Exclusive Tiny, The MGM Gang's All Here, Plus Exclusive Connie And A Reader-Suggested Secret Song!

Shake it down, kids! Tiny's in the house!

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). 

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.

Fred's Early Years, Kay's Different Day, Plus Keely's A Fool, A L'il Classic Costes And An Electrified Secret Song!

It's almost time for holiday break - hooray! - so this will be the last Cheerful Earfull post until the new year. Will you miss me? What wonders will the new year bring? World peace? An end to hunger? Less of this? Oh, I hope and pray for all three. In the meantime, three Cheerful Exclusives! just for you.

Anita Restored, Heavy-Breathing Wolfs, Herrmann Swoons, Plus A Hollywood Cavalcade And An Aussie Mountain Secret Song!

If you've been following this blog over the past few years, then you know I love-love Anita O'Day. A trailblazing bebop and jazz singer - who refused to be anyone's mere "girl singer," as they were called in the day - her childhood was marked by an inattentive, gambling father, a coldly apathetic mother and a botched tonsillectomy which cut out her uvula. That left her unable to sing with vibrato, or hold a note much past two or three bars, if that. It didn't stop her. She learned how to hit notes like a percussionist - bullseye! - and scat-sing with machine-gun power. But she was far from a cold technician. If anything, she epitomized all the joy that a "dame" from a hard-scrabble life could create simply by singing. 

From grueling touring work as a marathon dancer during the Depression - some of the marathons went on for six days or more - to a stint as a singing waitress, to her pioneering work as a jazz singer, she lived a good long life, and remarkably, survived a decades-long heroin addiction. "When you shoot up," she once advised, "the trick is to have someone around in case you OD. You have to be found right away." She eventually quit cold turkey by locking herself down at a beach house, and then just kept going. What remains is her music, and happily, a lot of her best LPs are being remastered, including the two below. Listen to "Stompin' At The Savoy" from "Pick Yourself Up" - especially when she abandons the lyrics and just scats away. It's heaven. 

No, it's not Jessica Rabbit below, but rather, who she was based on:

Have you seen any of director Tex Avery's cartoons? Then you know his were the bawdiest, and I'll argue, funniest, in the 1940's and 50's. He directed the first Daffy Duck cartoon - Daffy is my favorite cartoon character. Of. All. Time - and turned Bugs Bunny into the superchill Brooklyn wesenheimer we all know today. Yes, Bugs' refrain, "What's up, Doc?", first appeared in the Avery-directed short "A Wild Hare." After Warners, he went to Paramount, then MGM, the latter where composer Scott Bradley scored his cartoons. 

Bradley isn't as well known as Carl Stalling, Warners' cartoon composer, but he was just as antic, and his orchestrations were more lush, befitting the "deluxe" MGM of the period. This 1992 CD brings a lot of his tunes together, and no, it's not the best compilation out there (some cuts include the cartoon dialogue) (which I find intrusive), but at least there's a few tracks here that really allow you to appreciate this little-known composer (plus the cover's pretty nifty, don't you think?).

Speaking of compilations, there's so many Bernard Herrmann collections that it's sometimes difficult to keep track. And truthfully, most of them are just thrown together, with no rhyme or reason for why music from one movie, for example, flows into music from another. And another. And another. In other words, they're money-grabs. 

But this 1976 compilation wisely chooses music from just three of Herrmann's efforts, and they compliment each other beautifully, starting with "Citizen Kane," his first feature assignment, then his Oscar-winning score for "The Devil & Daniel Webster," and on to one of his last, and best, for De Palma's "Obsession."

If you listen to the CD from start to finish (which I really recommend), it's like a dark musical portrait that starts out jaunty and cynical, turns fantastical and fiendish, then dives, beautifully, into thunderous, doom-laden romance. It's quite a ride.

Oh, Deanna, you're still missed, I swear. You were just so damn perky.

There's little Deanna and a host of other big-time Hollywood stars - like Dorothy Lamour! Harpo Marx! Marlene Deitrich! - singing and crooning in "Hooray For Hollywood!" a 1972 compilation LP which stretches from the 1930's to the 50's. Who can resist James Cagney singing "Mary's A Grand Ol' Name?' I know I can't. There's also Betty Hutton singing "Oh, It's So Quiet," which, depending on your mood, will either be the most irritating or joyous thing you've heard all day. And, yes, it's a Cheerful Exclusive! just for you.

The Secret Song File is feeling superpouty today. Too many hours on the set. Too many cigarettes and hootch. So how to relax, but not get all sloppy about it. Hmmm.

She knows just what to do (of course). Put on this slickly entertaining alterna CD from the land Down Under. No, really. It's all in good fun, and since they're good musicians and songwriters, you don't have to feel ashamed of yourself. Who are they? Let's just say that they put the "A" in Aussie. and they're one-word name is just another way to say say shaving jelly. Or, you know, have you met Al Pine? Nice guy. Smells funny, but nice guy.

I kid, of course. I've never taken a whiff of Al (but if I did, I'm not telling).

Talk to me below. You'll feel fresh and clean if you do!

Who Is Lea Roberts? Plus Audrey's Melodies, Monk's San Francisco, Gobel's Giggles And A Swedish Bird Secret Song!

Who is Lea Roberts? All we know is that she was a soul singer in the late 1960's and early 70's. She was born in Ohio in 1946, recorded a handful of albums, a few of which hit the Billboard charts - and that's it, that's all we know. She's a strange anomaly; virtually forgotten by the 1980's, then rediscovered, to a certain extent, in the Internet age by way of YouTube videos and a few early blog shares. Is she still alive? Is she still singing - somewhere?

You'll likely find these questions a bit more urgent after you listen to her 1975 LP "Lady Lea" - A Cheerful Lossless Exclusive! - because she sounds like a blissful cross between Aretha Franklin and Della Reese, though you won't mistake her for anyone else. Just give a listen to the first track, her take on the Free's classic "All Right Now" which all but obliterates the original with its driving high energy and vocal ferocity. 

Or her version of "Laughter In The Rain," which, according to Neil Sedaka's bio "My Own Story" sent him and his management into a panic when it hit the airwaves - and the charts - well ahead of his own version. "We've got to push up our release before she gets too much airtime!" he exclaimed at the time. Lea beat him to the punch by an entire month (I don't why this amuses me) (but it does). The rest of the album runs the gamut from soulful rock to gospel-tinged ballads and more.

There's no Wikipedia entry for Lea, no Billboard bio, and precious little information about her on other sites and blogs beyond her LP credits and date of birth. She's a mystery wrapped up in one of the most versatile soul voices of the 70's. So who is Lea Roberts? Maybe her kitty-cat knows:

I'll bet you know who appears below in the colorful hexaptych (which is a six-paneled painting) (I so had to look that up):

Yes, it's the fabulous Audrey Hepburn. She's another anomaly, though of a different kind. Everyone likes Audrey Hepburn. No, really. Have you ever heard anyone say, "Oh, I hate Audrey Hepburn?" You haven't. And you won't. Something about her is endearing to both men (who wanted to protect her as they would a little sister) (or sleep with her) and women (who want to be like her and, especially, dress like her). Even when she appeared in stinkers, like "Paris When It Sizzles," she emerged completely unscathed. Well played, Audrey, well played.

"Music From The Films Of Audrey Hepburn" isn't just for fans of Audrey, but if you are, the music will have special appeal. But really, how many compilations out there have terrific music from Henry Mancini, Frederick Lowe, Franz Waxman, the Gershwins and more? Oh, and vocals from both Fred Astaire and Audrey herself?

Speaking of hexaptychs, the six-headed creature below is a certain monk we all know:

Get this. Monk was almost entirely self-taught on the piano. In fact, the only training he had, if you can call it that, was eavesdropping on his sister's piano lesson and a brief class in high school. Some people are just born to do what they do, right? And Monk was born to play. Period.

1959's "Thelonious Alone In San Francisco," Monk's second solo LP, spotlights a wonderful live show. Like most of Monk's work, his performance here of original compositions and covers - with his split-second timing and head-turning shifts in rhythms and style - is consistently surprising (still). Even if you're not partial to piano jazz, give it a try. You'll be surprised, too.

Do you know the milk-pitching comedian/singer/actor below?

I didn't, or thought I didn't, when I spotted the LP below. And then I was like, "Wait a minute, wasn't he on game shows or something years ago?" He was, but as I next learned, there was a lot more than game shows to George Gobel. He was a noted comic, a TV sitcom headliner, an actor and a terrific Irish tenor. Oh, and he was really famous.

I was thrown for a moment, but then I remembered Woody Allen's movie "Radio Days," particularly a scene in which a group of glamorous radio stars toasted themselves and their everlasting fame. The joke, of course, was that hardly anyone remembers old radio stars anymore - fame doesn't actually guarantee immortality (which means people like this will soon be forgotten) (I hope) (pretty please?).

I'm guessing that Gobel is forgotten at this point because his career hit its stride just as the U.S. was moving from the post-war innocence of the 1950's to the rebellious 60's, which meant that Gobel's brand of old school comedy - as polished and, yes, funny, as it was - soon found itself shunted aside.

1959's "Live At The Sands" - a Giggly Cheerful Exclusive! - finds Gobel in top form. "You might not like my act, but you've got to admire my nerve," he quips, then tells tales about his wife (or "spooky ol' Alice"), his literally blue-nosed friend Sweeney, his misfortunes on the road, calamities in the bathtub, dating as a youth, problem nudity (on his part) and more. Plus he sings really well. He'd probably have been an even bigger hit if he was around today in our more conservative times, which isn't meant as a knock at all.

The Secret Song File is weary of conservative times and having to calm men down, such as the one below. You know the type; threatened by change or new technology or sexual equality for all. Blah-blah-blah. Stuff the tears already! Because if you're that tightly-wound, you'll miss out on...doves and Swedes and drummers and foxes. Not to mention spanking new music.

Today's entry is a delish new CD from a Swedish band with a female vocalist who sounds a little like Bjork, but more innocent, and skillful bandmates who're creating some of today's most inventive indietronica (I didn't make up that ridiculous term, I swear) (don't you dare hold it against me). So go on, shirk your establishmentarian shackles and for God's sakes stop crying about stupid things. A gentle roar and a DJ to ease your mind are all you need.

I only say these things because I care (do you believe me?). 

Share your gentle roar in the comments!

All About Martha, Plus Fred Beats One Out, Julie's Feelings And A Gory Secret Song!

In 1970, an astonishing, bootleg, 2-LP set entitled "Legends: Martha Raye" was released - then promptly went out of print. Arrrrgh! Yet a few weeks ago, my Cuban Luvuh was strolling amiably through the used LP section at our local Amoeba - and he found it. Oh, happy day! I was shocked. I still am. If you're a Martha Raye fan (like I am), this is the Holy Grail.

What makes this Cheerful Exclusive LP so satisfying is how wide-ranging it is. You get Martha's jazz vocal efforts in movies from the 1930's through the 40's, her later vocal performances from a wide range of TV variety programs - they're amongst the best here; her rendition of "Is That All There Is?" rivals Peggy Lee's - and even a few cuts from her Broadway turn in the title role of "Hello, Dolly." In other words, it runs the gamut.

When you listen to her perform "Sing For Your Supper" or "Truckin'," for instance, you'll realize why Anita O'Day credits her as being the primary influence on her style - more than any other singer. "It was Martha Ray who showed me what I wanted to do with my life," O'Day said. "I saw her in an early movie singing 'Mr. Pagianini' - doing ad-libs of 'dah-dah-dah.' She was what they call a natural. And she gave me the idea that I could sing jazz and still perform." Mel Torme also cited Raye as a major influence, Kaye Ballard claims she learned everything about both singing and comedy from Raye, and Ruth Etting said that no one ever sung a ballad like Raye.

Just be aware that the quality of the recordings on the LPs are variable. The TV performances sound terrific, the movie songs are likely pulled from the original film tracks and the Broadway stage numbers are probably from a sound board. But they're all wonderful.

And on we go. This comely lass is a noted UK singer. Know who it is? (I didn't).

It's Julie Rogers, who had a big worldwide hit with "The Wedding" in the early 1960's and went on to continued success in the UK - and just missed out when producers chose Nancy Sinatra's version of "You Only Live Twice" for the 1960's James Bond movie over hers (dammit).

And yet she's kept at it - wonderfully, as I've learned, and in her 1972 LP "With Feeling," a Cheerful Exclusive, she trills, she belts, and in the final cut on the LP entitled "Now," she truly cuts loose in a number that's both wonderfully bonkers and even a little trippy. You'll love it.

When I think of terrific jazz and standards performers, I don't often think of Fred Astaire, who I always thought sounded a bit drone-ish in his films (which I excused because of his dancing) (of course), so I was wary when I picked up a compilation of his songs.

But guess what? After the first song or so, I did a sort of Scooby-Doo "Re-Re?" head-turn. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that he has a fantastic sense of rhythm as a singer - and because of it, even with his limited vocal range, he knows exactly where to hit hard, then soft, and how long to hold a note before springing onto the next. It also helps that these songs, including all the classics, like "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "Night And Day," have been gorgeously remastered. This CD was a real surprise for me. And I love surprises!

By the way, as a reminder, most files here require a password to open - it's a super-simple password, thecheerful - and some LPs, which are in two or three folders, require you to download all the folders in order for you to open everything. Why? Because I'm doing mostly lossless these days, so the music files are bigger. Confused? Don't be. It's all intuitive. Blah-blah-blah. Technical stuff. Zzzzz.

Meanwhile, the Secret Song File would like to remind you that the world can be a violent place, and even the most beautiful amongst us might find themselves having to scrub some of life's detritus from their bodies (in the Secret Song's case, while wearing a lacy La Perla bra) (obviously).

Has the world caused you to, um, bleed (bleed) (bleed) (cough, cough, cough)? It probably has if you're a certain glam-pop group who likes to have lots of drugs in their bodies (ah-choo!). And while their bouncy new CD, which I know you're going to listen to...again and again (gazuntight-I'm-being-so-obvious-with-my-clues), may not make you bleed (bleed) (bleed), at least your heart will feel something. Right? Right? Hey, where's the rave? Anybody got a lolli? Good gawd, I'm thirsty!

Or as Ryan Lochte would say, "Jeah!" (or is it, "Durp"). 

Divulge whatever you like in the comments! I won't judge!