2:20
"Sunny Days!" (Layton and Johnstone, 1930)
A soaringly upbeat Depression-buster performed by the African-American team of Clarence Johnstone and Turner Layton--written ...
2:47
"Saxophobia" (Rudy Wiedoeft, 1920)
Some bodacious sax improv from a nigh forgotten master. Here's Rudy's Wiki: Rudolph "Rudy" Cornelius Wiedoeft (January 3, ...
3:08
"When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-bob-bobbin' Along" ("Whispering" Jack Smith, 1926)
"Whispering" Jack and "Whistling" Carson Robison team up for this grand rendition of a Harry Woods favorite--so emblematic of ...
3:05
"If I Had a Girl Like You" (Rudy Vallee, 1930)
A wistful and affecting love ballad by Rudy and the Connecticut Yankees with just the right blend of sentimentality and verve.
3:07
"Kitty from Kansas City" (Rudy Vallee, 1931)
A high-octane novelty number from Rudy & the Connecticut Yankees...it's not known whether Kitty hailed from the Kansas or ...
3:00
"Letting in the Sunshine" (Sam Browne, 1933)
Noel Gay's delightfully cheerful number, "Letting in the Sunshine" in its 1933 incarnation, sung by Sam Browne* with Scott Wood's ...
3:31
"Betty Co-Ed" (Rudy Vallee, 1931)
Betty Boop's inspiration? There's some connection (see note below) but the flapper-fatale and the poodle-girl soon parted cartoon ...
2:59
"Ghost of a Chance" (Gene Austin, 1932)
A mesmerizing favorite from Halloween week, 1932--written for the Broadway review, "Murder at the Vanities". Popular tenor Gene ...
3:35
"Auf Wiederseh'n, My Dear" (Russ Columbo, 1932)
Crooner Russ Columbo's April, 1932 performance of this evocative standard. AUF WIEDERSEH'N, MY DEAR Come let us stroll ...
2:37
"A Little Kiss Each Morning" (Rudy Vallee, 1930)
One of Rudy Vallee's sweetest and wisest songs--words & music by his good friend and collaborator, Harry Woods. The string ...
3:00
"Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" (Johnny Marvin, 1927)
From the "Happy Days are Here Again" & "Ain't She Sweet" songwriting team of crazy lyricist Jack Yellen and crazy tunesmith ...
3:34
"You're Driving Me Crazy" (Rudy Vallee, 1930)
Vermonter Rudy Vallee (of Island Pond) leading his NBC band, the Connecticut Yankees in Donaldson's "You're Driving Me ...
3:17
"Where or When" (Ray Heatherton, 1937)
Deja Vu all over again--an ode to synchronicity from the original 1937 Broadway production of Rodgers & Hart's "Babes in Arms".
2:30
"There Ain't No 'Maybe' in My Baby's Eyes" ("Whispering" Jack Smith, 1926)
A #3 Hit for Jack in '26, by the Kahn-Egan-Donaldson team... THERE AIN'T NO "MAYBE" IN MY BABY'S EYES ...
3:18
"Say It With Music" (Paul Whiteman, 1921)
Paul Whiteman had twelve #1 songs in 1921--an amazing record for any musician in any era. Among those top songs was this fun ...
3:22
"The Best Things in Life are Free" (Jack Hylton, 1928)
A show-stopping number from the 1925 Ray Henderson-Buddy DeSylva musical, "Good News". A Roaring Twenties tune which ...
2:42
"When Yuba plays the Rhumba on his Tuba" (Rudy Vallee, 1931)
This novelty song made it to #2 in America in 1931--Depression era escapism as its zaniest. Words & Music by Herman "As Time ...
3:01
"I Still Remember" (Rudy Vallee, 1930)
Rudy at his crooniest with Yankee cronies...Vallee's own sax work in the opening. Words by Charles Tobias--Music by Peter ...
3:43
"Let's Put Out the Lights" (Rudy Vallee, 1932)
Rudy Vallee's radio sign-off theme--Vermonter Rudy Vallee with his Connecticut Yankees in the jovial Hupfeld number, "Let's Put ...
2:25
"Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" (Johnny Marvin, 1929)
The Paganini of the Ukulele, Johnny Marvin, joyfully performs one of the top hits from the early Warner Brothers singie-talkie, ...