BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

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Russell Davies

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Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song

Russell Davies: 12/12/2010

12/12/2010

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 12/12/2010

Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song.

Russell celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song. This show features recordings from Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Benny Goodman and Cab Calloway.

Russell reprises two songs recorded on this day - Lee Wiley's Ghost of a Chance (1950) and Ben Selvin's Cheerful Little Earful (1930). Mention that this was also Frank Sinatra's birthday (he'd have been 95) leads to discussing the only recording session held on his birthday, in 1967, with Duke Ellington. We hear Follow Me from it. 

Dionne Warwick's 70th birthday is celebrated with the playing of one of Burt Bacharach's most complex songs -the title music from Promises, Promises. Russell also recalls that it is the centenary of legendary record producer John Hammond and, in discussing him, plays Benny Goodman's Memories of You (with Rosemary Clooney) and Count Basie's Evenin' with Jimmy Rushing. 

This leads to the derivation of "Jitterbug" - a cue for Cab Calloway's Jitter Bug. Finally, reviewing a new book about songwriter Dorothy Fields, Russell plays four Fields songs, concluding with Sinatra's version of The Way You Look Tonight.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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Russell Davies

12/12/2010

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