We're living in crazy times. aren't we? I'm almost annoyed. Lucky for you and me, there's the Andrew Sisters. Is it possible to have too much of the Andrew Sisters in your music collection? I don't think so, especially given this delightful 1998 album, which brings together choice recordings from their Chesterfield-sponsored radio show with the Glenn Miller Band. There's even some you may not have heard before, like their irresistibly swingin' version of "I Got No Strings" from Disney's "Pinocchio," which had just hit movie theatres (remember movie theatres?) (sigh).
Interestingly, these radio broadcasts transpired just before the sisters hit the big time. They were popular, yes, but not "big," and in fact, there were still major squabbles going on with their Greek-born father, who didn't want the gals dating men. One of those squabbles was so contentious that their father ended up spending a night in jail. Only sister Patty showed up for the broadcast that evening.
Once WWII hit, however, it was "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" day and night. The sisters became immortal. They're the perfect singers for the times we live in now: optimistic, sincere and bursting with joy.
Meanwhile, Peggy just wants to pose-pose-pose.
You remember Peggy, dont'cha? She earned a bit of notoriety as one of Frank Sinatra's favored gals about town, but first earned modest fame as a member of "The New Christy Minstrels," a scrubby-clean, early-1960s folk band. Yet in no time at all, Peggy dusted the group, hit Hollywood and recorded her own LPs.
Unfortunately, nothing much came of her Hollywood dreams beyond a few uncredited movie stints and a handful of one-shot TV appearances. She only recorded two LPs, which barely hit the charts, and after touring with modest success in Europe, died largely forgotten by showbiz in 2007 (she didn't even earn a NYT's obituary). Fortunately, audiences are at last catching up. In 2018, "Hollywood Sessions" was released, a gorgeous, remastered compilation, and, yes, it's every bit as good as you could hope for. She might not have earned much notice during her time - some wrote her off as yet another Frankie plaything, since he helped her get her foot in the door - but we know better, don't we? All you have to do is listen.
Oh, look, it's our good friend Helen.
And, hey, this is a first on the Cheerful: a picture of the artist holding the LP we're about to chat about.
Upon the release of her 1959 LP, "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," Helen found herself compared to Billie Holiday - again! - since she once replaced Billie with Count Basie's band. To be honest, I've never understood this comparison. Yes, they could both swing and avoided improvisation, but technically, Humes' voice was powered in ways that that Billie's was not; for one, she could belt like a trumpet if the song required it, which Billie rarely explored. But please, they're both outstanding (of course), and like the Andrew Sisters, Helen's sunny vocals and jammin' tunes are are just what I need these days.
Meanwhile, if you're like me, it's always time to kick up your heels:
And these days, that means dancing in the kitchen or living room or on the porch - because why should Lady Rona stop the good times? Let's all cha-cha together, shall we?
But, please, none of that Zoom nonsense, because I just cannot with looking at tiny little squares of people's faces (or hell's version of "The Brady Bunch" opening). Let's just agree to play these two LPs and dance up a storm - and report back in the comments. Any kind of remark will do, like, "I popped a hip!" or "I wurked my bodonkadonk!" or "I was nudie and did the helicopter!" Surprise me.
Did you know? Music is serotonin. So says The Secret Song File, and she won't hear otherwise. And how we need it. Thanks to so many covidiots in the U.S, we're once more hunkering down. Can you believe? ("Yes, we can!" says the rest of the world). But joy. The Secret Song File is here to help each and every one of you from doom-scrolling the headlines, and not only by posing in her window in her scanties (which is generous enough!).
She's also introducing you to a spanking new album from a certain Brit songstress - and it's definitely one of her best. But what's her name? Hmmm. Is it Jesse? Or Jussie (nope, but close)? Some give her their devotion, some their tough love. Oy. So many hints. But it gives me pleasure. What's yours, by the way? And, yes, this time you can dance to it.
Remember, shake it till you drop...
And report back in the comments! We want to know everything!
