Sam Waldron

Episode 236, “Larry Clinton,” focuses on a popular dance band leader from the late 1930s and early 40s, and his talented female vocalist Bea Wain. Songs include “Heart and Soul,” “At Long Last Love,” “Over the Rainbow,” “A Study in Brown,” “Wolverine Blues,” and 12 more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 236 Larry Clinton Playlist 1 Wolverine Blues Larry Clinton 2 RCA Victrola U-111 Adver...

Episode 234, “American Bandstand,” features 19 records featured on the famous after-school television program’s first national season. Performers include Paul Anka, The Everly Brothers, The Chordettes, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Mathis, and 12 others.    45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 234 American Bandstand Playlist 1 Tallahassee Lassie Freddy Cannon 2 Di...

Episode 233, “Obscure Mid-1940s Records,” presents 16 recordings that were in the bottom 20 percent of popularity in the years 1944 through 1946. Performers include Sammy Kaye,  Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, Merle Travis, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Elvis Presley, and Louis Jordan.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 233 Obscure Mid-1940s Records Playlist 1 Poinciana (Song of the Tree) Bin...

Episode 231, “Million-dollar voices,” identifies 11 singers whose voices were so rich and distinct that they were easily worth $1 million. Performers include Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Matt Monro, Nat King Cole, Patsy Cline, Johnny Mathis, Jerry Vale, Bill Kenny, and three others.    45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Million Dollar Voices Playlist 1 Too Young Nat King Cole 2 She’s Got You Pats...

Episode 229, “January Babies,” features the music of performers who were born in the month of January. Featured are Elvis Presley, Felicia Sanders, Phil Everly, Gisele MacKenzie, Sam Cooke, Tex Ritter, and six more.   Episode 229 January Babies Playlist 1 I’m Wasting My Tears on You Tex Ritter 2 Ferryboat Serenade The Andrews Sisters 3 Standing on the Corner The Four Lads 4 No Two People Jan...

Episode 228, “Patti Page,” follows the career and music of a performer who rose from dirt-poor rural roots to achieve international fame. Songs include “Doggie in the Window,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Money, Marbles & Chalk,” “Old Cape Cod,” “The Tennessee Waltz,” and 11 more.   Episode 228 Patti Page Playlist 1 With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming Patti Page 2 Confess Patti Page...

Episode 232, “Kitty Wells,” presents the music of a pioneer vocalist who earned the nickname “The Queen of Country Music.” Recordings include “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels,” “Three Ways to Love You,” Poison in Your Heart,” “Paying For That Back Street Affair,” “Mommy For a Day,” “Will Your Lawyer Talk to God,” and 12 more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 232 Kitty Wells Play...

Episode 230, “1952 Hit Parade,” revisits 16 of the best-selling popular songs from 1952, in some cases presenting cover versions instead of the originals. Performers include The Mills Brothers, Leroy Anderson, Patti Page, Tommy Edwards, Jo Stafford, Nick Lucas, Eddie Fisher, and nine more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 230 The Hit Parade 1952 Playlist 1 Please Mr. Sun Tommy Edwards 2...

Episode 227, “1930s Love Songs,” features 16 classic love songs from the ‘30s, most of them introduced on Broadway or in movies. Performers include Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Steve Lawrence, Julie Andrews, Kristin Chenoweth, The Boswell Sisters, and the band of Tommy Dorsey.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 227 1930s Love Songs Playlist 1 But Not For Me Ella Fitzgerald 2 Easter Parade J...

Episode 226, “New Life For Mid-50s Music,” contrasts the originals and later cover versions of nine million-selling records, including Que Sera Sera, It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie, Blueberry Hill, Learnin’ the Blues, and I Almost Lost My Mind.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 226 New Life for Mid-50s Music Playlist 1 Just Walking in the Rain Johnnie Ray 2 Just Walking in the Rain The Izzies 3...

Episode 225, “50s Album jazz,” samples 15 of the most influential jazz albums of the ‘50s. Performers include Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Milt Jackson, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, and Les Paul.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 225 1950s Album Jazz Playlist 1 The Swiss Woodpecker Les Paul 2 I May Be Wrong Doris Day & Harry James 3 Boun...

Episode 224, “Jimmy Durante,” focuses on one of the 20 th century’s most beloved performers, including more than a dozen of his own recordings and several audio clips from live TV appearances, plus the CBS Evening News report of his death in 1980.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 224 Jimmy Durante Playlist 1 Inka Dinka Doo Jimmy Durante 2 As Time Goes By Jimmy Durante 3 Start Off Each Da...

Episode 223, “1958 Hit Parade,” presents 20 of the best-selling single records of 1958, including performances The Kalin Twins, The Everly Brothers, Pat Boone, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Perez Prado, Chuck Berry, and 13 more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 223 The Hit Parade 1958 Playlist 0:02:31 1 Peggy Sue Buddy Holly 0:02:36 2 The Stroll The Diamonds 0:02:45 3 Oh Julie The Crescend...

Episode 222, “Around the World,” presents music about Mexico, Jamaica, Argentina, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Sweden. Performers include Frank Sinatra, The Four Lads, Tommy Dorsey, Kyu Sakamoto, Dinah Shore, Vic Damone, The Kingston Trio, and Fats Domino.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 222 Around the World Playlist 1 Around the World Bing Crosby 2 Faraway Places Vera Lynn 3 South of the...

Episode 221, “Eight Stories,” focuses on eight standout performers and one interesting songwriter. Performers include The Platters, Mel Torme, Connie Francis, Pat Boone, Perry Como, Hank Williams and Nat King Cole.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 221 Seven stories 3 1 Deep Purple Pat Boone 2 Walking the Floor Over You Pat Boone 3 A Tisket A Tasket Ella Fitzgerald 4 You Won’t Be Sa...

Episode 220, “B.B. King,” focuses on the life and music of this accomplished blues musician. Recordings include “Every Day I Have the Blues,” “Why Do Things Happen to Me?” “You Upset Me Baby,” and four tracks from a celebrated live performance during which King gives men and woman each some relationship advice.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 220 B.B. King 1 Miss Martha King B.B. King 2...

Episode 219, “Songs About Money,” presents musical perspectives on having money, spending money, needing money, losing money, and asking for money. Performers include Frank Sinatra, Eddy Arnold, Pearl Bailey, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, and Roy Rogers.   Episode 219 Songs About Money 1 With Plenty of Money and You Tony Bennett and Count Basie 2 I Found a Million Dollar Baby Nat King Cole 3 If You&...

Episode 218, “Songs About Dreams,” includes 20 recordings of songs about dreams and dreaming. Performers include Frank Sinatra, Tommy Sands, Doris Day, Hank Locklin, Chet Atkins, Patsy Cline, Bobby Darin, and Pat Boone.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 218 Songs About Dreams Playlist 1 Dream The Pied Pipers 2 I Had the Craziest Dream Al Saxon Band 3 Deep in a Dream Frank Sinatra 4 Sweet...

Episode 217, “Easy Listening,” presents 18 recordings that were among the staples of “easy listening” radio stations in the 1950s. Performers include The Four Preps, Brenda Lee, Johnny Mathis, Julie London, Patti Page, Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra and Mantovani.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 217 Easy Listening Playlist 1 Autumn Leaves Al Martino 2 I’ll Be Seeing You Tommy Sands 3 Wh...

Episode 216, “Dinah Shore,” focuses on the first woman to have her own TV variety show, and who arguably sold more Chevrolets in the ‘50s and ‘60s than anyone else. Included are the very first recording she made, plus nearly a dozen of  her Top 10 hits.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 216 Dinah Shore 1 Thrill of a New Romance Xavier Cugat & Dinah Shore 2 Yes My Darling Daughter Dina...

Episode 215, “Latin Music” focuses on this popular genre with performances by Xavier Cugat, Julie London, Mel Torme, Bossa Nova, Eydie Gorme and more. Also included are tributes to two important 1950s music figures who died in 2022: singer Bobby Rydell and record producer Art Rupe.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 215 Latin Music Playlist Lawdy Miss Clawdy Lloyd Price The Ball Game Siste...

Episode 214, “RCA Studio B,” focuses on the history of an especially productive recording studio in Nashville and two groups of backup singers, The Anita Kerr Singers and The Jordanaires. Performers include Chet Atkins, Elvis Presley, Dottie West, Don Gibson, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves ,and eight more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 214 RCA Studio B 1 The Old Master Painter The Anita Ke...

Episode 213, “1940s Jazz Standards,” presents 17 popular songs that became jazz standards, with performances by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, and a dozen more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 213 1940s Jazz Standards Playlist 1 Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans Billie Holliday & Louis...

Episode 212, “Two Country Boys,” presents the hit records of Marty Robbins and Guy Mitchell. Songs include Just Married, Singing the Blues, Heartaches by the Number, My Shoes Are Walking Back to You, El Paso, and 12 more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 212 Two Country Boys Playlist 1 I’ll Go On Alone Marty Robbins 2 Singing the Blues Marty Robbins 3 Singing the Blues Guy Mitchell...

Episode 211, “More Favorite 50s Music,” presents 20 of Sam Waldron’s favorite recordings from the decade when he became a teenager. Performers include Frank Sinatra, Tommy Sands, Brenda Lee, Percy Faith, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Hank Locklin, and a dozen more.   Episode 211 More Favorite 50s Music Playlist 1 Love Potion #9 The Clovers 2 Teenager in Love Dion and the Belmonts 3 Learn...