A Holiday Bounty: Anita Boogies With Krupa, Millie Does It Live, Jo Just Has To, Plus Really Weird Movie Tunes And A Portuguese-Canadian Secret Song!

Anita O'Day's cooler-than-cool vocals matched with Gene Krupa's hot rhythms. For me, that's heaven.

Let's Jump Back in With Sophia, Gloria, Belgian Annie, Carmen, Plus You-Know-Who And An Old AF Secret Song!

Look at me dance! Look at me cha-cha! Look at me jive! Yes, my chickens, I've returned, my ordeal of annoyance at last behind me (or at least somewhat manageable). How very patient you've been, and I truly appreciated all the get well wishes. But for reals, enough about me. Let's get down to the tunes, yo!

Ring In The New Year With Three Exclusives from Anita, Della & Rose, Plus A Wild Party With Keely & Louis, And A Name-Calling Secret Song!

Is it New Year's Day already? Not yet, but when it is, you'll no doubt be asking yourself a series of crucial questions, like, "Where the hell are my pants?!" and "Why are my undies caught in the ceiling fan?!" and "Wait, whose place is this?!" Trust me, we've all been there (haven't we?) (just nod, "yes").

Gale Dreams, Vicki Swings, Plus Anita In Brazil, Halloweenie Treats And a Pee-Pants Secret Song!

Hooray! It's nearly Halloween, a time for tricks, treats and candy! And look, actress and singer Gale Robbins is gettin' in the mood!

Anita Sizzles, Peggy Rides A Velvet Swing, Plus Betty's Polite, Spelman Spellbounds And A Thermonuclear Secret Song!

Yes! She's back. Another Cheerfully Awesome Anita Exclusive! for you and yours. Because every summer deserves a little sizzle from Anita.

Anita Does Basin Street, Sister Tharpe Sings It All, A Li'l Jazz By Goofy, Bebo Be Trippin', Plus A Purple Moonbeam Secret Song!

Happy New Year! We're all still here, right? We made it in one piece? Phew. Time to celebrate. Let's start things right with a Cheerfully Hot-Cha Anita Exclusive! - and don't you dare ask, "Which Anita?" It ain't this mangy ol' Anita, that's for sure.

Summer's Swell With Tina & Ernestine & Anita & More, Plus A Funky Prog Secret Song!

Does it get any more swellegant for summer than Tina Louise?

Ranee Does Bille, Anita's Got Rhythm, Plus Hibari Gets Jazzy And A Fun-Girl-Goes-Country Secret Song!

Stand back, ya'll, Ranee is in the house. And she's no ordinary jazz diva. Born in Brooklyn, she later made Canada her home (which me and the Cuban will be doing if the orange orangutan is elected) (but I digress), and first toured not as a singer, but as a jazz drummer and saxophonist.

Anita's Back, Plus "Annita" With Two "N's," Caroline's Broadway, Mundell's Stripper And A Legendary Secret Song!

Can you ever get enough Anita O'Day? I know I can't. And, c'mon, admit it, don't you want that genuine Anita O'Day paper doll featured below?

A Basket Of Berlin, Breakfast With Anita, Plus Fran's Coming, Mary's Live And A Trans Secret Song!

I'm back! Did you miss me? I missed you (of course). We should celebrate, right? Let's kick things off with glamour-glamour-glamour by way of Ann Miller, who wasn't exactly known for sex-appeal back in the day, but above is giving you her best come-hither. Hot-cha! This was unusual for her. In fact, for years after her heyday, she refused to do movies because of their sex and nudity, yet triumphantly, she returned to the screen in 2001's "Mulholland Drive" (which had no sex or nudity at all) (but whatever). 

Queen Anita, Mouse Jazz, Jane's Creamy Dream, Plus Time With Phil And An Old Meets New Secret Song!

Yes, more Anita. I can't help myself! I hope you don't mind (you don't, do you?). Oh, and I so want that playing card above of her as The Queen of Diamonds (it really exists). Gimmie-gimmie-gimmie. And I'm sure she'd approve of it being diamonds, too - instead of hearts, for example - since she changed her last name from "Colton" to "O'Day." Why? Because "O'Day" is Pig Latin for "dough," that's why. Yes, she's just that kind of gal.

Anita in '75, Nancy & George Get Swingin', Plus Marlene & Burt And A Lazy Secret Song!

Feel the sizzle, yo! Anita in her dressing room. Seconds before her landmark Newport Jazz Festival performance. She hadn't yet decided on those white gloves. And she was flying on heroin. Wheeeeee! Years later, having finally kicked the habit, she wowed the jazz world with one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks they'd ever seen. It wasn't just that she survived, though that was part of it, but that she sounded better than ever.

Judy's Touch, Anita In '76, Plus Exotic Adventures And A Feathered Freak Secret Song!

Does anyone still wear a hat? I don't (except when I'm having a super bad hair day and then I put on my "Taylor Dayne: Satisfied!" baseball cap). Judy, however, stills wears a hat, and no, it's not wearing her, though I would say that if a hat is significantly taller than your head, it's probably a good time to rethink things. But Judy? Pshh. She can wear whatever she likes (including that dress below which looks like a collection of baby eels are ready to strangle her) (look out Judy!).

Premium Porter, Lenny's Dirty Mouth, Vince At The Beach, Plus A Divine Secret Song!

Can you guess who's pictured above? If you guessed Peggy Lee, then you're quicker than me. It's a very young Peggy, of course; the picture was likely taken in the mid-1930s when she was singing at The Buttery Room in Chicago (still a decade away from releasing her first record). What I don't know is when she sang her first Cole Porter song, but I'm glad she's included on "The Very Best Of Cole Porter" - a De-Lovely Cheerful Exclusive! - a compilation where she performs "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" like a perfect (semi) virgin.

Anita Loves Ya', Classic Kay, Patti's Massive Box, Plus A Copacabana Secret Song!

Ka-pow! Bam! Hot-cha! Anita's back in town. It's always a happy day for me when I'm able to get my paws on new Anita music, or rather, Anita music I've never heard, in this case from 1991's "I Told Ya I Love You, Now Get Out," a Go, Anita, Go! Cheerful Exclusive for you and yours. When you listen, just picture yourself watching Anita live, because as much as she was a renown jazz vocalist, she was a pretty jazzy treat for the eyes, too. Some people are just born with style...

A Twosome With Mancini, Anita Swings With Stan, Plus A Oui-Oui Affirmative Secret Song!

Behold the glamor! Few Hollywood actresses were as beautiful, much less as talented, as Lee Remick. As a wee li'l tot, I first discovered her in the original "Omen" movie (her blue eyes popping open in horror is an indelible image). Only later did I learn that she made an enduring mark on the Broadway stage - in a cult Stephen Sondheim musical, thankyouverymuch - and starred in countless movies. Her best, I think, was Blake Edwards' "Days Of Wine And Roses" (an absolute must if you haven't seen it), which boasted an Oscar-winning score by Henry Mancini.

Jazz For A Summer Day With Mary & Anita, Plus Gene & His Drums, Kenneth & Judee And A Sissy-Walk Secret Song!

Does music have a season? If it does, then jazz is meant for summer. The heat, the humidity, a chill band, a fresh vocalist. And the city for jazz? San Francisco must have something in the water, because so many terrific jazz vocalists seem to hail from there. Case in point, Mary Stallings, born in 1930, who almost immediately made a name for herself by singing at Frisco jazz clubs while still in her teens.

Hawaii Wicky Wacky, Anita in Japan, Plus Sondheim Dipped In Jazz And A Luminous Topiary Secret Song!

The face says "wassup," the arms say "gun show," the picture says "Made in Hawaii." And so he is. It's Jason Mamoa. Yes, it's true, your favorite "Games Of Thrones" (and "Baywatch") actor was born in the Aloha state (along with several more Hollywood stars and a certain politician). Which is just a roundabout way of saying that Hawaii sure seems like a fun place (I've never been). It even sounds like fun.

Or at least it does in this terrific Lei-It-On-Me Cheerful Exclusive!, "Hawaii On Broadway," a somewhat misleading title since this swingin' compilation brings together stars from the pop music world and movies, too. 

Anita's Finest, Sheila's Confirmin', Plus Bette's Best And A Tiny Diva Secret Song!

Peace out, yo, from Anita to you (don't you feel better now?)  (I do). As you may know, I've highlighted a lot of Anita LPs here from her later years (because they're the hardest to find and every Anita fan should have them), but I got to thinking the other day, what if there are readers out there who only know Anita from the this blog? It's certainly possible, and that would be a shame, since early and mid-career Anita is just flat-out fantastic.

Below, you'll find what I think is the best-evuh compilation of classic Anita.

The Elusive Lucy, Swingin' George, Anita in 'Cisco, Plus Cece's Finally Movin' And A British Grammar Secret Song!

Who was Lucy Reed? Good question, and I'm afraid I don't have much of an answer, though over the years, she's developed a loyal cult following due to her sharply dramatic vocals. Happily, her personal life wasn't marred by any on-going troubles, like drug-addiction, for example. She enjoyed a decade-long career at Chicago jazz clubs in the 1950's and even made it to New York a few times to record. Some of her recording sessions resulted in her second LP, "This Is Lucy Reed," a Cheerfully Lucy Exclusive!