"Isn't This a Night for Love?" (1933)

Back in 1933, we hit the song “Isn’t This a Night for Love?” from the snappy pre-code musical “Melody Cruise” from RKO pictures starring Phil Harris!

This version of the song is by Allan Small and his Orchestra with vocalist Jerry Baker:

You get some good stuff from obscure bands on obscure labels!

"I'll String Along with You" (1934) - Part 2!

Dick Powell did record his own version of “I’ll String Along with You” for Brunswick Records, which was issued on the British Decca label and presumably on Brunswick in the U.S. although I’ve only seen the British issue.

In any event, Dick is backed by Ted Fio Rito’s band on the recording with a different arrangement from the dance band version Ted cut with Muzzy Marcellino as vocalist.

Here it is:

 

Dick Powell was great!

"I'll String Along with You" (1934)

We jump back to 1934 with this song from the Warner Brothers pictures “20 Million Sweethearts” starring Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.

Dick and Ginger make a very charming couple and I dig the radio studio setting of most of the movie.

It seems like Dick sings “I’ll String Along with You” about a dozen times in the movie, but it’s a great song from the prolific team of Al Dubin & Harry Warren.

Ted Fio Rito appeared with his band in the movie, and he had a big hit with this studio recording on Brunswick Records featuring vocalist Muzzy Marcellino:

Such a great mid-1930s sound!

"You Are My Lucky Star" (1935) - Part 2!

For another version of "You Are My Lucky Star" from the 1935 MGM picture “Broadway Melody of 1936,” let’s hear from the great Louis Armstrong on Decca Records:

That cat was the goods!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

To celebrate, let’s hear the first recorded version of the standard “My Funny Valentine” from the Richard Rogers/Lorenz Hart musical “Babes in Arms” from 1938!

Here’s the show’s pit band piano duo of Edgar Fairchild & Adam Carroll on the small Liberty Music Shop label:

I don’t know much about Adam Carroll, but Edgar “Cookie” Fairchild was the musical director on a lot of records and radio shows!

"You Are My Lucky Star" (1935)

Next we turn to a song actually written by the team of Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown: “You Are My Lucky Star” from MGM’s musical “Broadway Melody of 1936” from 1935! Here’s a version by Angelo Ferdinando and his Hotel Great Northern Orchestra with (uncredited) vocalist Dick Robertson:

                                                                                                                                                                     

                                     

I dig those buff Bluebirds! One thing of note is that the back cover of the sheet music features a little piece on songwriters Freed & Brown:

A puff piece to be sure, but fun!

"Everything I Have Is Yours" (1933) - Part 2!

Let’s hear another version on the great standard “Everything I Have is Yours” from MGM’s feature “Dancing Lady” from 1933!

Here’s singer Al Bowlly on the British Decca label:

Al Bowlly recorded with a lot of British bands, most notably that of Ray Noble, and he was a great band vocalist, but it’s nice to hear him get the chance to stretch out on this record issued under his own name!

"Everything I Have Is Yours" (1933)

The rather striking sheet music from 1933’s “Dancing Lady” starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable is for the now-standard “Everything I Have is Yours.”

Art Jarrett sang it in the movie, but I don’t think he commercially recorded it, but here’s a nice version on Bluebird Records from Jerry Freeman and his Orchestra featuring vocalist Frank Sylvano:

Odd that contemporary record labels show Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown as the songwriters, but the actual writers were Harold Adamson and Burton Lane, as shown on the sheet music.

“Dancing Lady” is a fun flick, but it’s most noteworthy as the screen debut of Fred Astaire, appearing as himself while on loan to MGM from RKO! Nelson Eddy also appears as himself in what I believe is his second film appearance. Throw in the Three Stooges (still backing Ted Healey) and you've got some interesting stuff!