From the Siriusly Sinatra web page:

John Pizzarelli Hosts Playing Favorites
Mon 10/6 6:00 pm ET

Join musician John Pizzarelli for an encore of his visit to Playing Favorites as he plays an hour of his favorite Sinatra songs.

Rebroadcast: Thurs., Oct. 9th @ 3 pm ET & Sat., Oct. 11th @ 12 pm ET.

This program is a repeat of Show #25 from Mar. 3–8, 2008.

[Mark Blackburn]

Minutes ago I had one of those “Siriusly Sinatra must like me personally (or can read my mind) sort-of-moments!

I’d just parked my car in the rain -- about to switch off the ignition, trying to pull myself away from Channel 75, while kidding myself that, “Maybe I’ll just see what they were going to play next.”

Suddenly I heard some obnoxious traffic sounds; and looking around me, realized it wasn’t a motorcycle zipping by my car . . . or car horns beeping at me . . .

No, it was a late-in-life Rosemary Clooney, with the most delightful version I have ever heard (I believe Frank would agree) of the Tom Adair / Matt Dennis classic, “LET’S GET AWAY FROM IT ALL.”

The witty arrangement (nearly as good as Billy May’s “original” for Frank,) had some very realistic-sounding, beeps and blats (traffic sounds well worth our “getting away” from!!).

The traffic noise was superimposed over the start of that arresting ‘big band’ arrangement (wonder’s whose?). Help, Bob in Boston! Who arranged this one? What album is it from? And (most importantly to me) Who wrote those brilliant ‘supplemental verses’ of lyrics? (Sounds like Sammy Cahn at his best!)

Words can't convey the fun of this rendition of "Let's Get Away from it All." At one point, Rosie flubs the words "Spanish shawl" and chuckles endearingly -- without missing a beat!

After the first chorus that all of us are so familiar with,

“Let’s take a boat to Bermuda / Let’s take a plane to St. Paul / Let’s grab a kayak to Quincy or Nyack / Let’s get away from it all . . .”

It isn’t long before Rosie is singing verses like (pardon the mistakes, from memory imperfect)

“ . . . let’s take a powda to Boston for Chow-da!” [and]

“Let’s motor down to Miami / Then climb the Grand Canyon Wall / Let’s catch a Tuna, way out in Laguna . . . [and]

“Let’s travel south of the border / Buy me a real Spanish shawl! / Lets eat tamales in downtown Nogales – let’s get away from it all.” [and]

“Let’s spend a weekend in Dixie / pick up that sweet, Southern drawl / Then off to Reno (but just to play ‘Keno’!) / Let’s get away from it all! [and]

“Let’s go to Buckingham Palace / We’ll say ‘We dropped by to call!’ / Be ‘socially busy’ with Phillip & Lizzie – let’s get away from it all.”

Tell me I’m not the only member of the Family never to have heard this gem before! And . . . where else but “Channel 75” satellite radio will we ever hear it (again)?

Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Canada

Mark, I assume this came from Rosemary Clooney's Concord Records CD, Still On The Road (recorded 1993). Perhaps someone who owns that one can provide more details.

Originally Posted by Mark Blackburn

The witty arrangement (nearly as good as Billy May’s “original” for Frank,) [...] And (most importantly to me) Who wrote those brilliant ‘supplemental verses’ of lyrics?

Mark, I'm not sure if you realize this, but Frank first sang the song with Connie Haines and The Pied Pipers for the Tommy Dorsey Band in 1941. Some of those lyrics which you think are new actually date back to the original recording.

In particular, the part about "picking up a Southern drawl" is famous. It made the obituaries last week for Connie Haines. When she sang that line in the original version, Frank ad-libbed, "What? Another one!"

[Nancy]

I have it on the Best of the Concord Years CD.

[Mark Blackburn]

Got to get me that one! There's just one brief (10-year-old) review for this album -- which has the most haunting cover painting -- twilight at a train station, distant street lights, and a woman in a raincoat standing in the station with one bit of luggage, just . . . waiting for her train. Thanks, Nancy and Bob for confirming that this is the CD containing the recording I so enjoyed, for the first time, this day on Siriusly Sinatra!

[Jersey Lou]

So glad you discovered that gem, Mark. The president of Concord Records called recently to ask if we could play even MORE Rosemary Clooney records. I told him that if we did, we'd have to change the name of the channel to Completely Clooney since we already feature her so much each day. We don't play a lot of her silly Mitch Miller records from the Columbia years, as big as they were. But we do play the solid sides she did for Concord in her later years and the marvelous Nelson Riddle sessions that really swing. And, of course, her ballads.

Thanks for being out there...and I hope you didn't miss your train!

[Jersey Lou]

Lots of requests to re-air Leonard Maltin's Playing Favorites show from July have come in on phone and e-mail so we're doing it the week of October 13. Listen for new shows with Mitzi Gaynor, Michael Feinstein (featuring his new album, The Sinatra Project) and Air Supply coming up. Also got a call from the family's good friend James Darren saying he'd come in and do a show for us, too. So..get ready for an autumn of new Playing Favorites programs, folks!

[Mark Blackburn]

Thanks for the informative posts, Lou! It's a pretty wonderful 'Family' we have here, isn't it? Thanks to Nancy as well, for recently informing us of your valued contribution -- that we could direct our questions about Sirius programming to you.

Those 15 words of biographical info that you shared say it all!

"Proud to be associated with Siriusly Sinatra.
Fan of Frank's music, especially the Capitol years."

I've been so grateful to hear all these gems of Rosie's that I never heard before; I'm always afraid that some nameless, faceless programmer will change the format at Siriusly Sinatra -- and remove from our hearing, these precious, rare performances we'll never enjoy anywhere else!.

Hence, I laughed with relief at your (insider's) anecdote that,

"The president of Concord Records called recently to ask if we could play even MORE Rosemary Clooney records. I told him that if we did, we'd have to change the name of the channel to Completely Clooney since we already feature her so much each day."

Delighted to know that Michael Feinstein and Mitzi Gaynor will be coming up next with their favorite songs by Sinatra! And that I'll get to catch a repeat of one "Playing Favorites" show I didn't get to hear the first time around -- by film critic Leonard Maltin. Channel 75 -- an embarrassment of riches!

Keep up the good work, Jersey Lou! To borrow (one more time) words of appreciation from one of Frank's favorite lyricists, Larry Hart -- Don't change a hair for me, not if you care for me!

sincerely,

Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Canada

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Jersey Lou

Lots of requests to re-air Leonard Maltin's Playing Favorites show from July have come in on phone and e-mail so we're doing it the week of October 13. Listen for new shows with Mitzi Gaynor, Michael Feinstein (featuring his new album, The Sinatra Project) and Air Supply coming up. Also got a call from the family's good friend James Darren saying he'd come in and do a show for us, too. So..get ready for an autumn of new Playing Favorites programs, folks!

Lou, thanks for letting us know about the upcoming shows!

Siriusly Sinatra is the best channel on Sirius Radio!

[Jersey Lou]

You're more than welcome. Actually, and its important that you know this....the channel is a reflection of the Sinatra Family's collective tastes and musical discretion. I put it all together in what I hope is a pleasing continuum of varied and valued performances but the songs you hear...the high standard to which they reach...are a direct result of what Frank's children love and respect. That's why it's so good! Nancy, as you might have noticed, has great taste that goes from here to there and back again. She's pretty amazing.

By the way, thanks to Bob and other forum members who pick up on nuances and downright errors in the library or the on-screen listings. With so many moving parts, it's inevitible that the engineers will make a mistake. You were right, Bob...there was a Sammy Davis song in a Bobby Darin slot...and a Nelson Riddle arrangement got flipped with a Neil Hefti...and Ken Lane got an extra credit where he didn't deserve one. I've called engineering and had all of this rectified...thanks to Bob's good ear and keen eye.

Thanks to everyone for being great listeners and good scouts!!

[Mark Blackburn]

Help! Bob in Boston, Lou in CA:

As I type this Della Reese is singing “Tea for Two.” Just before that cha-cha-cha rendition of one of the best songs from the guy who wrote “Without a Song” (pardon me interrupting myself with that aside – I can’t help it!) – just before Della, Channel 75 played the most amazing version – by Frank – of the Cole Porter classic, IT’S ALL RIGHT WITH ME.

Frank, singing with that post-age-50 dark timbre in his voice (like a fine cello, as Nelson Riddle described it) – Frank sings to solo piano accompaniment at the opening verse (actually the bridge/break “You can’t know how happy I am that we met . . . ”

Soon they’re supported by full string orchestra with the most achingly beautiful arrangement I ever heard for this great song (which, incidentally, Natalie Cole selected as her ‘closer’ for her latest album – with a terrific, tight-tight quick fox trot arrangement by Harold Wheeler – the brilliant musician/conductor of the ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS BAND (currently the best in the business!)

Oh my! When was this one recorded gentlemen, and where do I find it?

Originally Posted by Mark Blackburn

When was this one recorded gentlemen, and where do I find it?

Recorded in 1959 at 20th Century-Fox and released on the Capitol Can-Can Soundtrack album. Arrangement by Nelson Riddle. Undoubtedly, the track being played on Sirius is taken from the Frank Sinatra In Hollywood box set. It can also be found on Frank Sinatra Sings The Select Cole Porter.

(This is much different than the uptempo version FS sang for his final solo album in 1984 with Quincy Jones, L.A. Is My Lady. I'm sure you're familiar with that one, Mark, because of the George Benson guitar part.)

P.S. The track in question is the one which Sinatra sings to Juliet Prowse in the film: Can-Can.

[Mark Blackburn]

What would I do -- what would WE do -- without you Bob!

From the Siriusly Sinatra web page:

Marilu Henner Hosts Playing Favorites
Mon 10/13 6:00 pm ET

Marilu Henner hosts an hour of her favorite Frank songs and memories. It’s an encore appearance from when she lit up our studios last spring with her wonderful song choices and enthusiasm for Frank and his music. If you missed it, here’s your chance to hear Marilu - only on Siriusly Sinatra.

Rebroadcast: Thurs., Oct. 16th @ 3 pm ET & Sat., Oct. 18th @ 12 pm ET.

This program is a repeat of Show #30 from Apr. 21–26, 2008.

[Nancy]

Robert has several new files to add to the news page.

[Jersey Lou]

Due to a technical problem, we can't air the Leonard Maltin show this week. Sorry to those forum members who were looking forward to hearing the show next week. We hope to be able to put in on channel again in the future.

For now, we are going to run the Marilu Henner show from last April. She was a wonderful guest and we're sure you'll love it, if you missed it in the spring.

Mitzi Gaynor next week. Then, Michael Feinstein stops in to play his new CD for us, with his commentary on each song.

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend.

[Jersey Lou]

Didn't mean to confuse anyone with my "this week" and "next week".

I was referring to the week of October 13, when it was schedule to re-air.

Thanks.

[Stnwy18]

Just me because I'm a big fan of him,
but I'd love to hear Billy Joel as a guest.

From the Siriusly Sinatra web page:

Mitzi Gaynor Hosts Playing Favorites
Mon 10/20 6:00 pm ET

This week, the legendary Mitzi Gaynor stops in to play some of the songs she loves most from Frank’s collection of timeless performances. They worked together on film and knew each other for years. Mitzi shares memories of the man and the music.

Rebroadcast: Thurs., Oct. 23rd @ 3 pm ET & Sat., Oct. 25th @ 12 pm ET.