PLAYLIST
| Selection |
Source |
Performer(s) |
Comments |
| Let's Misbehave |
Nipper's Greatest Hits — The 20s (1990) |
Irving Aaronson and His Commanders (Phl Saxe, solo vocal) |
Recorded in March, 1928 |
| You’ve Got That Thing |
Celebrating 30 Years at the Café Carlyle (1997) |
Bobby Short and His Orchestra |
The song is by Cole Porter, and who better to perform it that Short, who personifies the chic New York cabaret artist. |
| Let’s Misbehave |
You Never Know (Revival cast 2001) |
David Garrison, Kristin Chenoweth |
This “lost” 1937 Cole Porter musical was intended as a small cast, one-set musical but when it finally landed on Broadway in 1938 the producers had inflated it into the sort of big production then in vogue. This version restores the show to its original dimensions and reinstates some songs dropped from the original. This recording — another gem from Fynsworth Alley — uses the cast from the 1991 Pasadena Playhouse production. |
| 20 Fans |
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (OC 1978) |
Company |
A revival of this 1978 satire on the hypocrisy of the “Christian” right wing is especially timely now that George Python’s Flying Circus has started its four-year run in Washington, DC. See www.bestlittlemusical.com for details. The revival stars Ann-Margret and Gary Sandy. |
| Big Spender |
Sweet Charity (OC 1966) |
Helen Gallagher, Thelma Oliver, The Girls |
The girls at the Fandango Ballroom promise fun, laughs, and a good time. Sweet Charity has music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and a book by Neil Simon, based on Fellini’s film Nights of Cabiria (where the character was a prostitute rather than a dance-hall hostess). |
| Lovely Ladies |
Les Miserables (OC 1987) |
Company |
Desperate for money to pay for her child Cosette’s medicine, Fantine has taken to working the streets with the other “lovely ladies”. This is the flip side of the overly rosy view of prostitution in Whorehouse. |
| The Miller’s Son |
Something Wonderful (1998) |
Anne Kerry Ford, John Boswell (keyboards), instrumental ensemble |
Originally from Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (1973), where it is sung by the maid Petra. Her carefree and clear-eyed approach to sexuality contrasts with the inhibited and confused feelings of her social superiors. Anne Kerry Ford is an exceptionally likeable west coast-based cabaret artist. Find out more about her at www.annekerryford.com |
| Tick Tock |
Company (OC 1970) |
Dean Jones, Susan Browning, The Vocal Minority |
Perennial bachelor Bobby (Jones) cavorts in bed with his latest conquest, April (Browning). On stage, what you actually see is a sexy solo dance number (Donna McKechnie in the original cast) punctuated by the voices of Bobby and April. |
| Toothbrush Time |
Take Me to the World (1998) |
Susannah Mars, Bill Wells (piano) |
Not from a show as such, this is a cabaret song by William Bolcom (of Bolcom and Morris) and Arnold Weinstein. Susannah Mars is a multi-talented Oregon-based film and theatre actress; this was her debut CD. Read one of her many on-line bios at www.orsymphony.org/bios/marsbio.html |
| I’m Going to Give it to Mary with Love |
Doity Records, V. 1 (2000) |
Cliff Edwards |
(From Edwards’ bio at www.redhotjazz.com/cliffedwards.html): Also known as “Ukulele Ike”, Cliff Edwards (1985 - 1971) got his start in showbiz playing and singing in movie theatres and saloons in St. Louis. He became a star in vaudeville and on Broadway, introducing the song “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” in Gershwin’s Lady Be Good (1924). His trademark ukulele and scat singing were all the rage in the 1920s and led to a fad for playing the ukulele. This song and the next are from 1936. They’re typical of the “party” records that became underground favorites. |
| Insufficient Sweetie |
A Bear in a Lady’s Boudoir |
Cliff Edwards |
(From the www.redhotjazz.com bio): Edwards went on to star in films in the ‘30s and ‘40s and is now best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio (1940). He sold 74 million records during his career and earned millions of dollars but went bankrupt several times due to alimony payments, income tax troubles, gambling, alcoholism, and drug addiction. His star faded in the 1950s and 1960s and Edwards died broke and on welfare in 1971, a forgotten man.
|
| My Handy Man Ain’t Handy No More |
Eubie! (OC 1978) |
Alaina Reed |
Originally from Blackbirds of 1930, with music by Eubie Blake and lyrics by Andy Razaf.
|
| The Humming Song |
I’m Everyone I Have Ever Loved |
Martin Mull |
The Bossa Nova, Mull style. Best known for this film and TV roles, Mull is also an insidiously funny song satirist.
|
| The Masochism Tango |
The Remains of Tom Lehrer (2000) |
Tom Lehrer |
Tom Lehrer takes the implicit dominance and submission in the tango to ludicrous extremes.
|
| Oral Contraception |
Stand Up Comic (1978) |
Woody Allen |
Cheap, safe and effective. Best known for this films, Allen's first success was as a stand-up comic and comedy writer for television.
|
| All He Wants is Sex |
Lexx (OS 2001) |
Voices of Brian Downey, Xenia Seeberg; music by Marty Simon |
From the extremely odd SciFi Channel series of the same name. Lexx is a giant insect genetically modified for space travel, with a crew of mutants and misfits. Think of it as a punkoid amalgam of Star Trek and Babylon 5.
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