Sam Waldron

Show 85, “The Ink Spots,” traces the story and music of one of the most influential singing groups of the 1940s. Songs include “We Three,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” “The Gypsy,” “Java Jive,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” and “My Prayer.” Show 85 The Ink Spots 1 If I Didn’t Care The Ink Spots 2 We Three The Ink Spots 3 I’ll Get By The Ink Spots 4 I’m Making Believe The Ink Spots...

Show 84, “Train Songs,” explores railroad lore through musical performances by Peggy Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, The Four Preps, Jo Anne Kurman, Bing Crosby, and The Andrews Sisters, among others.   Show 84 Train songs Playlist 1 The Rock Island Line Johnny Cash 2 Chattanooga Choo Choo The Andrews Sisters 3 Mama from the Train a Kiss a Kiss Patti Page 4 This Train P...

Show 83, “Margie’s Mom,” traces the wide-ranging musical tastes of a woman who grew up in Panama in the 1940s and 50s. Performers include Chubby Checker, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Georgia Gibbs, Elvis Presley, The Ventures, and Bill Haley and the Comets. Show 83 Margie’s Mom Playlist 1 The Twist Chubby Checker 2 Music, Music, Music Teresa Brewer 3 Crying in the Chapel Elvis Presley 4 All Sho...

Show 82, “Behind the Microphone,” reveals the reasons for choosing the first song in a radio show. Performers include Barry Mann, The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, the band of Les and Larry Elgart, Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. Show 82 Behind the Microphone Playlist 1 An Opening Song Gisele MacKenzie 2 Elmer’s Tune The Modernaires and Tex Beneke 3 Old Shep Elvis Presley 4 My...

Show 81, “Canadian Sweethearts,” features recordings by two popular radio and TV stars of the 40s and 50s: Gisele MacKenzie and Dorothy Collins. Songs include “Seven Lonely Days,” “It’s a Magnet,” “A Cock Eyed Optimist,” and “Oh What a Night for Love.” Show 81 Canadian Sweethearts Playlist 1 Oh What a Night for Love Dorothy Collins 2 Talk Intro Mario Lanza 3 Hello Young Lovers Gisele MacKenzie 4 D...

Show 80, “Music of 1956,” features 20 of the most popular songs and some little-known bits of news from 1956. Performers include Kay Starr, Elvis Presley, The Platters, Carl Perkins, Dean Martin, Cathy Carr, Jim Lowe, and Sanford Clark. Show 80 Music of 1956 Playlist 1 Green Door Jim Lowe 2 Memories Are Made of This Dean Martin 3 Sixteen  Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford 4 My Prayer The Platters 5 The Wa...

Show 79, “Romance!,” features 16 love songs sung by Mel Torme, 12 of them from a single studio album. Included are “The Nearness of You,” “The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” “My Romance,” “That’s All,” and “Every Day’s a Holiday.” Show 79 Romance! Playlist 1 My Romance Mel Torme 2 The Nearness of You Mel Torme 3 The Second Time Around Mel Torme 4 The Folks Who Live on the Hill Mel Torme 5 PS: I Love...

Show 78, “Sounds of the ‘40s,” features 18 recordings that folks in the 1940s were listening to on the radio and their phonographs. Performers include Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, Les and Larry Elgart, Martha Tilton, Gene Autry, Judy Garland, The Andrews Sisters, Guy Lombardo, Ozzie Nelson, and Liberace. Show 86 Sounds of the 1940s Playlist 1 Jingle, Jangle, Jingle Louis Nunley and The Dreamers 2 Che...

Show 77, “April Babies,” features recordings by 16 musicians who had one thing in common: Birthdays in the month of April. Performers include Helen Forrest, Bea Wain, Bobby Rydell, Billy Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, and Tony Williams. Show 77 April Babies 1 Debbie Reynolds Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah 2 Eddy Duchin It’s De-Lovely 3 Doris Day I’ve Never Been in Love Before...

  Show 76, “Top Hits 1954,” features 17 popular songs and some little-known bits of news from 1954. Performers include Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, The Four Lads, Patti Page, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Eddie Fisher, and Kitty Kallen. Show 76 Top  Hits of 1954 Playlist 1 Rags to Riches Tony Bennett 2 O My Papa Eddie Fisher 3 Secret Love Doris Day 4 Make Love to Me Jo Stafford 5 Litt...

Show 75, “Songs about cars,” uses 18 recordings to explore the complex relationship between humans and automobiles. Topics include breakdowns, speeding, hot dates that wound up going nowhere, muddy roads, a fantasy Cadillac, parking problems, and a honeymoon in a Buick. Performers include Patti Page, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Chuck Berry.   Show 75 Songs about Cars Playlist 1...

Show 74, “Guitar Channing,” explores the music and careers of country singer Bonnie Guitar and Broadway star Carol Channing. The show features 19 songs, including “Dark Moon,” “I Get So Lonely,” and “Mister Fire Eyes” performed by Bonnie Guitar and “Hello Dolly,” “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” and “The Show Must Go On” by Carol Channing. Show 74 Bonnie Guitar Carol Channing Playlist 1 Mister...

Show 73, “Saddest Songs,” uses music to explore variations of grief, loss, heartbreak, and loneliness, and ends with a song suggesting that breaking up isn’t always what it seems. Performers include George Hamilton IV, Elvis Presley, Skeeter Davis, Brenda Lee, Nancy Sinatra, and Pat Boone. Show 73 Saddest songs Playlist 1 I Fall to Pieces Patsy Cline 2 Soldier’s Last Letter George Hamilton I...

Show 72, “Top Hits of 1950,” presents 10 Billboard best-selling songs and a half-dozen other notable recordings from 1950. Performers include Guy Lombardo, Nat King Cole, The Andrews Sisters, The Ames Brothers, Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, and Teresa Brewer. The post Show 72, “Top Hits of 1950,” appeared first on Sam Waldron .

Show 71, “Gospel Music,” explores mid-20th-century gospel music with 13 inspirational recordings by renowned performers including Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Skeeter Davis, Johnny Cash, Roberta Martin, and The Clara Ward Singers. Show 68 Top Hits of 1958 Playlist 1 Turn Your Radio On Skeeter Davis 2 Peace in the Valley Anne Murray 3 This Train Sister Rosetta Tharp 4 I K...

Show 70, “The birth of Rock and Roll,” takes listeners on a 15-year musical journey through the eyes (and ears) of a boy who became a teenager when rock and roll was new. Performers include Eddie Fisher, Patti Page, The Crew Cuts, Bill Haley and His Comets, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. Show 70 Sam Waldron Rock and Roll Playlist 1 We Three The Ink Spots 2 Lady of Sp...

Show 69, “Connie Francis Bobby Darin,” focuses on two energetic entertainers and includes a few songs you’ve probably never heard. Connie Francis sings “Stupid Cupid,” “Who’s Sorry Now,” “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” (in two languages), and “Freddy.” Bobby Darin sings “Dream Lover,” Mack the Knife,” “Splish Splash,” and “Judy, Don’t Be Moody.” Show 69 Connie Francis Bobby Darin Playlist 1 Stupid C...

Show 68, “Top Hits of 1958,” tracks all the #1 Billboard hits from the year, plus some news about cars, Hula Hoops, the Space Race, and more. Performers include Frank Sinatra, The Platters, The McGuire Sisters, Danny and the Juniors, Tommy Edwards, Elvis Presley, and Ricky Nelson. Show 68 Top Hits of 1958 Playlist 1 At the Hop Danny and the Juniors 2 Sugartime TheMcGuire Sisters 3 Get a Job The Si...

  Show 67, “Songs about Food,” offers a comprehensive culinary tour of popular music, with songs about fruits, vegetables, meat stew, butter, snacks, deserts and coffee. Performers include Frankie Avalon, Frank Sinatra, Howdy Doody, Dean Martin, The Platters, Brenda Lee, and Elvis Presley.  Show 67 Songs about Food Playlist 1 Sukiyaki Kyu Sakamoto 2 Shrimp Boats Jo Stafford 3 Jambalaya (On the Bay...

Show 66, “1940s Blues,” traces the evolution of blues music through the decade, featuring top hits by 17 performers, including The Andrews Sisters, The Ink Spots, Charles Brown, Louis Armstrong, Wynonie Harris, and Dinah Washington.  Show 66 1940s blues music 1 Mister Five by Five The Andrews Sisters 2 That Ain’t Right King Cole Trio 3 I Can’t Stand Losing You The Ink Spots 4 The Honey...

Show 65, “1950s Heart Throbs,” features the music of nine handsome male singers who made women swoon. Performers include Jim Reeves, Nat King Cole, Dion DiMucci, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, and Frank Sinatra. Show 65 1950s Heart Throbs Part 1 1 I’m Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter Frank Sinatra 2 Learnin’ the Blues Frank Sinatra 3 Turn Me Loose Fabian Forte 4 Tiger Fabi...

Show 64, “Top Hits of 1942,” tracks the most popular music of that year, with 14 recordings by Bing Crosby, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dinah Shore, Gene Autry, The Andrews Sisters, and Billie Holliday. Also included: a couple of wartime radio commercials and some 1942 news you never learned in school. Show 64 Top Hits of 1942 Playlist 1 Chattanooga Choo Choo Glenn Miller and his Orchestra 2 A Str...

Show 63, “On the road with Sam,” is an imaginary road trip with Sam Waldron and a playlist of music that is sure to put a 60-minute smile on his face. Performers include Rosemary Clooney, Elsie Carlisle, Johnny Mathis, The Andrews Sisters, Tony Bennett, and Al Jolson. Also included: a “sneak preview” of recordings from a few future episodes. Show 63 On the road with Sam Playlist 1 A Smile Will Go...

Show 62, “Bing Crosby,” follows the life and musical career of the 20 th century’s first true Megastar. We hear 18 recordings from Bing and a variety of other performers including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Andrews Sisters, Al Jolson, son Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong. Also included: two recordings from Crosby’s long-running radio show. Show 62 Bing Crosby Playlist 1 My Baby Just Cares fo...

Show 61, “Songs with Stories,” explores interesting stories behind important mid-century songs. Included are “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Get Your Kicks on Route 66,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Peggy Sue,” and “My Funny Valentine,” plus the most-recorded gospel song of all time, the #1-ranked country music hit of all time, and the musical backdrop to a famous movie murder. Show 61 Songs wi...