Doris Day's first new album in 17 years !

A new Doris Day album!  This is Doris' first studio album of new material in 17 years; a dozen songs of a timeless quality, with nine brand-new recordings produced by top UK record producer Ted Carfrae from sessions originally produced by Day's late son, Terry Melcher plus a trio of Day classics.

Doris Day has been fully involved with the musical selections for this special release. Her son Terry Melcher--who was known as a songwriter and producer for folk-rock pioneers The Byrds and other artists--co-wrote four of the new songs with Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston: the emotional title track "My Heart," the romantic "The Way I Dreamed It," the haunting "Happy Endings" sung by Melcher with a newly recorded spoken-word introduction by Day for her fans and the single release "Heaven Tonight."

Also on the set list are three classic rock-era favorites: Joe Cocker's ballad "You Are So Beautiful", the Lovin Spoonful's joyful 1966 hit "Daydream" and The Beach Boys' nostalgic "Disney Girls," the latter written by Bruce Johnston, who co-produced three of the recordings on the album. Sony.

To hear excerpts or to order click here.
1. Hurry, It's Lovely Up Here
2. Daydream
3. The Way I Dreamed It
4. Heaven Tonight
5. My One and Only Love
6. My Heart
7. You Are So Beautiful
8. Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries
9. Disney Girls
10. My Buddy
11. Happy Endings
12. Ohio

To buy CLICK HERE 

Remember Andy Russell ?

On this date in 1919 singer Andy Russell was born. His recordings of "Besame Mucho" and "What a Difference a Day Makes" sold millions of copies and he is remembered for replacing Frank Sinatra on the radio show "Your Hit Parade,"

Andy Russell, whose original name was Andres Rabago, was born in Los Angeles. He began his career as a singer and drummer in several bands and reached stardom about the same time as Mr. Sinatra and Perry Como.

His recording of "Besame Mucho" was the first of a string of million-record sellers. It was soon followed by "What a Difference a Day Makes," "Laughing on the Outside," "Magic Is the Moonlight" and "Amor."

Mr. Russell's big break came in 1947 when he replaced Frank Sinatra as the lead singer on the radio show "Your Hit Parade." He worked extensively in Latin America in the 1950's and 60's, starring in several films and serving as host of "The Andy Russell Show" on Argentine television from 1956 to 1965.

He returned to the United States in the late 1960's, but never regained the acclaim he once enjoyed here. He died in 1992 at the age of 72.

How many hits did Tommy Dorsey have?

Q. How many hits did Tommy Dorsey record? What was the most popular?

A.  The great Tommy Dorsey had seventeen number one hits with his orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s including: "On Treasure Island", "The Music Goes 'Round and Around", "You", "Marie" (by Irving Berlin), "Satan Takes a Holiday", "The Big Apple", "Once in a While", "The Dipsy Doodle", "Our Love", "All the Things You Are", "Indian Summer", and "Dolores".

He had two more number one hits in 1935 when he was a member of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra: "Lullaby of Broadway", number one for two weeks, and "Chasing Shadows", number one for three weeks.

His biggest hit was "I'll Never Smile Again", featuring Frank Sinatra on vocals, which was number one for twelve weeks on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1940. "In the Blue of Evening" was number 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1943.

Clare Teal... one of the U.K.'s top singers

We are writing from the U.K. (vacation)...one of the best British vocalists is Clare Teal... who is largely unknown in the States. Attached are two videos of Clare, please view.

Here is a message we received today from Clare (Note: The Proms series on the BBC from London's Albert Hall is a hot ticket. Hottest, of all is the fabulous "Last Night At The Proms.")

"The quickest TDN in history from the tail end of our incredibly busy semi-sunny summer. There is so much to tell, we need to catch our breath and probe our memories.

For now, I just wanted let you know that in case you hadn't anything better to do on Saturday night, or if you had one of those fancy recording machines, or if X-Factor simply doesnt do it for you ..... well you can watch me on BBC2 in THE PROMS (yes, you read it right THE PROMS) with John Wilson and the most incredible all in one Orchestra and Big Band, complete with choir and the biggest percussion section I have ever played with ..... paying a proms-ical tribute to the legendary Hollywood Musical heritage. And it's called, strangely enough, "Hooray For Hollywood."

It took place on Monday, at the Royal Albert Hall no less - one of the most terrifying, yet satisfying moments of my career. And it's coming to your telly on Saturday night in glorious technicolour and 5.1 stereo surround sound for your viewing pleasure. Should you so desire."

9.15-11.15 pm on BBC2 is the place to be.

And if you can be there, or can't record it, or don't own a TV - you can always "listen again" to the Radio 3 Broadcast here. Part One  and Part Two..

Will be back in touch soon with a full summer update for your reading pleasure, in the meantime, enjoy the proms - and remember, life's to short to not eat donuts or chocolate cake."

Glenn Miller's Sun Valley Serenade released 70 years ago this week

Do you remember the film Sun Valley Serenade? It  is a 1941 musical film starring Sonja Henie, John Payne, Lynn Bari and Milton Berle and released 70 years ago this week.

Sun Valley Serenade is best known today for the participation of The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Chattanooga Cho Cho was written for this fim.









The music list:

•"Chattanooga Choo Choo"

(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyric by Mack Gordon
Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
Sung by Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly, and The Modernaires, then danced and sung by The Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge, however Southern audiences never saw this part two of "Chattanooga."
Copyright 1941

•"I Know Why (and So Do You)"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyric by Mack Gordon
Performed by John Payne and Sonja Henie
Sung by Lynn Bari (dubbed by Pat Friday) and The Modernaires, then John Payne
Copyright 1941

•"It Happened in Sun Valley"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyric by Mack Gordon
Performed by "first band"
Sung by Lynn Bari (dubbed by Pat Friday), later sung by entire Glenn Miller orchestra including all vocalists except Ray Eberle
Copyright 1941

•"The Kiss Polka"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyric by Mack Gordon
Performed over opening credits by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, then by singing ensemble later in movie
Copyright 1941

•"At Last"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra as an instrumental after "In The Mood" sequence,
and at end of movie in ice-skating sequence
Copyright 1942

•"Moonlight Serenade"
(uncredited)
Music by Glenn Miller
Performed as instrumental by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
Copyright 1939

•"In the Mood"
(uncredited)
Music by Joe Garland
Arranged by Eddie Durham
Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
Tenor Sax Battle between Tex Beneke and Al Klink
Hot Trumpet Solo by Billy May
Copyright 1939

•"The Farmer in the Dell"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra at Ellis Island

•"She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain When She Comes"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played as part of the score when Milton Berle skis erratically down the slopes

•"Jingle Bells"
(1857) (uncredited)
Music by James Pierpont
Played as part of the score when Milton Berle skis erratically down the slopes