Russell Davies - 30/01/2011

Gus Kahn is the songwriter picked for first examination this week - and we hear two of his classic 20s numbers and a rarity from the early 30s. We then move on to the less-familiar Lee David, in part responsible for two songs that made a come-back - the 20s number Tonight You Belong to Me which became a 50s hit for Patience and Prudence; and the even older Sippin' Cider Through a Straw which Nina and Frederick revived. Via a third Lee David song from the 30s - Where Is the Sun - which lives on almost entirely due to Billie Holiday's recording, we turn to one of Billie's regular musical companions, trumpeter Roy Eldridge, whose centenary we celebrate on this day. Russell parades three of Roy's vocal appearances. A more feminine balance sought, we next hear Jeri Southern's, I Thought of You Last Night, written entirely by Ralph Freed - which leads on to another of Freed's solo efforts: Just the Way You Are, as sung by Polly Bergen. A brand new release of sisterly vocal partnerships (we hear two), reminders of classic Dick Haymes, and rare Barbara Lea complete the heady mixture this week.