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

BBC Radio 2

Radio 2

Russell Davies

Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

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

Russell Davies: 24/02/2013

24/02/2013

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 24/02/2013

Russell features songs from Duke Ellington and Jack Jones.

Russell pays tribute to two departing trumpeters, and features songs from Duke Ellington and Jack Jones.

Not one major theme this week but a lot of interesting minor ones take up Russell's time, from a new release featuring a song ('I've Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do') whose (quote) 'high-powered smarminess gives me the abdabs' which he contrasts with a similarly-themed one ('I'm Gonna Live Till I Die') which doesn't. Messrs Jack Jones and Frankie Laine, respectively, oblige. This is followed by a Duke Ellington song for which Mr Laine provided the lyric ('What Am I Here For' sung by Patti Page) and an Ellington recording from 75 years ago to the day ('Skrontch', with Ivie Anderson). 

The memory of two departing trumpeters - Pat Halcox, who played for Chris Barber for 54 years; and US veteran modernist, Donald Byrd, is suitably celebrated in the first case by Barber's recording of a rare Fats Waller tune that features Pat; and in the second by a Rita Reys date that includes Byrd with fellow members of Art Blakey's group. A new release that spotlights 10 'Prima Donnas Du Jazz' gives us Helen Merrill with 'All Of You' and then the recent biography of E Y Harburg is the cue to hear Harburg himself singing 'Lydia The Tattooed Lady' and Harold Arlen perform 'Over The Rainbow'. Continuing a songwriters-with-their-own-song theme, we get Johnny Mercer with 'Blues In The Night' and, finally, a recollection of Peggy Lee by Australian chanteuse Janet Seidel.

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

24/02/2013

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