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").
Luckily, Anita's here to save you, because if anyone knows how to pick herself up after an all-nighter, it's Anita. In this Cheerfully O'Day Exclusive! our favorite pants-wearing female jazz singer lets it rip live in Tokyo in this previously unreleased set, which includes all-new renditions of "Star Eyes" and "I Cried For You," plus five, count 'em, five, bonus tracks from 1956 and '57. If Anita doesn't get you out of bed in a happy mood, nothing will.
Now that you have your feet lifted off the mattress and planted on the floor, it's time to think about getting dressed - or at least putting on your undies before stepping to the kitchen to make coffee, you big lush. And make sure they don't have skid marks! What if there's someone out there? They won't think kindly to seeing your mangy drawers. Distract them from your frowziness with tunes from a dearly departed Diva of Song:
Yes, it's Miss Della. In this delish LP - a Cheerfully Della Exclusive! for you and yours - she stirs rock and deep funk into her usual stew of blues and jazz, which means it's a must. A highlight includes "Brand New Day," the theme song from Hal Ashby's "The Landlord," a 1970 Hal Ashby movie (his first). If this LP doesn't hit you before the coffee does, then you're beyond help.
Okay, you stepped out of bed, you put on your undies and now you're drinking coffee. What next? Brush those teef of yours this instant - there's tiny little mushrooms sprouting on them! - then put on some reasonably clean clothes, go to the nearest greasy spoon and gorge. Ignore other people. Put in your earbuds, 'cause Keely's in the house!
You know Keely can bring the good times, and for years, she brought it with her husband Louis Prima - especially in Vegas, where they were the toast of the town and amongst the top-selling acts. This buzzing and jumping 1999 compilation gathers some of their finest ditties, like "The Closer To The Bone (The Sweeter Is The Meat)" and a great mash up of "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" and "Im In The Mood For Love." By the way, if you're unaware of Louis, but his voice sounds familiar, you likely first heard him playing King Louis in Disney's "Jungle Book."
Now it's time to shlep yourself home. You have two choices, each of which wisely involve doing as little as possible. Turn on the TV (or the NetAppleHulu) (or whatever), or have a few giggles with Rose Marie.
"I wouldn't say he's a hard drinker," quips Rose to a clearly soused audience. "It comes easy to him!" That's just one of countless zingers in this Cheerfully Rosy Exclusive! from 1963 in which our dearly departed Rose wows the crowd with a few salty gags about dating 'n' such, along with several songs - and yes, she gives them her own half-cocked spin, like "Days Of Wine And Roses," which she interrupts with a burp and a hiccup, and "The Man That Got Away" ("Rosy, Rosy, you idiots!" she cries to the audience members who dare to squeal, "Judy! Judy!"). It's pure delight, I promise.
The Secret Song File plans to catch up on movies on New Year's day, or all those flicks that'll likely be awarded gold bric-a-brac at The Golden Globes the following week. But she's already seen one, and though she won't name-call it (*cough-expectorate-cough*), she will tell you that it was gently mesmerizing. And then there's that scene with the peach!
Plus, the soundtrack's terrif. Where else can you hear a well-curated jam with the likes of John Adams, Sufjan Stevens and The Psychedelic Furs (to name just a few)? Don't bother texting The Secret Song File on New Year's day. She's not going out, she doesn't want anyone to come over, and she's not putting on clothes. Not even her undies. Just this.
Have a great New Year!
Cheerfully kibitz in the comments, if you like!
