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Tiki Central / Tiki Music / Dr. Zarkov’s Tiki Lounge 8-15-18 The Songsmiths

Post #789190 by Dr. Zarkov on Wed, Aug 15, 2018 9:55 PM

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Dr. Zarkov’s Tiki Lounge August 15, 2018

On this week’s Dr. Zarkov’s Tiki Lounge radio show we featured a raft of songs inked by the surprisingly large number of lyricists who were born in the oracular month of August, including Ned Washington, Alan Jay Lerner, Lee Adams, Charles Tobias, Otto Harbach, Carolyn Leigh, Hy Zaret and the Singer Eddie Jefferson, who wrote his own lyrics to bebop jazz tunes. Along the way we will celebrated a few notable composers also born in the eighth month of the year, and also marked the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein.

Dr. Zarkov’s Tiki Lounge show is broadcast on Wednesdays, 5-6 pm Eastern Standard Time (2-3 pm on the West Coast and 10-11 GMT in Europe) at http://www.radiofairfax.org.. Radio Fairfax also can be heard on Tune In Radio at tunein.com, and streamed on smartphones by downloading the Tunein app. It also can be streamed on Roku and Google TV at: http://tinyurl.com/3uqfsz9

Past shows from this year are now available to listen to in their entirety at: https://www.mixcloud.com/Flashfriend/

  1. “Trade Winds” was written by lyricist Charles Tobias and composer Cliff Friend, and recorded in 1940 by Bing Crosby with Dick McIntyre & His Harmony Hawaiians and is drawn with swizzle sticks from Der Bingle’s blossoming box set: Easy to Remember.

  2. “Stella by Starlight” was created by composer Victor Young and lyricist Ned Washington for the 1944 Movie: The Uninvited, and on the 1954 lulling LP: Chris Connor Sings Lullabys of Birdland, featuring he drummer Art Mardigan and the Vinnie Burke Jazz String Quartet.

  3. “Dedicated to You,” the 1936 song by Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin and lyricist Hy Zaret, was sung in 1950 by Al Hibbler on his amorous album: After the Lights Go Down Low, backed by the pianist Billie Kyle’s Orchestra, spotlighting Shorty Baker on Trumpet; and Tyree Glenn on Vibes.

  4. “It's Too Good to Talk About Now” was written by Cy Coleman and lyricist Carolyn Leigh, and recorded in 1959 by the pianist and vocalist Blossom Dearie for her louche LP: My Gentleman Friend, with Kenny Burrell on Electric Guitar, Bobby Jaspar on Flute, Ray Brown on Bass and Ed Thigpen on Drums.

  5. “Billie's Bounce,” composed by the alto sax master Charlie Parker, with words added by the singer Eddie Jefferson and appears on Jefferson’s 1974 ambitious album: Vocalease with Mildred Weston and Conrad Buckman on backing vocals and Joe Newman on Trumpet, Billy Mitchell on Reeds, Mickey Tucker on Piano, Sam Jones on Bass and Eddie Gladden on Drums.

  6. “Too Late Now” was created by Burton Lane and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 Fred Astaire movie: Royal Wedding, and was sung by Ann Hampton Callaway on her 1992 self-titled CD, with arranger Mike Renzi on Piano, Jay Berliner on Classical Guitar, Mark Falchook on Synthesizer, Jerry Dodgion on Alto Sax, Cecil Bridgewater on Trumpet, Jesse Levy on Cello, Chip Jackson on Bass and Terry Clarke on Drums.

  7. “One O’Clock Jump” was composed by August Birthday Baby Count Basie, and was performed for us by Cesar Concepcion and His Orchestra on their landmarkable album: The Great Band Themes Go Latin.

  8. “While the City Sleeps,” written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, with additional lyrics by Susannah McCorkle and Frank Underwood for the 1964 Sammy Davis Jr. Broadway musical: Golden Boy, and was sung for us by Susannah McCorkle on her 1985 album: How Do You Keep the Music Playing? featuring Ben Aronov on Piano; Al Cohn on Tenor Sax; Gene Bertoncini on Guitars; Steve LaSpina on Bass and Joe Cocuzzo on Drums.

  9. “Comes Love,” the 1939 song inked by Samuel Stept and lyricist Charles Tobias, was sung and pianistically rendered by Judy Roberts on her round recording Circle of Friends, with Greg Fishman on Flute, Stewart Miller on Bass and Greg Sergo on Drums.

  10. The jazz classic “Lullaby of Birdland” was composed and played on the piano by August Birthday Celebrant George Shearing, in a version appearing on the fiestacal collection: Tito Puente Party at Puente’s Place.

  11. “Siboney” was written by another music master born in August, the Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, and was recorded 19 years ago by the Cuban band, Orquesta Aragon, on their reticulated retrospective: The Lusafrica Years, featuring Omara Portuando on Vocal.

  12. “Maria” comes from the 1957 Broadway musical: West Side Story, composed by our August centenarian Leonard Bernstein, with words by Stephen Sondheim. The version was laid down in 1962 by Lalo Schifrin on his ambidextrous album titled: Piano, Strings and Bossa Nova.

  13. Also from West Side Story, “Tonight,” appears on the fond look back, Best of Vic Damone, featuring some of the late singer’s most notable work.

  14. “Yesterdays” was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by our August wordsmith Otto Harbach for the 1933 Broadway musical: Roberta, and is sung by Dianne Reeves on her 1987 self-titled CD, featuring Billy Child on Piano, Freddie Hubbard on Flugelhorn, Stanley Clarke on Bass, Tony Williams on Drums and Airto Moreira on Percussion.