Author Archives: Richard Barry

“Taking a Chance On Love” – Ethel Waters and Eddie “Rochester” Anderson (1943)

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Richard Barry

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke (music), John La Touche and Ted Fetter, (lyrics), and published in 1940. It was introduced in 1940 on Broadway in the show Cabin in the Sky, a production notable for its all black cast, and … Continue reading →

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“Sir John”- Blue Mitchell (1959)

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Richard Barry

Richard Allen “Blue” Mitchell was on the planet from 1930 to 1979. He was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpet player. If I can still count, he had 27 albums as a leader, and a bunch more … Continue reading →

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“Cheek to Cheek” – Fred Astaire (1935)

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Richard Barry

Irving Berlin wrote “Cheek to Cheek” for the 1935 Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers vehicle Top Hat. As you can see in the video below, Astaire sings the song to Rogers as they dance, of course. This was a good song for … Continue reading →

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“Back at the Chicken Shack” – Jimmy Smith (1963)

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Richard Barry

Jimmy Smith (1925-2005) helped to popularize the Hammond B-3 electric organ and had significant success with a series of instrumental jazz albums. He was also responsible for forging a connection between ’60s soul and jazz. Mark Deming at AllMusic: Jimmy … Continue reading →

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“Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” – Bing Crosby (1932)

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Richard Barry

With all the talk of income inequality and diminishing life chances for more and more Americans, this song came to mind. “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” was written in 1930 by lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg and composer Jay Gorney. … Continue reading →

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“The Summer Knows” – Art Pepper (1976)

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Richard Barry

“The Summer Knows” is considered one of the few jazz standards introduced after the 1950s. It is the theme music for the 1971 movie The Summer of ’42 and was composed by Michel Legrand. The IMDb synopsis of the movie: … Continue reading →

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“This Can’t Be Love” – Rosemary Clooney with the Earl Shelton Orchestra (1951)

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Richard Barry

“This Can’t Be Love” is from a 1938 Broadway show called The Boys from Syracuse, based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. The Shakespeare offering is a “farcical comedy” involving “a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities leading to wrongful … Continue reading →

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“In the Sweet Long Ago” – The King’s Orchestra & The Sterling Trio (1916)

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Richard Barry

A while ago for no particular reason I posted the song that was No. 1 on the Billboard chart on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor (Chattanooga Choo Choo). This made me wonder what the most … Continue reading →

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“Hip Strut” – Jackie McLean (1959)

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Richard Barry

“Hip Strut” is the first cut on Jackie McLean’s 1959 album New Soil, on the Blue Note label. Personnel are Jackie McLean (alto sax), Donald Byrd (Trumpet), Walter Davis Jr. (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Pete LaRoca (drums). As Steve Huey … Continue reading →

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“Chattanooga Choo Choo” – Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (1941)

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Richard Barry

What, you may ask, was the No. 1 record on December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, precipitating WWII? Why it was “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The song was written by Harry Warren (music) and Mack … Continue reading →

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