SONG: Dust My Broom ARTIST: Elmore James YEAR: 1952 Listen to it here: THE SONG: While there is no solid origin story of where Dust My Broom came from, it was originally recorded by blues king Robert Johnson in 1936. While Johnson’s version employed the use of repeating triplets for a boogie pattern, Elmore JamesContinue reading “Song 46 – Dust My Broom”
Tag Archives: 1001 Songs
Song 45 – They Can’t Take That Away From Me
SONG: They Can’t Take That Away From Me ARTIST: Fred Astaire YEAR: 1952 Listen to it here: THE SONG: “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” was written by the superstar sibling team of George (music) and Ira (lyrics) Gershwin for the 1937 film, Shall We Dance, where it was sung by Fred Astaire, standingContinue reading “Song 45 – They Can’t Take That Away From Me”
Song 44 – London is the Place For Me
SONG: London is the Place for Me ARTIST: Lord Kitchener YEAR: 1951 Listen to it here: THE SONG: There is not a lot of information on the writing of the song, except that it was written by Adwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts in 1948 and recorded for the first time by him in 1951. THE ARTIST:Continue reading “Song 44 – London is the Place For Me”
Song 43 – How High the Moon
SONG: How High the Moon ARTIST: Les Paul and Mary Ford YEAR: 1951 Listen to it here: THE SONG: “How High the Moon” is another jazz standard on our list, with music by Morgan Lewis and lyrics by Nancy Hamilton. It was first made popular in the 1940 Broadway revue Two for the Show, whereContinue reading “Song 43 – How High the Moon”
Song 42 – Cry
SONG: Cry ARTIST: Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads YEAR: 1951 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Cry was written by Churchill Kohlman in 1951 and originally recorded by Ruth Casey, but made popular by Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads. It became a Billboard #1 hit that year and spawned many a cover versions.Continue reading “Song 42 – Cry”
Song 41 – Rocket 88
SONG: Rocket 88 ARTIST: Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats YEAR: 1951 Listen to it here: THE SONG: “Rocket 88” was originally recorded in Memphis, Tennessee in March of 1951, which is the version we’re listening to today. It was credited to “Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats”, who were actually “Ike Turner and hisContinue reading “Song 41 – Rocket 88”
Song 40 – Mambo No. 5
SONG: Mambo No. 5 ARTIST: Perez Prado YEAR: 1950 Listen to it here: THE SONG: There is little information on the composition of Mambo Number 5, just that it was written by Perez Prado in 1949 and released in 1950. THE ARTIST: Damaso Perez Prado, AKA the King of Mambo was born December 11, 1916Continue reading “Song 40 – Mambo No. 5”
Song 39 – Goodnight, Irene
SONG: Goodnight, Irene ARTIST: The Weavers YEAR: 1950 Listen to it here: THE SONG: What has become a 20th century American folk standard, started as a song written by and first recorded by blues musician Huddie ‘Lead Belly’ Ledbetter in 1933. For more information on Leadbelly, please see our review of Song 20 – GallisContinue reading “Song 39 – Goodnight, Irene”
Song 38 – Summertime
SONG: Summertime ARTIST: Sarah Vaughan YEAR: 1950 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Summertime was written by George Gershwin for his 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, with lyrics by DuBose Heyward who wrote the novel Porgy. Gershwin started writing the song in 1933 and tried to recreate the feel of a spiritual. The song isContinue reading “Song 38 – Summertime”
Song 37 – Autumn Leaves
SONG: Autumn Leaves ARTIST: Jo Stafford YEAR: 1950 Listen to it here: THE SONG: “Autumn Leaves” was composed by Joseph Kosma, with original lyrics by Jacques Prevert (French lyrics) and later English lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Joseph Kosma was a Hungarian composer who met Jacques Prevert in Paris. They collaborated on a few songs andContinue reading “Song 37 – Autumn Leaves”
Holly & Kelly Music Review 