By Hoagy Carmichael 1939 A sublime tune by Carmichael, who based his lyrics on a poem by Jane Brown Thompson. Ironically, Thompson passed away the night before the song was introduced on the radio by Dick Powell. The big hit would come that year for the Red Norvo orchestra. Hoag
By Billie Holiday & Arthut Herzog Jr. 1939 Perhaps Billie Holiday's most famous recording, and a song co-written by her, as well. Holiday would later indicate that the origin of the lyrics came with an argument over money she had with her mother, in which she uttered the title l
By Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard no, no, no. You ain't been blue, Till you've had that mood indigo. That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes, While I sit and sigh, "Go 'long blues". Always get that mood indigo, Since my baby said goodbye. In the evenin' when lights are low, I
By Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart 1930 Although written for a musical called Simple Simon, it did not make the final score. Instead, it was introduced in the musical Evergreen, when it opened in London on December 3, 1930. British musical star Jessie Matthews (pictured) further p
By Cole Porter 1937 A landmark Porter tune, evocative, poignant, and an excellent representation of his incomparable work. It was original written for the motion picture Rosalie, in which it was sung by none other than Nelson Eddy. Tommy Dorsey made a #3 hit with it that fall, w
By Harry Warren & Johnny Mercer 1938 Sung by Dick Powell in the movie Hard to Get, in which it first appeared, the song actually became huge thanks to its first studio recording, by Bing Crosby. Although recorded many, many times over the years, it's Bing's version that remains
By Cole Porter 1936 Porter composed this, one of his most beautiful melodies/lyrics, for the musical film Born to Dance, in which it was sung by Eleanor Powell, James Stewart and Frances Langford. It would later be included in the 1987 revival of Porter's Anything Goes. Josephin
For decades Benny Goodman and his clarinet popped up just about everywhere, and when they did, just about everyone knew it. Goodman, who would have turned 100 on May 30, defined for most people the swing era that dominated popular American music for much of the 1930s and 1940s
By Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart 1937 A slowly rising, powerful ballad from Rodger & Hart, this one was introduced by Ray Heatherton and Mitzi Green on stage in Babes in Arms. The song also made it into the 1939 musical film of the same name. Although a hit for many artists at t
Hands-On Review: Road Worn Series Electric Guitars and Basses Collector’s looks at a player’s price By Dan Day Musician’s Friend Staff Writer Road Worn Series Electric Guitars and Basses The new Road Worn Series of guitars and basses from Fender is a real winner. That’s
Jazz played by a small ensemble featuring collective and solo improvisation. The term is often ascribed especially to the New Orleans pioneers of jazz, although many critics of popular music believe the term better describes the music of a later wave of white Chicago musicians in