Sam Waldron

Episode 210, “Big Bands,” traces the evolution of band and orchestra music from the late 1930s through rock-and-roll groups in the late 1950s. Performers include Benny Goodman, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Ray Conniff, Percy Faith, Nelson Riddle and The Ventures.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 210 Big Bands Playlist 1 Charmaine Mantovani 2 Heartaches Ted Weems 3 I’m Getting Sentimenta...

  Episode 209, “May Babies,” presents recordings by more than 20 entertainers who had birthdays in May. Performers include Lawrence Welk, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Ricky Nelson, Julie London, Richie Valens, Danny and the Juniors, and Benny Goodman.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 209 May Babies Playlist 1 People Who Are Born in May Julie London 2 A Teenager’s Romance Ricky Ne...

Episode 208, “Sammy Davis Jr.,” presents 14 recordings by one of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s and ‘60s … and a monologue by Davis before a live audience in Las Vegas.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 208 Sammy Davis Jr. Playlist 1 Something’s Gotta Give Sammy Davis Jr. 2 If I Ruled the World Sammy Davis Jr. 3 There’s a Small Hotel Sammy Davis Jr. & Carmen Mc...

Episode 207, “Duets,” presents nearly 36 singers who recorded together. Performers include Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Connie Francis, Hoagy Carmichael, The Andrews Sisters, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Gene Autry, Rosemary Clooney, and more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 207 Duets Playlist 1 Two Sleepy People Hoagy Carmichael & Ella Logan 2 Weddi...

Episode 206, “Forgotten 50s Females,” presents 18 recordings by singers who had lots of talent but failed to rise to the top, including Linda Scott, Jill Corey, Margie Rayburn, Mindy Carson, and Toni Arden.     45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 206 Forgotten 50s Females Playlist 1 You Don’t Know Girls Kathy Linden 2 Georgie Kathy Linden 3 You Can’t Get to Heaven Betty Johnson 4...

Episode 205, “Music for Lovers,” presents 17 timeless love songs by Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, George Wein, Betty Hutton, Betty White, Ella Fitzgerald, and a dozen others.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 205 Music for Lovers Playlist 1 Week in New England Vic Damone 2 Darn it Baby That’s Love Jo Stafford & Dick Haymes 3 Tonight Eddie Fisher 4 The Night We Called It a Day Doris...

Episode 204, “Pearl Bailey,” focuses on one of the most fun and versatile performers of the mid 20 th century. Included are “A House is Not a Home,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey,” “You Can Be Replaced,” “Hello  Dolly” and two of Bailey ‘s many appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 204 Pearl Bailey Playlist 1 St Louis Blues Pearl Bail...

Episode 203, “New Life for 1950s Music,” presents nine popular recordings along with later reinterpretations by other performers. Songs include Heartbreak Hotel, Mack the Knife, Sh-Boom, Rock Around the Clock, My Prayer, and four more.   Episode 203 New Life 1950s Music Playlist 1 Mack the Knife Bobby Darin 2 Mack the Knife Liberace 3 My Prayer The Platters 4 My Prayer Roy Orbison 5 Memories Are M...

Episode 202, “Mid-century Jazz,” includes 15 recordings that include hot jazz from the ‘40s, cool jazz from the ‘50s, and an energetic live performance by a high school band. Performers  include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, Chet Atkins, Frank Sinatra, and Bill Evans – plus nine more.   45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 202 Mid-century jazz 1 In the Mood Th...

Episode 201, “Love @ First Listen,” Features recordings Sam Waldron fell in love with the first time he heard then. Performers include Elvis Presley, Peter Paul & Mary, Joe Williams, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, The Platters, Matt Monro, and Frank Sinatra.   Episode 201 Love @ 1st Listen Playlist 1 Begin The Beguine Pat Boone 2 I Have Dreamed Matt Monro 3 I’m a Fool to Care Les Paul &...

Episode 200, “Rosemary Clooney,” focuses on her music, her career and her loves over the decades. Included are some of her big hits plus duets with Bing Crosby, Jimmy Boyd and Barry Manilow. Episode 200 Rosemary Clooney Playlist 1 Come on a My House Rosemary Clooney 2 Half as Much Rosemary Clooney 3 Botch-A-Me Rosemary Clooney 4 Blues in the Night Rosemary Clooney 5 The Continental Rosemary Cloone...

Episode 199, “Songs About Letters,” presents 17 songs about letters of all types and varieties. Performers include the Louvin Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Welk, Eddy Arnold, Billy Fury, Nat King Cole, Mary Osborn, and June Christy. Episode 199 Songs About Letters Playlist 1 Take a Letter Miss Smith Tony Martin & Fran Warren 2 You’re Gonna Get My Letter in the Morning Mary Osborn &am...

Episode 198, “Sayonara (1 of 2),” pays tribute to musicians who passed away in 2020 and 2021. Some are well-known, like Don Everly and Little Richard. Others are less familiar though equally interesting, including Jill Corey,  George Wein, Warren Storm, Ethel Gabriel, Rose Lee Maphis , and a dozen more. Episode 198 Sayonara (1 of  2) Playlist 1 Lawdy Miss Clawdy Lloyd Price 2 Tutti Fruiti Little R...

Episode 197, “All I Want for Christmas is Jazz,” includes 19 pieces of music. Some are pretty traditional, some are sort of jazzy and others are very jazzy. Performers include Count Basie, Etta James, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Louis Prima, Peggy Lee and eight more. Episode 197 All I Want for Christmas is Jazz Playlist 1 Let it Snow Let it...

Episode 196, “Hits of Hank Williams,” presents many of Wiolliams’ big hits, including three examples in which Nashville later doctored up his music to appeal to urban audiences. Songs include “I’m Sorry For You, My Friend,” “Honky-Tonk Blues,” “Cold, Cold, Heart,” “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive,” You Win Again,” and “I Saw the Light.” Episode 196 The Hits of Hank Williams Playlist 1 Move...

Episode 195 “New Life for 1940s Music” Episode 195 New Life for 1940s Music Playlist 1 I’ve Got a Crush on You Helen Ward & Joe Sullivan and his Café Society Orchestra 2 I’ve Got a Crush on You Jennifer Laura Thompson 3 I’ve Got a Crush on You Kristin Chenoweth 4 Someone to Watch Over Me Frank Sinatra 5 Someone to Watch Over Me Jean Louisa Kelly 6 Someone to Watch...

Episode 194, “1940s #1 Hits,” presents 17 million-selling popular songs from 1940 through 1949 by performers ranging from Mel Torme and Nat King Cole to The Andrews Sisters & The Ink  Spots to Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey, Billie Holliday, and Dinah Shore. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 194 1940s #1 Hits Ala Carte Playlist Where Was I? Charlie Barnett & Mary Ann McCall We Three The...

Episode 193, “Chaos in 1957,” focuses on the startling contrasts between various top-selling popular recordings. Comparisons include Buddy Knox vs. Perry Como, The Everly Brothers vs. Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby vs. Little Richard, and Debbie Reynolds vs. Jerry Lee Lewis. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 193 Chaos in 1957 Playlist 1 Don’t Forbid Me Pat Boone 2 Too Much Elvis Presley 3...

  Episode 192, “Dean Martin,” focuses on the career of one of the mid-20 th century’s most enduring performers. Songs include “Blue Blue Day,” “Sway,” “That’s Amore,” “Volare,”  “Return to Me,” “Everybody Loves Somebody,” “Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket” and a dozen more. Episode 192 Dean Martin Playlist 1 Return to Me Dean Martin 2 That’s Amore Dean Martin 3 Good Mornin’ Life Dean Ma...

  Episode 191, “Favorite 40s Music,” presents 17 of Sam Waldron’s personal favorite recordings from the decade of the Big Bands and World War Two. Performers include Alice Faye, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Buddy Clark, Helen Forrest, The Ink Spots and Guy Lombardo. Episode 191 Favorite 40s Music Playlist 1 Oh Johnny Oh Lawrence Welk 2 Boo Hoo Guy Lombardo 3 This Train Sister Rosetta Tharp 4 Peg O...

Episode 190, “1950s Girl Groups,” presents the music and stories of 15 female singing groups, ranging from the familiar like the McGuire Sisters and The Andrews Sisters to some obscure groups like The Paris Sisters and The DeJohn Sisters. Episode 190 1950s Girl Groups Playlist 1 I Love How You Love Me The Paris Sisters 2 I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know The Davis Sisters 3 Alone The Sheph...

Episode 189, “Halloween!” presents 18 pieces of music about ghosts, boogiemen, murder and other frightening themes. Recording artists include The Kingston Trio, Bing Crosby, Boris Karloff, Rosemary Clooney, Ethel Waters, Little Richard, Kay Starr … and 11 more. Also, Sam Waldron reveals the truth about the origin of Halloween. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 189 Halloween! Playlist 1 Ghos...

Episode 188, “Peggy Lee,” presents the music and the career of one of the 20 th century’s most popular female singers. Recordings include “Fever,” “Manana,” “Sugar,” “The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” “Blues in the Night,” “Is  That All There Is?” “Oh You Crazy Moon,” “Black Coffee,” and seven more. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 188 Peggy Lee Playlist 1 Elmer’s Tune Peggy Lee 2 Blu...

Episode 187, “Rock & Roll Ala Carte,” presents 22 rock-and-roll recordings from the 1950s. Performers include The Champs, Dion and the Belmonts, Elvis Presley, Robert Parker, Pearl Bailey, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Tommy Sands, Brenda Lee, and a dozen others. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 187 Rock & Roll Ala Carte Playlist 1 That’ll Be the Day Buddy Holly and The Crickets...

Episode 186, “Take Me Back to 1947,” presents 16 popular songs and makes the case that 1947 was an interesting year in terms of fashion, food, travel, population and futuristic technology. Recordings include performances by Dorothy Shay, Louis Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Clark and Bill Monroe. 45 RPM, Music of the 40s and 50s Episode 186 Take Me to 1947 Playlist 1 I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her...