Russell Davies - 28/11/2010

Russell plays the last of the ten finalists in the shortlist of listeners' favourite duet recordings - Two of a Kind by Mercer & Darin and A Rockin' Good Way by Dinah Washington & Brook Benton. Before that, he investigates two British songwriting names - Tolchard Evans, responsible for If (Perry Como sings it) and Lady Of Spain (sung for us by Eddie Fisher); and Frank Eyton, whose name is attached to numerous songs (Body and Soul, You've Done Something To My Heart). Evans' work is well-documented but how much was Eyton responsible for? In his attempt to find out, Russell unearths an old song whose lyrics were all Eyton's work: We hear them sung by Les Allen with the Durium Dance Band. A query from a listener prompts a hearing of Frank Sinatra's I Like To Lead When I Dance. Further curious studio going-on give us Rebecca Martin's For All We Know"and Harry Nilsson's Nevertheless and the show is wrapped up by two famous and very different recordings both cut on 24th June 1941 - Mildred Bailey's It's So Peaceful In The Country and Gracie Fields' Biggest Aspidistra In The World.