JUNE 30, 2012

Song of the Day: New York City Blues, words and music by Quincy Jones and Peggy Lee, first appeared on Lee's album, "Blues Cross Country." The song, with Jones' swinging arrangement, can also be found on the TV soundtrack to the short-lived series, "Pan Am." Today, one of the great NYC landmarks is celebrating its 85th birthday with 25-cent rides (though it actually opened on June 26, 1927): the rickety wooden Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island that I will never set foot on. Definitely not on my bucket list. Check out Peggy Lee's fabulous track on YouTube. Happy birthday to this Grand Roller Coaster!

JUNE 25, 2012

Song of the Day: Workin' Day and Night, words and music by Michael Jackson, is a popular track from the artist's breakthrough 1979 solo album, "Off the Wall." On this date in 2009, MJ passed away. For millions of fans,the music lives on. Check out the album cut and an energetic 1992 live concert performance from Bucharest. RIP, MJ. We're still dancin' day and night to your music.

JUNE 20, 2012

Song of the Day: Love to Love You Baby was written by Pete Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder, and Donna Summer, whose moans and groans drove the song to #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1975. Temperatures are headed to the 90s in New York City, where the sweaty summer solstice arrives at 7:09 pm. Bring in the summer with Summer's wildly dirrrrty, orgasmic single, and the Big, Hot 12" ... vinyl version, and checkout Beyonce's paean to this hit in her own "Naughty Girl" track [YouTube links]. A Happy Summer!

JUNE 18, 2012

Song of the Day: I Saw Her Standing There features the words and music of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who celebrates his 70th birthday today. The song was the opening track on "Please Please Me," the debut UK album by The Beatles. One of my all-time favorite early Beatles tunes, this one has been covered by other artists as well. Check out the grand original, and versions by The Supremes, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tiffany. Happy Birthday, Sir Paul!

JUNE 10, 2012

Song of the Day: Everything's Coming Up Roses, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is from the Broadway musical, "Gypsy: A Musical Fable," based on the memoirs of American burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. The 1959 musical featured the choreography of Jerome Robbins, and was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, winning none (the year of this tie!). But the Tony-nominated powerhouse, Ethel Merman, starred as Mama Rose, Gypsy's mom; she sings this song famously at the close of Act I. The role was played big by Rosalind Russell in the fine 1962 movie version, Angela Lansbury in a 1974 Broadway revival, Tyne Daly in a 1989 Broadway revival, Bernadette Peters in a 2003 Broadway revival, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for Bette Midler in the 1993 TV version. I saw the 2008 revival with an absolutely stupendous Patti LuPone as Rose; she won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for the role. Tonight is the Tony Awards, for which everything will be coming up roses, at least for the winners! Check out versions by Ethel, Rosalind, Angela, Tyne, Bernadette, Bette, and Patti, and enjoy the show!

JUNE 03, 2012

Song of the Day: The Sound of Music, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is the title track from the 1959 Broadway musical and the 1965 Oscar-winning Best Picture. Ranked as #10 in the AFI Top 100 Songs in American Cinema, this memorable theme was performed by Mary Martin in the first Broadway production, Rebecca Luker in the Broadway revival, and Julie Andrews in the film version [YouTube links]. Check out Mary Martin's acceptance speech, upon winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. I wasn't around when the Broadway production debuted, but I did see the wonderful 1998 Broadway revival (and a terrific off-Broadway production too). And the film remains one of my all-time favorite musicals (featuring at least two other favorite songs). Amazingly, the original production is the only musical to have ever won in a tie (with "Fiorello!") for the "Best Musical" Tony category.

JUNE 02, 2012

Song of the Day: Whatever Lola Wants, music by Richard Adler, lyrics by Jerry Ross, is from the 1955 Tony Award-winning "Best Musical" on Broadway: "Damn Yankees." Performed by Gwen Verdon in the musical, with the choreography of Bob Fosse, the song is the ultimate seduction by the Devil's assistant, and a musical highlight. In tribute to that other New York baseball team, the New York Mets, Three Cheers to Johan Santana, for throwing, last night, the first no-hitter in the history of the franchise, in its 50th anniversary year! Hard to believe that for a team that has had 13 pitchers who have thrown no-hitters . . . once they left the team (including such All-Stars as Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, and David Cone), it took 8,020 games into the history of the franchise to finally get one No-No all for themselves! And this is coming from a Damn Yankees fan! Bravo!!! The Mets finally Got What they Wanted! Just like Lola! Check out Gwen Verdon from the 1958 film version and two classic jazz-infused versions: Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

JUNE 01, 2012

Song of the Day: I'm the Greatest Star, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, is a highlight from the classic 1964 Broadway musical, "Funny Girl," which starred a young Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice. Though nominated for eight Tony Awards, the musical won none, facing a tough competitor in "Hello, Dolly!" Streisand would win an Oscar for the role in the 1968 film version. Check out the Broadway musical version, the film version, and Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel in a "Glee" cast version [YouTube links]. Today begins our tribute to songs from Broadway, in anticipation of the Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 10th.