La Cage aux Folles has never been made? It's an easily entertaining show with several good songs. It seems like most other major Broadway musical successes of recent years have made it to the big screen (including - shudder - Cats) except this one. I can't believe Hollywood is skittish about making it because of the subject matter. Was Mr. Herman perhaps so displeased by the film adaptations of his other two big Broadway hits (each turned into bloated vanity projects for their respective stars) that he declined offers to film his last great musical? Thanks a million for the tunes, Mr. Herman.