well, That's Show Biz, 05-29-2022 9 Entertainers

Entertainers

“Well, That’s Show Biz!”

5-29-2022

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• Welcome to an Entertainers edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!”. I am your host, Jeremy Freedman and each week we present music from Broadway, Movies, and Entertainers along with some anecdotes, information, and Commentary. This week we will be focusing on Entertainers, specifically live performances that were recorded.

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• But first I want to talk about the documentary Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles that you can see on Amazon Prime. The documentary addresses the history of the play, Fiddler On The Roof, along with archival footage and interviews. But also its cultural significance.  Although Fiddler On The Roof, based on Sholom Aleichem’s Tevyah stories about a Jewish dairy farmer in Eastern Europe, its themes turned out to be universal. These themes include hatred of those who are different, gender equality, civil rights, and bucking tradition all have versions in other cultures and religions and therefore relatable world-wide.  The creative process behind the making of Fiddler is also examined. With the archival footage, interviews including those of the creators of Fiddler, its cultural significance, and of course, the wonderful music, this documentary, Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles on Amazon Prime is definitely worth a viewing.

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• Now on to the Entertainers. Our first set is made up of three of the all time greats who were related to each other.  Liza Minelli is the daughter of the legendary Judy Garland. We are going to start with the opening number from her live television special, Liza With A “Z”. The song is called “Yes”. Next we are going to hear from the greatest entertainer that I ever saw, Peter Allen who was sort of discovered by Judy Garland and at one time was married to Liza Minelli. From his first live album, It Is Time For Peter Allen, we are going to hear him sing “Quiet Please, There’s a Lady On Stage”, a song he wrote and dedicated to his mother-in-law, Judy Garland. And finally we are going to hear from Judy herself, “What Now My Love” from her Live at The London Palladium album. This may be my favorite song of hers as you can hear her life struggles in her interpretation of the song.  At the end, you just know that she is going to go for the high note and you think that she isn’t going to make it but you can judge for yourself.  Here’s Liza with “Yes” from Liza With A “Z”.

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• We just heard Liza Minelli sing “Yes”, Peter Allen singing “Quiet Please, There’s A Lady On Stage”, and Judy Garland with “What Now My Love”. And you are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!” on [station ID]

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• Our focus today is on Entertainers and their live performances that were recorded. In the 60s, The Rat Pack consisted of some of the great performers in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. made up the core.  In this next set, we are going to hear Frank Sinatra singing a live version of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” followed by Sammy Davis Jr.’s live version of Mr. Bojangles. And finally, Dean Martin with 'Volare". Here’s Frank.

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• You are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!’ on [station ID] and I am your host Jeremy Freedman. Our theme today is Entertainers and we are showcasing some of their live recordings. You just heard Frank Sinatra with “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, Sammy Davis Jr. with “Mr. Bojangles”, and Dean Martin with "Volare".

• Before we leave the Rat Pack, Shirley MacLaine was often called the female member of The Rat Pack. We're going to start this set with Shirley MacLaine singing "Gypsy In My Soul". Then, Barbra Streisand is an icon and we are going to hear her sing “Starting Here, Starting Now” from her 2006 Live Concert album. We are going to follow that with a performance of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” by Betty Buckley. And lastly in this set, another icon, Bette Midler, singing perhaps my favorite song of hers, “Shiver Me Timbers” from Divine Madness (Live). Here’s Shirley Maclaine with “Gypsy In My Soul”.

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• You are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!” and you just heard Shirley Maclaine singing "Gypsy In My Soul", Barbra Streisand with “Starting Here, Starting Now”, Betty Buckley with “As If We Never Said Goodbye”, and Bette Midler with “Shiver Me Timbers”. If you would like to contact me and offer theme ideas or song suggestions, you can reach me at wruushowbiz@gmail.com. And if you enjoy the show, send a note to the station at wruu.org.

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• And now for our final set on this Entertainers edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!”, Paul Anka is a prolific song writer writing hits for himself as well as other performers. I got to see him in concert and he was incredible. We are going to hear “My Way” which was popularized by Frank Sinatra. The music is from a French song that Anka wrote English lyrics for. Then we are going to hear Bernadette Peters sing the Sondheim song “Not a Day Goes By” originally from his show Merrily We Roll Along. Peters is known as the premier interpreter of Sondheim’s songs.  And finally, we are going to go back to Peter Allen who concluded all his concerts with his tribute to the “Audience”.  “Audience” reflects the performer’s feelings when he gets to sing for an audience.  Here’s Paul Anka with “My Way”.

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• You just heard Paul Anka with “My Way”, Bernadette Peters with the emotional “Not a Day Goes By”, and lastly Peter Allen’s tribute to the “Audience”. That’s it for this week’s edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!” I’m Jeremy Freedman and you can email me at wruushowbiz@gmail.com and send me theme and song suggestions. If you like the show, send a message to management at the studio at wruu.org.